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Tracing the Amazing Wonders of the Personhood of God, Pt. 8

Study Guide, March 1, 2026

Pastor Clay Olsen

There are a lot of amazing things in our world around us, but, of course, the most amazing things are the wonders of our God. And we have been tracing many of these especially in relation to the amazing wonders of the Personhood of our God. For this religion that we call ‘Christianity’ is not a religion of rituals and rites but is a religion primarily of ‘relationship!’ How wondrous it is that the Creator of worlds and the God of all that exists is foremost a Heavenly Father! And He is our Heavenly Father, who delights in having a family and delights in having us…you and me…as His children. As Pastor Robert stated last week, “Oh yes, what comes into your mind when you think about God is the most important thing about you.” Especially what you think about God as being your personal Heavenly Father!

Which brings us to a wonder that is beyond amazing in relation to the Personhood of our God, and that is the wonder of our ‘Union with Christ!’ And the more that we understand and experience our ‘Union with Christ’ the more it will change the way we think, as well as change the way we live, and change the way we relate to our God and to others. So let’s roll…

How about this? The word ‘Christian’ appears only three times in the Scriptures. In Acts 11:26 we find this: “And for an entire year they met with the church and taught considerable numbers; and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.” Some commentators say that it seems the name was given by their opponents in a derogatory way. But the believers liked it and pretty much said – “Yup! That’s us! Christians! Thank you very much.” I don’t know if they said all that, but you get the idea. But now, whereas ‘Christian’ is used only three times, the language of being ‘in Christ’ and related expressions occur over 160 times! And because this is exactly how God had his human pens, the Apostles, refer to His ‘born again’ children, we also get a really clear understanding of how our God wants us to think about our relationship with our God! We are not only ‘Followers of Christ’…no, we are in fact, those who are eternally ‘United to Christ!’ We are ‘Sons and Daughters’ who have been spiritually ‘united with Christ’ and are therefore in a completely unique sphere of human existence.

Think about it: The stars and planets and galaxies are in God’s creation. All life forms on Earth, including human beings, are in God’s world. But only those who have repented toward God and placed faith in Jesus Christ are ‘in God Himself’…are ‘in Christ’…spiritually united to the very Spirit of Christ and sharing in the very Divine nature and eternal life of their Creator and Redeemer.

Note carefully: All human beings begin by being ‘in Adam’, sharing in a common humanity. But only those who have turned their lives over to God and received Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior have been rebirthed in their spirit and thus are spiritually united to the Spirit and Life of God. And thus, while they once were ‘in Adam’ they have been transferred into an entirely new existence of life where they are now ‘in Christ!’ They are citizens of a new kingdom…the kingdom of light and life, having been transferred out of the kingdom of darkness and spiritual death. Again: Among humanity there are humans that are ‘living souls’, and there are humans that are also ‘living spirits.’ There are living souls with dead spirits’ and there are ‘living souls with live spirits.’ There are ‘Living souls only’ kind of human beings and ‘Living souls and Living spirits’ kind of human beings. The Apostle John stated exactly the same reality: 1 Jn. 5:11-12 – “And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.”

Notice: it’s not automatic. That’s why the Gospel call is for a person to call out to Jesus to ask Him to come into their life and forgive their sin and grant them eternal life…in union with Christ! And that’s why ‘assurance of your salvation’ is such a wonderful part of your birthright. If a believer is ever in doubt of his or her salvation, they only need to ask themselves: “Have I ever asked Jesus Christ to come into my life as my personal Lord and Savior, and forgive my sin and grant me His gift of eternal life?” If in doubt, just ask Him! You can base your assurance upon Jesus’ own promises to you and Jesus cannot lie. He will come into your life just as He promises. Rev. 3:20 – “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.” If you have not asked Jesus yet, or if you need assurance, ask Him today and then revel in Jesus’ promise and this assurance every day.

Now then: A Born-again Christian is not just a follower of Christ; he or she is an entirely different kind of human being than he or she previously was. There is a ‘Once-Born Human’ and then then is a ‘Twice-Born Human.’ A Twice-Born human has an entirely new spiritual DNA, as one who is now ‘In Christ’. He or she has been ‘spiritually birthed’ into the family of God and shares in God’s very spiritual nature.

Realize this: When God looks at humanity, He sees those who are still ‘in Adam’ only…whose spiritual natures are dead in trespasses and sin, and He also sees those who are ‘in Christ’, who now and forever share His own spiritual and eternal life. Once-Born humans and Twice-Born humans are both living on Earth. But only Twice-Born humans will become the inhabitants of Heaven and the New Earth. Once-Born humans will become inhabitants of the Land of Gehenna. Gehenna is a Greek transliteration of the Hebrew Ge-hinnom (The Valley of Hinnom), referring to a literal valley of destruction outside Jerusalem. In the New Testament, Jesus used this image as a metaphor for divine judgment, destruction, and a “Hellish” existence.

But again, Jesus came to deliver any and all from this condemnation who would repent and receive Him as their Savior and their God. And that is what is so sad and frustrating about any religion that does not teach the Gospel of the New Birth by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. All false religions begin with the belief that man is basically good and only needs to follow their teachings in order to be good enough for life in Heaven. That is a direct contradiction of God’s revelation which declares that man is basically dead…spiritually dead in trespasses and sin. But Satan knows that man is basically religious, so he counterfeits the Gospel of Grace with a false gospel of works, leading false religions to promote ‘spiritual rehabilitation of behavior’ rather than ‘spiritual rebirth in relationship with God.’ But because the human spirit is already dead in trespasses and sin, it doesn’t need improvement…it needs LIFE! And spiritual life is only found in Jesus Christ, and then in asking Jesus to grant you new spiritual life by coming into your life as your personal Lord and Savior.

Mark it down: A relationship with God is not established by ‘behavior.’ It is established by ‘Birth’…by spiritual re-birth. Becoming a Christian is not based upon behavior. It is based upon becoming Born-Again in your spirit. Once you become a Christian your behavior is expected to become conformed to the behavior exemplified by Jesus. And God will examine that at the family judgment in Heaven.

But no human being ever could or ever can become good enough to merit Heaven. That’s why Jesus had to come in the first place! Everyone needed a Substitute, who would live a sinless obedient life and be good enough to merit Heaven for them…in their place! Jesus had to become human in order to become our Substitute…our Savior. No one else could ever earn or merit Heaven except for Jesus Christ alone, who lived a sinless life and died a sacrificial death on our behalf. That is the unique Gospel that alone can bring salvation to any human being.

This is part of the revelation that the Apostle Paul gave us in 1 Cor. 15:21-23 – “For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming…” Note how Paul points out that it is ‘Those who now belong to Christ through repentance and faith have been brought out of spiritual death and into spiritual life.’ He goes on to explain this in verses 45-49 – “So also it is written, “The first man, Adam, became a living soul.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual. The first man is from the earth, earthy; the second man is from heaven. As is the earthy, so also are those who are earthy; and as is the heavenly, so also are those who are heavenly. Just as we have borne the image of the earthy, we will also bear the image of the heavenly.” NASB

Human beings who have not had their spirit reborn are living souls with dead spirits. Human beings who have turned to God in repentance and received Christ by faith are ‘living souls with also living spirits.’ And the reason their spirit…your spirit…is living is because Jesus Christ united His spirit with your spirit and you are now and forever ‘in Christ!’

When we speak of the ‘Personhood of God’, nothing more clearly reveals just how ‘Personable’ our God really is than this amazing wonder of our ‘spiritual union with Christ.’ It contradicts nearly everything that world religions think and teach about God, and it corrects many things that even Christians often think and teach about God.

For example: Some Christian teachers teach that a Christian can lose his or her salvation. Not only is that an impossibility, but it is also a complete distortion of what it means for a saved person as being a ‘new creation’ who has forever been united to the very Spirit and life of God Himself, as the Apostle Paul pointed out. And Jesus clearly points this out in John 5:24 – “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.” The NLT states it: “I tell you the truth, those who listen to My message and believe in God who sent Me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life.” And then Jesus goes on to say: “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.” Jn. 6:37 And verse 47 states: “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life.” Eternal life, by definition, can never become temporal life. Plus, once God gives His gift of eternal life to you, it is irrevocable. God, upon His self-imposed order, cannot take His gift of eternal life back! (Rom. 11:29)

Our ‘union with Christ’ also clarifies another area that is often cloudy in the minds of many Christians, concerning our position in Christ and our practice as a Christian. God wants us to enjoy the blessed assurance of our ‘position in Christ’, and to then ‘practice the obedience of Jesus’ throughout our life. Remember, what Jesus performed perfectly in His sinless obedient life, we are now to practice that obedience yet knowing that even our obedience will still be imperfect at best. But it’s not perfection that God is looking for in us. No, perfection in obedience has already been accomplished for us by Jesus…our Substitute Savior! What God is looking for from us now is our ‘practice of obedience…our perseverance in obedience.’ God is not looking for perfection or performance in us, but He is looking for practice and perseverance from us. Christ gave us His gift of Salvation. Now we are expected to ‘work out from our salvation’ His instructions and His will for our lives. Again, our practice of obedience will impact our experience of Heaven, but it is Christ’s obedience that qualifies us to eternally live in Heaven.

Two translations will help clarify that: Phil. 2:12 – “So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling.” NASB And then from NLT – “Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear.”

First of all: Be sure to enjoy your security that we each have in our position in our union with Christ…of being ‘in Christ. Christ has already given us His gift of salvation. We already have eternal life as a present and forever possession. We are already citizens of Heaven. That’s the other difference within Humanity. There are Once-Born humans that are citizens of Earth only, and there are Twice-Born humans who are already citizens of Heaven. Phil. 3:20 – “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Our position in our ‘Union with Christ’ means so many things, but one is that even in our obedience, we obey not for acceptance with God, but from our acceptance in God. We walk with Jesus not for union with Him, but from the union we already have, and will forever have. And even in our fight against sin, as we often like to state: We fight not for victory, we fight from victory. We are not sustained by our own strength…rather, we are strengthened by God’s strength from our Union with Christ.

Again, two calls go out: One to the unbeliever: You are either in Adam, or you are in Christ. Come by repentance and faith…be united to the Savior. And the other to the Believer: Stop trying to become what you already are. Live out your Union with Christ! Remember, you are not working toward acceptance and love with Christ. You are living from your acceptance and the love of Christ because you are already ‘in Christ!’

Your assurance doesn’t come from holding tightly to Jesus – your assurance comes from knowing Jesus is holding tightly to you.

Dear Father, thank you that we are no longer in Adam, but we are in Christ…in union with You and Your very spirit and life. Teach us to live from our union with You, not for it. Lord Jesus, help us to shape our thoughts, our obedience, and our peace to be more and more like Yours. And Lord, when we forget who we are, remind us of where we are…we are In Christ…in Union with You now and forever. Thank You Lord Jesus. And In Your Name we pray, Amen.

Features of Rewarding Relationships

Study Guide, February 15, 2026

Pastor Clay Olsen

With this being our annual Valentine’s Appreciation Sunday, we thought it would be helpful for all of us to look into some features of rewarding relationships. So let’s give it a go. But how about this? Do you like walking tours? Our coastal area is great for those who love walking tours. How many have walked or toured these sites: Fort Macon….Old Beaufort Burial grounds…The Croatan Forest…The NC Aquarium trail…how about this one? This is the Hoop Pole Creek Nature Trail. It’s by the Atlantic Beach Shopping center and it’s the last protected area on the Bogue Banks. Sharon and I were surprised that we haven’t walked that trail yet. It’s a one-mile trail that starts and ends across from Bojangles…I think they knew that people might be hungry after their walk. But what does this have to do with our Valentine’s study on Relationships? Well, just like with these walking tours, with both the ones that are familiar, as well as even with those that are not as familiar, there’s always more to see and more to discover about them. Similarly, it’s that way in our relationships, with our spouse, or even with our friends and other family members and such…there’s always more to learn and to discover. So our tour today has some helps for all of us in our relationships with others, in marriage, in other friendships, and so on.

Speaking of marriage, even kids have a way of being able to tell if two people are married. One eight-year-old boy said he could tell if two people were married based upon whether they seem to be yelling at the same kids. Then an eight-year-old girl was asked what most people should do on a date. She said, “People should use them to get to know each other. Even boys have something to say if you listen long enough.” And then a 9-year-old boy was asked what he would do if his first date was going bad. He said, “I’d run home and play dead. The next day I would call all the newspapers and make sure they wrote about me in all the dead columns.” That’s unique!

Well, let’s head out on our tour of relationships, and again, these principles are helpful for all of us regardless of the stage or season of life we are in, single, married, divorced, or widowed. For example: On Communication: What do you think of this? Dostoyevsky said, “Much unhappiness has come into the world because of bewilderment and things left unsaid.” I was kind of bewildered by that…wished he would have said more about it…no, just kidding there. But really, Communication has been called ‘Intimacy Verbalized.’ It’s one of the earliest and most consistent gifts that couples can give to each other, and a key feature of a rewarding relationship. Plus, the Scriptures point out that even our communication carries a sense of mission about it. Meaning what? Meaning this…Col 4:6- “Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.” NASU Do you practice seasoning your words before you serve them up to your spouse or your friends or your co-workers?

That is an essential feature in good communication…rather in Biblical communication. We each need to carry a ‘grace shaker’. Maybe carry a little bottle around with you in your pocket to remind yourself that we are each commanded to season our words before we dish them out…dish them out to your wife or husband or children or friends or whomever it is. Remember, as a Re-born child of God your communication has been re-purposed, so re-tool it in order to let God use it to build up others in your life. You see, that’s just another example of what is to differentiate followers of Christ from the world. Christians are to be known for their practice of ‘grace seasoned communication.’ It’s like the song: ‘They’ll know that we are Christians by our – Speech’…yes, Love, too. But Christians especially are to be careful in their speech…in their words, knowing the powerful effect words have for building others up or for tearing them down. Natural communication is based upon a person’s natural feelings or natural opinions or natural habits. But God’s people are those who have been supernaturally remade. In other words, God has retooled every part of our life. Or we can say, as re-birthed people, we have been re-purposed. And therefore, even our speech has a new purpose. Look at this: Eph 4:15-16- “…Speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.” ESV

So God has even re-purposed our speech to carry the purpose of proclaiming truth with words that have first been seasoned with grace and with the goal of building up the hearer, thus demonstrating love.

Now, this building-others-up kind of love does not eliminate the tough-kind-of-love that is sometimes needed. Certainly, there are times for reproof, correction, rebuke, and so on. But ‘rebuking others’ is not to be our default attitude…like a mad attitude. Save that for the rebellious. Our default attitude is to be that of Jesus’ attitude. He said: “I am gentle and humble of heart.” No one was tougher than Jesus on those who needed rebuking, like the Pharisees. But with those who did not intend harm to Him, He was merciful and kind. Pray that you will be and do likewise. But, again, we are to realize that within our resurrected spirit we now even have ‘re-purposed speech.’ Our speech has a sense of mission. Therefore, we are to use words for the purpose of ‘people building.’

For example: Marriage research has determined that a major cause of boredom within many marriages is simply traced to lack of communication; stimulating communication. Now there is a lot of miscommunicating that goes on. Like the husband that asked his wife, “Where is yesterday’s newspaper?” And she said, “I wrapped the garbage in it. “The husband said, “Oh, I wanted to see it.” And the wife said, “Well, there wasn’t much to see, just some orange peels and coffee grounds.” Say what? Well, good communication is hard work. It requires us to be outgoing when we would rather be ingrown. It requires that we be interested in someone else’s concerns when we’re so concerned about our own. True, we all need moments of silence. But be careful; that can be habit forming.

Now, we’re not just talking about talking…We are talking about communicating, which involves listening. I saw this recent meme about listening that was great. It was in a job interview. The Interviewer says, “So where do you see yourself in five years?” And the Guy responds: “I’d say my biggest weakness is listening.” I think the interview probably stopped right there.

But good communication doesn’t just involve listening in and of itself, but rather listening with purpose. What is ‘listening with purpose?’ Listening with purpose involves learning as well as hearing. It involves building rapport with the other person as much as acquiring information from them. Like we stated: It involves developing a concern for the interests of others and not just those of yourself. Phil. 4:4 instructs us: “…do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.” NASB The essential feature of listening with purpose is living beyond yourself…which, by the way, is also an essential feature in a happy marriage – live beyond yourself.

The Apostle Paul pointed out that we are commanded to be other’s-centered rather than self-centered. Even in communication, in ‘talking with others’, regardless of whether talking is more like work to you or if talking is more like recreation to you; either way; remember this: It’s not about you. All communication is foremost about God’s purposes for your communication. It’s mostly about what we should or shouldn’t be saying than what we feel like saying or don’t feel like saying. Here is a takeaway: Communication is to be dictated by Christian character more than by our individual personality. We each need to go on a walking tour through the Word of God to find out more about how God wants to use our words with others.

Now then, since we read that great love passage of Scripture in our responsive reading, how about we take a closer look at it? It’s four of the most potent verses ever. 1 Cor 13:4-7- “Love is patient and kind; it is not jealous or conceited or proud; love is not ill-mannered or selfish or irritable; love does not keep a record of wrongs; love is not happy with evil, but is happy with the truth. Love never gives up; and its faith, hope, and patience never fail.” TEV

Now, depending on what version you read that in, we find it revealing about 7 things love is and about 8 things love is not. But it’s pretty clear that if we are going to go very far in practicing this in our lives that it’s going to take a heavy dose of commitment from us to do that. This kind of love goes way past our emotions, because our emotions can swing like a pendulum from hot to cold; from caring to not caring at all; from being motivated to being aggravated, and so on. No, to love like this…well, how about we put this passage into a 1^st Person reading of it? And how about if we would each commit to obeying God’s instruction here on practicing love? In the 1^st Person it goes something like this: “I will be patient with you. I will be kind to you. I will not envy you; I will not boast or proudly place myself before you. I will not be rude to you; I will not exploit you for my own selfish end. I will not be easily angered with you; I will not carry a record of your personal offenses against me. I will not delight when you are harmed, or if I hear evil concerning you. I will rejoice with truth; I will always protect you, trust you, hope in you and persevere with you. I will seek to never fail you.”

Oftentimes couples are asked before their wedding if they believe they are ready for the responsibilities that come with marriage. Perhaps it would be more clear to them if they were asked if they were ready to commit to Biblical love as defined here in 1 Corinthians 13. As in, “Are you ready to commit to one another what 1 Corinthians 13 says about love? Now, we’re not talking about perfection here…as James reminds us that we all stumble in many ways. But again, we are talking about ‘purpose’. God has commanded us to love one another, and here God then defines the kind of ‘love’ He’s talking about. Anything less; anything different; anything distorted from this is not Biblical love; or God’s love; or real love. Much of what is called ‘Love’ is simply an emotional fabrication of some sort, but it’s not ‘Love’…not genuine love as defined by the Bible. Mark it down: Most relationships are built on an emotional fabrication that they call ‘love’, but it is actually a distortion of ‘love’… and not Biblical love at all. And therein lies much of the problem with most relationships today.

So, we’ve looked at ‘Communication’ and ‘Genuine Love’ on our tour. How about one other feature today, and that is: ‘Devotion’! Here’s something we highlight in Pre-Marital Counseling: Take two people. One male, one female, from totally different upbringings and experiences. Each with emotional uniqueness; with likes and dislikes. Each with some degree of independence, and with some self-centeredness, living in the same house, with different tasks and responsibilities, working from the same budget, trying to reach similar goals. Will they agree on everything? Right…No way!

However, devotion in a relationship does not mean that you think alike, but that you think together! The goal is not individual victory, but progress together. A great relationship is not just about finding the right person; it’s about being the right person that another person can find. Unlike the ole couple getting married – the Parson said, “Do you take this man for better or for worse?” And the lady said, “Well, he cain’t be no worse; and there’s no hopes of him getting any better; so I takes him just as he is!”

I guess that’s devotion…but really, devotion has to do with faithfulness. And faithfulness grows strongest out of relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. Remember: Ps. 127:1- “Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it…” NASU

Now, let’s point out something that is kind of surprising to many, and that is; If you are a Christian, you are already married, even if you are single or widowed; for you are the Bride of Christ. So all of these qualities we commonly connect with marriage between a man and a woman also apply to each of us in our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, communication, love, devotion, faithfulness, and more. But remember, the secret to strength in our Christian life in our horizontal relationships with others is based upon the strength of our vertical relationship with our Lord. Is He in charge of your house…meaning, in charge of your personal life; and if married, your married life? Is He the Lord of your personal beliefs and private habits and public witness and so on? Unless the Lord is Lord of each of these areas of your life, then be warned: whatever you have been building or are building is in vain; or has been serving no lasting purpose and therefore has no lasting value.

But the other side of that reality is this great reward. Notice again what Psalm 127:1 is also saying: “Whenever the Lord does build the house, they labor in gain who build it…” Labor in vain versus labor in gain! What a great reality and great inspiration for living under the Lordship of Christ in every area of our lives! Every day there is a question before us. Will your labor today be in vain or will it be in gain? It all depends on the Lord’s position in your life and in whatever area of your life your labor is. Is He central or is He left out, or even nowhere in sight?

Think about it: I’ve said this before, but that hasn’t stopped me yet…anyway, we’ve pointed it out before that most of the houses you see around you and the home lives you see around you are essentially ‘Sandcastles’. They are labors of vanity. They are marriages, families, and individuals who have not devoted their lives to the Lordship of Christ to be the Lord of their lives and their homes, and thus, just like our God warned, all of their labor has been and is now in vain; or, has served no Christ-centered purpose. And if your life does not have a Christ-centered purpose it is a life being lived in vain and thus has no lasting value. It’s only a matter of time before whatever they think they have gained will be revealed to have been in vain. And just like with the Sandcastle on the beach, it will all be washed away and will be an eternal loss.

On the other hand, also around you are some homes and marriages and individuals who have committed themselves to the Lordship of Christ. They have committed their life, their marriage, their family, and their works to the Lord, and to letting the Lord build each area of their lives upon the Rock, the Rock of Christ and His Word. And therefore, all of their labor has been and will forever be counted as ‘gain.’ They have sought to have a Christ-centered life, a Christ-centered marriage and home, and a Christ-centered purpose about their work and service. And nothing will ever wash any of it away that they have ever done that honors their Lord. And the Lord will reward them and their works, and it will all be counted as eternal gain!

And really, don’t we all want whatever we have built to last? Of course we do! God designed us that way. And the way that we build things that will last is when the Builder is our Lord, and we are His workmanship, working alongside Him to build up others around us; from our spouse to our children to our friends and co-workers. Plus, the immediate and daily gains from living under the Lordship of Christ is the daily growth of the fruit of the Spirit and the joys that they bring into our lives, empowering and blessing us day by day.

But that is a daily choice: Labor in vain versus labor in gain – Choose wisely. God wants you to enjoy the ‘gains’ in your personal life and in your relationships with others…marriage, church, friends, and co-workers and such. Practice God’s purposes for each of them and you’ll have great gains, now and in the Kingdom ahead.

Tracing the Amazing Wonders of the Personhood of God, Pt. 7

Study Guide, February 8, 2026

Pastor Clay Olsen

So, do you like surprises? We do get some strange surprises at times. But here is something you would never hear God saying…and that is: “Well, I didn’t see that coming!” No, of course not. God sees everything even before it comes. God is omniscient…He knows all things and therefore nothing surprises Him. In fact, as we mentioned previously, God even knows everything about you and me, and yet, He loves us just the same…He loves us still!

We’ve been exploring and tracing the amazing wonders of the Personhood of God in our studies. And we have really been amazed at how even though nothing surprises our God about us, still, He loves us deeply and completely and even loves us emotionally. And even though many overlook or discount the emotional aspects of God, they do so at their own loss, for both the implications and the applications of the reality of the Personhood of God are life changing for us in our daily walk and fellowship with our God.

For example: It’s when we begin and then continue relating to our God through His Personhood that it redefines our relationship with our God. It’s no longer just a religious or ritualistic response for us, but now our connection with God is a very personal and intimate relationship. Our ‘Born-Again’ child position becomes a deeply connected communion between us as God’s own son or daughter and He as our own Heavenly Father…or our ‘Abba Father.’

We pointed out that even the Doctrines of the Bible have corresponding emotions related with them, like with this next doctrine: The Doctrine of God’s Sovereignty and Providence. And even though our God is sovereign and rules over all creation, still, there is this sense of freedom and choice in our day-to-day experience with God. It’s like David’s prayer in Ps. 19:14 – “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to You, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” NLT

David knew that God was sovereign and that He worked all things according to His plan and will. And yet, he also knew that he had the ability to choose words and thoughts and deeds that would indeed bring pleasure to the heart of his Lord and God. And so do we! How inspiring and motivating to realize that we can please the heart of our God in a deeply emotional way by the words we say, and by the thoughts and deeds we do from day to day! This reality even enriches our ‘acceptance’ with God to an ‘affectionate acceptance’ with God. Our Abba Father thinks of us with both acceptance and with great affection!

Which then helps us better understand something else the Psalmist revealed about our God that…and could we say…blew his mind…and blows our mind as well. But before we reveal that, let’s inject something else here. And that is this: Even though our God is Omnipotent…All Powerful, still there are some things God cannot do. Oh yeah, like our God cannot lie. And that’s one of the greatest reasons for our assurance of our salvation, in that Jesus promised that whoever opened the door of their life to Him to save them…He would indeed come in and be their Lord and Savior. For God cannot lie!

And now here is something else that amazed the Psalmist, for he tells us that our God and Savior cannot stop thinking about us. What? And…Really? Take a look: Ps. 139:17,18 – “How precious are Your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, You are still with me.” Now, these are not David’s thoughts about God. No, these are God’s thoughts about David…and about you and about me. God is constantly thinking about us! How can He do that? Omniscient…and Omnipotent…remember? But again, only an intimate personal God and Heavenly Father would do this…and God does do this! He is always thinking about us!

And what, pray tell, does He think about in His thinking about us? (By the way, ‘Pray tell’ is old 16^th century English…it does have a nice ring to it… ‘Pray tell’) Anyway, here’s one thing God thinks about in relation to us. Jer. 29:11 – “For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.” NASB Of course, and by way of context, God’s plans for Israel were to bring them back to their covenant lands. But also, by way of application, God also has personal plans for you. And the Psalmist revealed that God is always thinking about the plans He has for you…the plans for you in this time of preparing for His Kingdom and the plans He has for you throughout His Kingdom. Just think: God has Kingdom plans for His Kingdom kids that includes these present days of us getting ready for His coming Kingdom by our seeking first His Kingdom and His righteousness day by day. Now then, in order to be sure that we receive the privileges of living out those plans…the plans God has for us in His Kingdom that is coming, you and I need to be living out God’s plans for us in our lives now, living out God’s will for us in this present world!

Which should also caution us to be careful about another emotion that the children of God can emote in their Heavenly Father. For in their faithfulness His children can not only please the Spirit of their God, but in their unfaithfulness, they can also grieve the Spirit of their God. In the Book of Ephesians, the Apostle Paul gives believers reasons for being careful about their character and their conduct, and he then summarizes it all with a very striking and sobering reason…even a surprising reason to some people. Notice: Eph. 4:29,30 – “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”

What? ‘Grieve the Holy Spirit of God?’ It’s important to note that the Greek word for ‘grieve’ here is ‘Lupeo.’ Paul chose this particular word because it denotes that which causes deep emotional pain, distress, sorrow, or sadness. It signifies bringing someone into a state of heaviness, hurting them emotionally, or offending them, often depicting a wounded or betrayed spirit. Paul could have chosen to use another word, ‘Pantheo’, which refers more to the outward expression of sorrow. But he chose ‘Lupeo’, which focuses on the emotional pain and distress caused or felt in relationships. This is a very real description of real feelings in a deeply experiential setting.

And as the Psalmist was recounting God’s faithfulness to the Israelites in the midst of their unfaithfulness to God, he pulls back the curtain on the Personhood of God and says this:

Ps 78:41- “Again and again they tempted God, and pained the Holy One of Israel.” Again, like with the Apostle, the Psalmist chose the Hebrew word for ‘pained’ which points to an actual emotional response. And that response was one of an emotional wound and a deeply felt distress.

When we begin to better understand just how deeply our God feels about our treatment of Him…of how our beliefs and behavior actually do emotionally affect our God in our day to day relationship with God in our faithfulness, or in our day to day relationship of unfaithfulness, it can drastically alter our entire experience of how we think and what we do and what we say…all in relation to this knowledge that it will either bring pleasure and joy to the experience of our God, or it will bring emotional pain and distress to our God. Again, where do you think we got our emotions from in the first place?!

One of the most powerful motives for faithfully worshipping and serving our God is this knowledge of this emotional response of it bringing pleasure and joy to our God who is more emotionally invested in us than we can even imagine! And alternately…one of the most powerful motives against unfaithfulness to the desires and instructions and plans our God has for us is this knowledge of the emotional sadness, sorrow, and even pain that it causes for our loving Heavenly Father. Even the fact that this Sovereign God of ours allows Himself to be affected by the faithfulness or the unfaithfulness of His children is astounding. But as both the Psalmist and the Apostle reveal: That is exactly the case. And this emotional response of our God about us should influence everything we do and everything we say day after day. Think about the choice we have every day: “I can either bring emotional pleasure or emotional pain to my emotional God today”. Choose wisely my friend!

And then, in connection with our observation of Communion today, the emotional connections with the Doctrine of Soteriology are really off the charts! The Doctrine of Soteriology speaks of the teachings of our Salvation. And in our salvation the emotions are boundless in joy, relief, peace, assurance, love, and more. And they are such for our emotional Savior as well! Remember what Luke says about how Angels react over the salvation of one who repents? Luke says there is joy in Heaven whenever a sinner repents…which includes God’s own joy.

Think about our salvation from God’s perspective a moment. We often use the term ‘Lost’ in relation to salvation, and that, foremost, as a description of the lost soul. Mark 8:36-37 tells us: “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in return for his soul?” (This refers to the value of the soul and the consequence of choosing the world over God). In Luke 19:10 Jesus said: “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (This directly expresses Jesus’ purpose to rescue lost individuals). And in Matt. 10:6 Jesus instructs His disciples to go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. So the concept of being ‘lost’ is mostly and rightly thought of in terms of a person’s soul be separated from the Creator and God because of the damage and the penalty of sin in their life. But the effect of being ‘lost’ not only impacts the individual’s state and condition of their soul…no it also impacts the personal emotions of their God. For the sinner is not only lost before their God, he or she is also lost to their God. They are lost ‘unto’ God.

You hear the sorrow on God’s part as He speaks in Ezek. 33:11 – “As I live… I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will you die…”  And you hear not only the volitional preference of God, but also the emotional desire of God toward the ones who are lost from Him in verses like 2 Pet. 3:9 – “The Lord isn’t really being slow about His promise, as some people think. No, He is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.”

So many from those God created and wanted to be part of His forever family have chosen sin instead of Him. Like sheep, they chose to go their own way instead of going their Shepherds way, and in so doing they sinned against their God and became lost in their sin and separated from God in their spirit. And unless they repent, unless they turn from their own way and return to their Shepherd, their God, their only Savior…they remain separated from God in their sin and lost from the relationship that God wanted, but they rejected or neglected it. And therefore, what they have lost in having an eternal loving relationship with God, God has also lost in having an eternal loving relationship with them.

But the other part in Soteriology in relation to the ‘Lost’ is in relation to the redemptive part, or in relation to the ‘Cost.’ For what God ‘lost’ to mankind’s choice of sin, God was willing to pay the ‘Cost’ so that some would be able to choose again…to become ‘Born-again’ by choosing Him. Realize this: It is not purely a ‘love of volition’ that the Apostle John is speaking about in John 3:16…it is heavily weighted to the ‘love of emotion’ that John is declaring to us. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” It is because God so loved that He chose to ‘give His only begotten Son.’ The redemptive price to pay in order for justice to be propitiated…or completely satisfied was ‘a life for a life.’ But in order to pay for the sins of every life it would take both a perfect life…a sinless life, and also an infinite and omnipotent life…an eternal and all powerful life in order to redeem every life…or every repentant life. And there was only One life that could pay that price! 1 Pet. 3:17-19 – “If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth; knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.” NASB

Never forget that the only reason Salvation is free to us is because it cost Jesus everything! It cost Jesus His sacrificed life! You have eternal life because Jesus paid an infinite price to purchase your salvation with His own sinless blood. As a saved child of God you are now ‘found.’ You were once ‘lost’, but Jesus was willing to pay the ‘cost.’ And the reason Jesus was so willing to pay the cost was because He so loved you that He gave His very own life in order to give you His eternal life. And that is the epitome of what love is…volitionally, mentally, but especially – emotionally. The Cross is the ultimate answer to the question of how deeply God feels about you and me.

Tracing the Amazing Wonders of the Personhood of God, Pt. 6

January 18, 2026

Pastor Clay Olsen

Last week the Praise Team led us in the song Great Are You Lord. And some of the words pointed to a greater reality about the Personhood of our God than most people even realize. Those words were: “You give life, You are love, You bring light to the darkness. You give hope, You restore every heart that is broken. And great are You, Lord… It’s Your breath in our lungs, So we pour out our praise, we pour out our praise. It’s Your breath in our lungs So we pour out our praise to You only.”

One of the greatest realities of life is the reality that our God is the source of life itself…and even the source of the very breath in our lungs. One of the statements often made in Apologetics conferences about one glaring irony of atheism is how atheists argue against the existence of God by using the very breath that is being given to them by God! How foolish is that?!

We have been taking a closer look into the Personhood of God in our recent studies. And one of the reasons for that is because both the world and often even many believers do not understand nor appreciate just how interconnected our lives and our daily welfare are to the continual workings of our Personal God! Many have adapted a secular mindset about this world…where life is divided up between the sacred and the secular. And this mindset has infected even how they think about the so-called natural and supernatural.

Back to “It’s Your breath in our lungs”…Is our daily breath a natural phenomenon or is it a supernatural work of God’s? Maybe we should ask it another way. In the course of everyday life on Planet Earth, including the living and breathing functions of human beings…what in this world is not utterly dependent upon the gracious and constant workings of God? Col. 1:15-17: “Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, for through Him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see— such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through Him and for Him. He existed before anything else, and He holds all creation together.”NASB

What is being revealed to us here are truth claims about our God that the world cannot dismiss and Christians should not ignore. Think about it: The objects in our universe, the living entities in our world….even our very bodies are all being upheld and held together by the infinite power and benevolent workings of Christ, our Creator. The Apostle refutes the notion that our world was made to function on its own by some natural power, as Deists once claimed. God didn’t wind up the world like a clock and then left it to run its course on its own.

In fact, Scientists are still trying to figure out what is the source of the force that is holding the very atoms and molecules together that make up our bodies and all matter in existence. It’s not a force…it’s a Person…the Person of the Creator, Jesus Christ! And without our Creator’s constant sustaining ministry in the physical order of the universe, all matter would disconnect from itself and disintegrate. The only thing keeping our ‘cosmos’ from becoming ‘chaos’ is the working of our Creator every minute, every second, and every nanosecond in the world and in our own lives.

Often people talk about looking for where God is supernaturally working in their lives and in other’s lives. And that intention is good of course, and that kind of talk is meant to be inspiring. But the focus of that actually falls short of just how good God’s working really is! In fact, what the reality really is about God’ working in our lives and other’s lives is far more inspiring than most realize. What do we mean?

We recently pointed out something that sounds odd, but still, it gets to the crux of the matter…that so many people, even believers, are thinking way too shallow, or really, unbiblical about our God and this world…or this so-called ‘Natural world.’ First of all, there is no self-created nor self-sustaining power in the world working independently from the one Creator of the Universe. There is no god named ‘Natural’ or no independent force named ‘Nature.’ Remember? “…through Him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see— such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world.” Now, certainly some of those rulers and authorities turned to the demonic, but even they were not self-created. No, neither the universe nor our own lives are self-sustaining. Again, even our very ‘breath’ is not being supplied by a force called ‘Nature’ or by a or a god called ‘Natural.’ (We’ll come back to that.)

And as to the ‘supernatural’…the specific word ‘supernatural’ is not in the Bible, as that is actually a modern term used to describe events beyond the so-called natural world. Certainly, the Bible describes what we generally think of as supernatural events, like God’s creation, miracles, and divine interventions, and such. But it uses different language to do so. And that’s our point. For, you see, distinctions such as ‘natural’ and ‘supernatural’ are modern philosophical categories. They are not terms used by the Biblical writers. Why? Because, and this is a key point; the Bible presents to this world a worldview in which God and His actions and workings are the ultimate reality. All creation operates under God’s rule and through His benevolent works.

In other words, ideas like ‘natural’ and ‘supernatural’ lead to a disjointed worldview, where some things are connected to God’s workings and credited to God’s workings, like those that are supernatural, but then other things are disconnected from God’s workings and not credited to God’s workings, like things which are considered to be natural. But again, the Bible does not allow for such a distinction or disconnection, nor such a discrediting of the workings of God in His created world. And we, as children of the Creator, should be the first and the foremost ones to, in whatever we do and whatever is done, give all the glory…meaning give all the ‘credit’ to our God for all of His ‘wondrous works’, and His mercies and graces on our behalf.

For example…and it’s something we also recently pointed out that we, as God’s children, can both help others better understand and then also use to open people’s eyes to the daily mighty and wondrous workings of our Creator in the lives of all He has created. We can be glorifying our God…we can be crediting our Creator and Redeemer with far more praise and thanks than we have probably been doing, but we can and should be doing.

For example: in reality, all healings are of God…every healing is a grace gift and a mercy working of God, who alone can heal. There is no other healing power… The Scriptures tell us, “In God we live, and move, and even breathe.” There is the ‘breath’ reminder again. Never forget, God alone is Jehovah Rapha…God our Healer. There is no other source of healing. There is no other god of healing…again…no god called Natural or Nature. No…Only the Creator can heal those whom He has created! As we saw from our Reading: Ps. 103:1-3 – “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget none of His benefits; Who pardons all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases.” NASB The Psalmist reveals to us here that God is and has been healing us of sicknesses and diseases that we haven’t even been aware of! And in that sense, in this Biblical sense, all of God’s healing works in our lives are miraculous…which Biblically means… ‘wondrous.’ The only difference is that some miraculous healings are immediate…some miraculous healings are gradual…and others are the ultimate healing…when this mortality puts on immortality!

But again, all healings are wondrous, miraculous works of our Creator, whether they are immediate and sudden, or are gradual and through the works of Doctors and Nurses. Remember, like the Physician Dr. Luke, the author of the Gospel of Luke, they are Medical Ministers, to whom God has given wisdom and gifts to assist in the healing works of God. And don’t forget, even beneficial medicines are grace-gifts from the Creator, for the only way for medicines to be developed is because the Creator has created everything on this Earth for the benefit of those He created. Certainly, we have to be wise about which medicines are beneficial, but for those that are, the glory goes to God for it.

That’s why we declare that each of us can celebrate our healings! For each of us have experienced God’s miraculous healings…some we have known about, others we weren’t even aware of, but one day God will tell us about them. So whether your miracle was immediate or gradual through the help of Medical Ministers and through medicinal helps, any and all of your healings are from the only Healer that exists, our Jehovah Rapha, our Lord Jesus Christ!

Remember, healing is one of the greatest types of evidence of the Creator at work in creation that there is…so the more we learn about it the more we can help others better understand the real world and the real wondrous workings of our real God and Savior. Healing directly points to the Personhood of God and His wondrous working in His created world.

Now then, many of our mercy healings are gradual healings, but no less miraculous. Even the clotting of blood is a miracle work of God’s healing graces, for again, God alone is the source of all healing. So even healings that appear ‘natural’ still have the fingerprints of God all over them. Your healings are directly connected to God’s Divine Hand! So-called ‘natural recovery’ is simply God’s gradual providence at work. God even designed the repairing mechanisms within our bodies. Remember Ps. 139:13-15? “For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth.” NASB

Here’s something that surprises some. The Bible never divides healings into ‘miraculous’ and ‘non-miraculous’ in terms of ‘Authorship.’ In fact, the English word ‘miracle’ is not a direct translation of any single, specific word in the original Hebrew or Greek biblical texts? Nope, the English word comes from the Latin word miraculum, meaning: ‘object of wonder.’ Or, a wondrous work of God. Instead, the Bible uses several different Hebrew and Greek words to describe extraordinary events, each describing a slightly different aspect of the event. 

The New Testament primarily uses four Greek words, often in combination, to describe what English translations commonly render as ‘miracles’: 

Semeion (sign): This word emphasizes that the event is a pointer or an indication of divine authority and purpose, leading a person to a deeper spiritual understanding. John’s Gospel, in particular, uses this term frequently, highlighting the symbolic meaning of Jesus’ actions.

Teras (wonder or prodigy): This term focuses on the effect on the observer, describing something that evokes astonishment, amazement, or awe. It is almost always used alongside semeion…like we read ‘signs and wonders.’

Dunamis (mighty work or power): This word highlights the inherent power and ability of God by which the event is performed. It describes works of a supernatural origin that could not be produced by natural means.

Ergon (work): Jesus sometimes referred to His miraculous acts simply as ‘works’, emphasizing that they were the actions of God working through Him.¹ 

Now, certainly, many of the mighty works of Jesus’ in the Gospels were miraculous signs and wonders that particularly confirmed and identified that He was indeed the Messiah, as in

Matt. 11:3-5: “Are You the Expected One, or shall we look for someone else?” Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see: the blind receive sight and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.” Jesus’ ‘immediate healings’ confirmed what the Prophets had told the people to look for in identifying the Messiah. They were ‘sign’ and ‘confirmation’ works and healings.

The same is true of what was necessary to confirm that the Apostles truly were sent from God and that they did indeed directly speak for God, and that their recorded words were God ordained Scriptures, just like those of the Old Testament. Notice 2 Cor. 12:12 – “The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with all perseverance, by signs and wonders and miracles.” NASB By the way, the Greek word for miracles here is dynamesin, meaning: ‘power’ or ‘powers.’

Sometimes you hear people ask the question: “Does God still perform miracles?” Well of course God still performs miracles! Why wouldn’t He? He is the miracle working God after all! But often what they are getting at are miracles that are those ‘immediate healings.’ Again, yes, God’s miracles are sometimes ‘immediate’…and again, sometimes they are ‘gradual’…and then sometimes they are ‘ultimate.’ And although, the purpose of identifying Jesus as the coming Messiah or confirming the Apostles as the authors of the New Covenant, or the New Testament was fulfilled, God’s benevolent care and His miraculous works have and are being experienced on and on in the lives of His people, through Jesus Christ, who is the same yesterday, today, and forever!

Still, the major point we are stressing in all of this is that God alone is the ‘Source’ of the wondrous workings of healings and helps and in all that is good in our lives! And once we get to where we are daily connecting all of the daily functions of our lives, from our daily healings to our daily breath, to the mighty works of God, it will then open our eyes even more to the truth of not only our complete dependence upon God, but to the truth of how great are the love and mercies and grace of our God in His daily wondrous works in our lives!

Which reminds us that each one of us who has been Born-Again has already experienced the greatest miracle in our lives…for our spirit, once dead in trespasses and sin, has been raised to new life in union with Jesus Christ our Lord! Our soul has been completely and miraculously healed to the state of eternal life! Our spirit has been resurrected into life from out of the kingdom of darkness and into the Kingdom of light and life. Eph. 2:4-9 – “But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.” NASB

Praise God for the miracle of the New Birth in our lives!

 

1. Defining Miracles – Part 1 – Understanding Miracles

Feb 9, 2022 — The John Ankerberg Show

A Spiritual Reboot

Study Guide, January 4, 2026

Pastor Clay Olsen

So, how about this? The New Year is a great time for a Spiritual Reboot! Amen to that?!

Right, a ‘Reboot’ is good for many things. Usually, we think of reboots for our computers and phones. A weekly reboot for both has lots of benefits. It clears out your RAM…your what? RAM stands for: Random Access Memory. It’s kind of like your computer’s ‘short term memory.’ A ‘reboot’ clears out unused data and unnecessary information and such that just gets in the way of accessing what you’re after. Rebooting also fixes bugs and glitches and resets connections, like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. It also improves the machine’s speed, and even helps with your security, plus it extends your battery life. So, yes, it’s a great idea to reboot your computer and your phone about once a week.

But also, as we stated, rebooting our spiritual connections and commitments each New Year has all kinds of great benefits, too. So, let’s explore some of them.

The Apostle John pointed out one of the greatest blessings we have in our relationship with Christ. Notice: “What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life— and the life was manifested, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us— what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete.” 1 Jn. 1:1-4 NASB

For the follower of Christ, the New Year calls out for renewed fellowship with God. Remember James told us that when we draw near to God, He draws near to us! (James 4:8) Even to realize that God wants a growing and deepening fellowship with us is almost beyond our understanding…but, Praise God, it’s not beyond our experience. In our saved relationship with God, our Lord wants us to experience things like – our Assurance of our Salvation. That’s something that John centered his message upon…remember? 1Jn. 5:11-13 – “And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.” NASB Assurance of our salvation is one of our ‘birthrights.’ And the reason that we can be sure is, as in the words of the song The Solid Rock…because our hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness!

When you ask Jesus to come into your life and be your Lord and Savior, He enters your spirit and brings His gift of forgiveness to forgive your sins and His gift of His righteousness to credit you with right standing before God. And in one of the greatest verses on Eternal Security in the Bible, the Apostle Paul declares: “…For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.” Rom. 11:29 NASB Based upon God’s own character and promise, He cannot take back the gift of salvation once He has given it to you. And He has promised to give His gift to each one who comes to Him and asks for His salvation. Amazing Grace for sure! And so, it’s out of our Salvation that we then work and serve and obey and…and, yes, ‘Fellowship’ with our Savior and our God.

And this ‘fellowship’ with Jesus is meant to be refreshing for us, not depressing to us. Sometimes we have glitches in our own RAM…our ‘random access memory’, where we dwell on past failings and flaws, and then instead of ‘refreshing’ it becomes ‘depressing’. Again, one of the pitfalls of our nature is that we tend to know ourselves too well and our God too little! Do not forget, God delights in showing us mercy. His lovingkindness and mercies are new each morning. God knows all about us, yet He loves us just the same.

Sure, we cannot undo the past, but we can do the present better. We can let go of the past and then do the present better. Neither are we prisoners of our past, but for all who have come to Christ, we have been freed from our past and we have liberty in our present and in our future. So, since we all tend to dwell on things…dwell on the good from your past…dwell on the wheat from your past and then sift out the bad from your past like you would chaff from the wheat. Let the winds of God’s forgiveness blow away that ‘lingering guilt’ from your mind and life. Like a reboot of your RAM, choose to dwell on what God says about you now, not what you or others say or have said about you. Rededicate yourself to drawing nearer to your Savior than you ever have before and you will find your Savior drawing nearer to you than you have ever experienced before.

Of course, part of having fellowship with Jesus is declaring your allegiance to Jesus. Sometime ago we suggested a daily pledge of allegiance that went like this: “Dear Lord Jesus, I pledge allegiance to You and to Your coming Kingdom. I surrender my mind to Your Word, my emotions to Your direction, and my will to Your control. For there is one Lord, one Savior, one Body of Christ, and one New Birth which all must receive in order to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. May others see something of You through me today.”

And as you pledge your daily allegiance to Jesus, it’s like rebooting and resetting your focus and your mindset on both your fellowship with Jesus, and also on your freedom in Jesus. For it’s only as you experience Jesus’ freedom in your life that you experience Jesus’ refreshing in your spirit. Remember John called that ‘a joy that is made complete.’ It’s not something that we can work up by ourselves, or self-manifest. No, it’s a joy that Jesus works out in our heart and mind as we seek something else first. And you know what’s coming now, right?

And we just have to go the King James on this one because it sounds so good! “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Mt. 6:33 KJV That’s so good! So, ‘all ye’, ‘seek ye’ first the kingdom of God! Can you imagine how your 2026 would go if you were to reboot your spirit in such a way that the daily settings in your mind would default to “I will seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness…today and ever after!” And remember what came next…as for the rest of the things…everything else will fall into its place after that! At least it will all be in its proper place, since none of it will be first place, because Jesus alone is to have first place in every place in our life.’

Consider that not just as a challenge, but as an invitation…an invitation to reorder your life around God and God’s priorities for your life. Consider it as an opportunity to return to first things first…placing Christ at the center of your time, and your talents, and your treasures. Consider it as a doable way to take power steps into becoming the person God created you to be. And that, too, is never too late…when you do it today! To spiritually reboot your life is to let Christ reclaim first place in your life. And in answer to the question of what place Christ came to have in everything in our life the Apostle Paul put it this way: “He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.” Col 1:18 NASB

So, are you ready to set a great goal for 2026? Here ya’ go: “My goal for 2026 is for Jesus to have first place in everything in my life.” Interestingly enough, that’s not only a great goal…it’s actually just called ‘Discipleship.’ 2 Cor. 5:14-15 – “For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.” Remember…the key to a living a successful life is not to determine ‘how’ you are going to live, but to determine ‘Who’ you are going to live your life for. First, determine to live for Christ, and then Christ will direct you on ‘how’ to live. And when you think about it…how can we do any less for our God who gave His all for us?

Plus, remember how rebooting your computer can result in renewed power in its computations? As you reboot your spirit by resetting your spiritual priorities God will renew your power for carrying out the computations of your life…as in power for your communications, power in your connections, and power with your commitments and so on…That’s why the Apostle Paul could say, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13) And the ‘all things’ are all the things that are involved in seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. What an encouragement to know that whatever God commands us to do He also enables us to do. As we consecrate our lives for God’s purposes God then empowers us to do just that. It’s just that simple, but it’s also just that profound!

How many have seen the many anchors that are placed all around Harkers Island? Right, it’s a great tradition they have out there…placing ‘Anchors’ around the community. And a great thing about an ‘Anchor’ is all the symbolism that it holds…like stability and strength and even peace and hope in the midst of storms. Mike Casile was talking about that last week and that’s what gave me the idea for including the ‘Anchor’ in this study. Thanks Mike!

The Bible uses the ‘Anchor’ to help us understand the hope we have as the anchor of our soul. Notice Heb. 6:17-20 – “Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of His purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, He confirmed it with an oath. God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.”

But then, notice this: Instead of an anchor that reaches down into the sea, the Christian’s anchor reaches up into heaven where Jesus continually intercedes for us (Hebrews 6:20; Romans 8:34). We are anchored to the Holy of Holies.
And according to Hebrews 6:19, the anchor of our souls is our hope of God’s inheritance for us in Christ. So unlike the feelings-based, doubt-infused definition of hope that is common in our world, the Christian’s hope, our hope, is ‘a strong and trustworthy anchor.’ Our hope is solid and secure because it is based on Jesus and the promises of God. Our hope anchors us during the stormy seasons of life. We have been given an anchor for the soul, a lasting hope “both sure and unshakable.” All else is fleeting and changing, but Jesus remains the same. (Hebrews 13:8)¹
So we have a New Year of 2026, but we still live in this Old World. And it’s a trouble filled, storm filled world. But again, when the storms of life flood the Christian with fear, worry, or doubt, we can hold onto God’s promises and find stability in our salvation in Christ and our eternal relationship with Him. No matter what happens, God’s promises hold fast…and therefore, so does our ‘hope.’

And although hope doesn’t eliminate all bad things, hope puts all bad things in their place. Hope assures us of better things. Hope assures us that in bad things, this, too, shall pass. Hope declares that the best is always yet to come! Therefore, God’s children don’t have to drift around on the seas of distortions and falsehoods and lies. God wants us to enjoy the peace of being fixed in a secure place. Just as an anchor grounds a ship to protect it from going adrift at sea, so also does our hope in Jesus keep us grounded and secure during the difficult, uncertain, and often painful storms of life.

And with your hope securely fastened to the promises of God’s Word, then rebooting your spirit will also help you redirect your mind. “Therefore, if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.” Col. 3:1-4 NASB

How about that? We are to regularly check the ‘Settings’ of our mental computer. Make sure that setting that says “Set your mind on the things above’ is turned to ‘ON’. Somehow that setting gets turned ‘Off’ because of all the demands and activities and other things going on in our lives. So we have to guard that particular ‘setting’ in our minds or the ‘temporal’ will crowd out the ‘eternal’ in our attention and our plans. Determine to live in this temporal world with an eternal perspective. Make sure that the things that will last forever are the things you value most. For what truly matters most is what will last beyond calendars and clocks…like your worship of God and your service for others and your prayers for people in need and your witness of the Gospel to others and your growth in the grace and knowledge of Christ and His truths. That’s how you can ‘sync’ your world to God’s world…by valuing most that which has everlasting value!

So here we go…2026…what a great time for ‘A Spiritual Reboot!’

 

1. Gotquestions.org, What does it mean that we have this Anchor for the soul?

Christmas ‘Proofs – You – See’/Prophecy, Pt. 2

Study Guide, December 14, 2025

Pastor Clay Olsen

There are some rather unusual Christmas traditions around the world. In Sweden they set out their ‘Yule Goats.’ That’s right, Yule Goat…as tradition has it that this holiday goat would help ward off mischievous spirits and things all the while Saint Nicolas went about doing his thing. And that tradition goes clear back to the 11^th century. Then, down under in Australia, they have their Surfing Santa’s tradition. Talk about a wet suit…the trick is keeping the hat on, right? And what would Christmas be like without this? Fruitcakes at Christmas. Supposedly, the tradition of ‘fruitcake’ started in Egypt. They weren’t celebrating Christmas, but they thought so much of their fruitcakes that they dropped them into pyramid tombs to have during the afterlife. What do you think…do you think ‘fruitcake’ will be at the Marriage Feast of the Lamb? I’m leaning more toward Fudge Ribbon Cake and such….But now, here is a really unusual Christmas tradition, and it goes on in Japan every year. It’s their Kentucky Christmas! This Christmas KFC is so popular that people have to order their Yuletide Feast of Family Chicken Buckets months in advance. “Merry KFC Christmas”, I guess…

And there are lots of other unusual Christmas traditions around the world, but what are much more fascinating and important are the many remarkable Christmas prophecies that are found in the Scriptures. And as we pointed out last time, these prophecies were not only intended to be recognized as realities soon to be, but also recognized as ‘Proofs -You – See!’ For these Messianic prophecies were given by God who alone can….well…let’s let God say it in His own words…“Remember the former things long past, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things which have not been done, saying, ‘My purpose will be established, and I will accomplish all My good pleasure.” Isa. 46:9,10 NASB

Only God declares the future things that will come to pass long before they do come to pass. But be sure of this: whatever God declares will come certainly will come to pass! Every prophecy that has already been fulfilled not only proves that God alone is the Sovereign Lord and that His Scriptures are absolute truth, but every prophecy that has already been fulfilled proves that every other prophecy that has not yet been fulfilled will be fulfilled exactly as God says it will.

And one of those fulfilled prophecies and yet to be fulfilled prophecies is what we began looking into last time. So let’s return to Isaiah chapter nine and we’ll first reread verse 6 and then we’ll continue. “For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;

and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.” That prophecy was fulfilled, of course, in the First Coming of Christ in His Incarnation. It’s also an example of how many of the Prophecies from Isaiah are like ‘mountain peak prophecies.’ For Isaiah saw several prophetic mountain peaks, but not the valley times in between. For example, after Isaiah predicted this First Coming of Christ he goes right on to the next ‘mountain peak prophecy’ and sees the Second Coming of Christ in verse. 7- “There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, on the throne of David and over His kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from then on and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this.” So Isaiah sees the Incarnation of Christ as the Savior of the world, and then he also sees the Coronation of Christ as the King of the world! And it’s like he is looking at back-to-back mountain peaks. But again, what is not revealed in this passage is the time in between these prophecies…or the time of the building of Christ’s world-wide Church and then the following testing and judgment times of the Tribulation period, which concludes with Christ’s return as the Conquering King and Lord of all over the Millennial Kingdom.

But thanks to Isaiah’s prophecies, we know the truths of both Jesus’ First Coming and His Second Coming, and we also know what Jesus is doing right now in this ‘Interval Period’ between them. We are living in the ‘Church Age’…the ‘Building of the Church Age.’ And every Christmas that we celebrate during this ‘Building of the Church Age’ is one Christmas closer to Christ’s return…first to gather His Church, and next to refine and redeem the remnant of Israel along with others who will become saved from every tongue, tribe, and nation on Earth. And upon the completion of the Tribulation, Jesus will then return to the Earth to establish His prophesied Kingdom on Earth. Even Linus was excited about this, as he said, “And this is what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown!” Well, yes, it’s about Jesus’ Saviorhood…available for all the Earth, and it’s also about His Lordship over all the Earth!

But in connection with Isaiah’s prophecy about Christ’s coming reign as King, the prophet injected something very fascinating. We know of the gifts that were brought to Jesus at His First Coming…gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Of course, the gold for His deity and absolute purity. The frankincense reflected the pleasant aroma offerings from as early as the Levitical offerings…and it also symbolized Jesus’ sinless life as a sweet offering to the Father. But the myrrh…that bitter herb, pointed to Jesus’ suffering in His sacrificial death, and was even part of the mixture of one hundred pounds of burial spices that Nicodemus brought for the burial at the tomb.

But now as Isaiah is prophesying about the glory of the Glorified King Jesus reigning in the restored Zion, he speaks of these same offerings being brought to the King…except for…well, let’s look. Isa. 60:6 – “A multitude of camels will cover you, the young camels of Midian and Ephah; All those from Sheba will come; they will bring gold and frankincense, and will bear good news of the praises of the Lord.” So, what about the ‘myrrh?’ Why did they not bring the myrrh again? Because Jesus came once to die for the sins of the world…and in His death He finished the work of redemption. Now He lives forever as the Redeemer and King and Lord over all the Heavens and the Earth! From now on its ‘gold and frankincense’…it’s glorifying the King and glorying in His sweet aroma of His life and holiness!

But we do have to make a prophetic stop in Bethlehem, because when it comes to proof of the truth of prophecy…Micah’s prophecy of where the King and Savior would be born is rock solid proof…or ‘manger solid proof’ we should say. Micah 5:2: “But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity.” NASB And note that Micah’s prophecy of this exact location of the Messianic King’s birth was given 700 years before Jesus’ birth. What are the odds of that happening? Right…they are countless! But also notice the set-up of this birth of the King.

‘Bethlehem, Ephrathah, Judah’: This reaches back for the Messiah’s origins in connection with Jesse and David. Isaiah presented the same truth by comparing the Messiah to a branch springing from the stump of Jesse (Isa. 11:1). Look at this regal description of the Messianic King: “Then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse, and a branch from his roots will bear fruit. The Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and strength, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. And He will delight in the fear of the Lord, and He will not judge by what His eyes see, nor make a decision by what His ears hear; But with righteousness He will judge the poor, and decide with fairness for the afflicted of the earth; And He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips He will slay the wicked. Also righteousness will be the belt about His loins, and faithfulness the belt about His waist.” Isa. 11:1-5

This ‘Branch’ identity was a prophesied identity that was also given to Christ the King by Zechariah, 520 years before Jesus’ birth. And about 80 years before Zechariah the Prophet Jeremiah said this: “Behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord, “When I will raise up for David a righteous Branch; And He will reign as king and act wisely and do justice and righteousness in the land. In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely; and this is His name by which He will be called, ‘The Lord our righteousness.’” Jer. 23:5,6 NASB How wondrous are the revelations of all of these prophecies as they just roll up upon one another to declare and to prove to the world exactly ‘Who’ the Messiah would be and that the one and only Savior of the world would also be the one and only God and King over all the world…each in its time, of course.

But again, this Messiah King would come from the lineage of David and from this remote village called ‘Too little to be among the clans of Judah.’ Even this was a statement of how inauspicious Bethlehem was, as Clans designates the military and political subdivisions of a tribe consisting of about a thousand men each. Remember, like David was described as being the least of his brothers, so Bethlehem played only a very limited role among Judah’s clans.

How like our God to choose the most insignificant place in Israel to bring forth the most pre-eminent Person in the world. And it’s just like our Lord in how He delights to choose the weak and despised things of this world to shame the wise and strong, that man may boast in the Lord alone.

And yet, in the midst of this prophecy of where the place of Jesus’ birth would be, Micah also included that statement that highlighted just ‘Who’ it would be that would be born there. ‘His goings forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity.’ And when you add this ‘Who’ to the ‘where’…that His days are from all eternity…well then, all those who knew the Scriptures also realized that this prophecy just moved into ‘Yahweh’ territory. For the ‘One whose going forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity’ can only belong to the One who revealed Himself to others as the Eternal One, as ‘Yahweh’. And ‘Yahweh’ means: “I am Who I am.’

Remember, it was Moses who asked this: “Then Moses said to God, “Behold, I am going to the sons of Israel, and I will say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you.’ Now they may say to me, ‘What is His name?’ What shall I say to them?” God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”; and He said, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” God, furthermore, said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is My name forever, and this is My memorial-name to all generations.” Ex. 3:13-15

Just think: The One who appeared to Moses in the burning bush in the Sinai appeared one night in a manger in Bethlehem…and that same One was ‘Yahweh.’ And later when some Jewish leaders asked Jesus who He was Jesus made it quite clear who He was. Jn 8: 56-58: “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.” So the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?” Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.” Jesus revealed that He was and is the One whose goings are from long ago, from the days of eternity, as He is ‘Yahweh!’

In the works of Dr. Abraham Meister, he writes that the name of God, ‘Yahweh’ can be translated nine different ways, and then it becomes clear who Jesus Christ is:

“I am who I am…I am who I was…I am who I will be. I will be who I will be…I will be who I am…I will be who I was. I was who I was…I was who I am…I was who I will be.

And that amazing description can then be paraphrased as: “I am He who was never called into existence, who always is, who exists of Himself, the immutable One, the self-evident One, and the eternally present One.”¹

And this is the One we also are blessed to be able to also call ‘Our Savior, who is Jesus Christ, the Lord.’ Remember, even in the Old Testament God was identifying Himself as our only Savior. Isa. 43:10,11: “Before Me there was no God formed, and there will be none after Me. I, even I, am the Lord, and there is no Savior besides Me.”

Amazing prophecies to be sure…or ‘proofs-you-see!’ And one of the reasons God gave the world so many proofs that He alone is God and that He alone is the Savior is so that all would do what both the Prophets of the Old Testament and the Apostles of the New Testament called for people to do. Joel 2:32: “But everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” And from Rom. 10:13: “For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

God made the prophetic proofs very clear so that the Gospel message would be very clear so that all would know who the Messiah would be and that the Messiah would also be God, and so that they would then call upon the name of their Savior and God to become saved and to then be able to live forever with their Creator and Redeemer…with their ‘Yahweh’.

 

1. Norbert Lieth, How Prophecy Was Fulfilled at Christmas, p.8

 

 

Christmas ‘Proofs-You-See’/Prophecy

Study Guide, December 7, 2025

Pastor Clay Olsen

There’s lots to love about Christmas. At Christmas even cold and snow are thought of with a little more affection, although most Southerners like to appreciate that from afar…we think that warm green Christmases are just fine, too! But one of the things about Christmas that Christians love is that it’s all about Christ! And because Christmas is all about Christ, it’s one of the clearest ways we can point others to Christ since the Bible is full of proofs that declare that Christmas is all about Christ, in terms of the Incarnation, that is. In fact, most people are not aware that there are 465 verses in the Old Testament that refer to the Messiah or His times. And most people are not aware that Jesus fulfilled at least 300 prophecies in His earthly ministry! And since most people don’t know about these prophecies, we can then help people learn that Christmas is mostly a holiday about fulfilled prophecies! And prophecies are basically – Proofs…you see!

We often say that Christians should carry around a pocketful of prophecies so that they can be ready to pull them out and share with people…not only to help people realize how amazing these prophecies are, but to help them understand that they are proofs that God has given to the world to show that He is God and that His Scriptures prove that He is God, and that Jesus is the Christ, the only Savior of the world!

Now, to go through all 300 Messianic prophecies would take us every day until Christmas, so we’ll just pick out a pocketful for now. Of course, we know that Christmas was planned before time began. Say what? Luke tells us in Acts 2:23,24 – “…this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death. But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power.” Christ’s coming to become Jesus Christ was planned from eternity past. Which would be a good question: So, when was Christmas planned? Christmas was planned from eternity past…not the holiday, but the ‘Hypostatic Union!’ The…what? The Hypostatic Union is a phrase that describes the union of Christ, who is fully God, with Jesus, who is fully man…perfect God and perfect Man. Which would be a fun way to wish people a Merry Christmas….like – “Merry Hypostatic Union Day!” That would get some interesting responses!

But then, as to when Christmas was introduced in the Scriptures…Christmas was the earliest prophecy in the Scriptures of the coming Messiah. And, again, we’re using ‘Christmas’ here in terms of the Incarnation of Jesus Christ. But note how amazing our God is…for immediately after the Fall of mankind into sin, God then announces that a Deliver would come out of mankind who would defeat sin and Satan. “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; He will crush your head, and you will strike His heel.” Gen. 3:15 NIV And don’t you love how the victory over Satan is described? “He will crush your head!”

But here we have the first pronouncement of the Gospel message that the Deliverer would be human. And since He also has the power to defeat the Devil, He must also be Divine…for only God can defeat the Devil. So, for at least 2,000 years before Jesus was born, this ‘Protoevangelium’…which is the Latin word for ‘First Gospel’…this prophetic announcement put the world on alert that the Messiah was coming. It’s been said, that from Genesis 3:15 and then on, every birth in the Old Testament came with the whisper: “Could this be the One?” Everyone who knew the Scriptures knew that the Messiah was coming…they just didn’t know when or where…for ‘when and where’ were further prophecies yet to come.

Still, God put all people on alert…to watch for the coming of the Messiah, who would be both God and Man, which would also prove the promise and prove that the Messiah is the Savior of the world. So carry the prophecy of Genesis 3:15 in your pocket, especially this Christmas season.

Then, around 700 years before the birth of Jesus, God gave another prophecy that really narrowed the identity of this child to be born. In fact, it not only narrowed the identity of the child, but it also narrowed the identity of the mother, because not only would the child be unique, but there would also be something unique about the mother. Oh yeah… Isa. 7:14 – “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.” Now, some have tried to eliminate the miraculous nature of this birth by saying that Isaiah could have just been referring to a young woman. But God doesn’t let scoffers get away with such a claim. In fact, Joseph received a direct message from an Angel about that.

Now, the Scriptures do not name this Angel…although, since the Angel Gabriel gave the announcement to Mary about being with child with the Messiah, it’s appropriate to think that Gabriel was chosen to also announce that to Joseph. But here is the Angel’s explanation to Joseph: “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly. But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us.” And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife, but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus.” Matt. 1:18-25 NASB Don’t you love how God doesn’t let scoffers get away with their scoffing by correcting them with His powerful truths?! By the way, this is also a great example of how the best interpreter of the Scriptures is Scripture itself!

So this unique Person would be born through a unique woman, whose offspring was conceived through the Holy Spirit. And another ‘by the way’ here is this: So, when does ‘human life’ begin? The Scriptures declare that life begins at conception, as in… “…the Child who has been conceived…” Plus, or ‘by the way…by the way’…and so, what is also the identity of a human life that begins at conception? “…the Child who has been conceived in her…” Mark it down: Human life not only begins at conception, but every conceived human being is also a human child…a human child who has been given life by the Creator, Who is also the only source of life. And, as such, every human child has a Divine right to life. Which means that no one has the right to put a human child to death who has been given the Divine right to life by the Creator of life!

How remarkable that the Christmas story is also a profound ‘Pro-life’ message by God! Christmas proclaims to the world that human life begins at conception and that which has been conceived is a human child. Thus, Christmas is a rebuke to this ungodly world that puts to death so many children to whom God has given life. But everyone should know that not only did Jesus come just as God promised…they are to know that Jesus is also coming back! And He has promised that justice will be done on behalf of every person… “Vengeance is Mine, thus saith the Lord. I will repay!” And yes, there is forgiveness for those who repent, but there is also judgment upon those who do not repent.

So this prophecy of Isaiah now added another layer to that question about Old Testament babies of – “Could this be the One?” to now asking of the Old Testament women – “Could she be the one?” Could this woman be the One who would give birth to the One who would be the Messiah?” Or, as Mary put it: “And Mary said: “My soul exalts the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. For He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave; For behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed. For the Mighty One has done great things for me; and holy is His name. And His mercy is upon generation after generation toward those who fear Him.” Luke 1:46-50 NASB

And did you notice how Mary helped each one of us to have a better understanding of our own identity? “He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave.” That is one of our identities as well, for we are each humble bondslaves of our Lord God. And what is a bondslave? To be a bondslave of God is to realize that we were purchased by God. And what would God use to purchase you and me? 1 Pet.1:17-19 – “If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth; knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.” And in 1Cor. 6:19,20 we see this: “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.”

Mary knew that her own life was both a gift from God and that her God was also the very Owner of her life…especially for being her Savior. And that understanding not only gave Mary a humble attitude toward the Lord, but it also gave her a servant attitude about herself. Mary was a happy servant of her Lord and Savior, for she knew what it was going to cost her Messiah to redeem her soul and spirit. And when we dwell on what it cost our Savior to redeem our soul and spirit, and that because of God’s love, He willingly did so, we, too, can then say to God… “My soul exalts the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. For He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave…For the Mighty One has done great things for me; and holy is His name.”

So whatever else you carry around with you this Christmas, carry Mary’s identity of being a ‘humble bondslave’ of the Lord. And along with this humble identity also carry Mary’s happy attitude about it all. Remember her testimony? “My soul exalts the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. For He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave.” Mary learned how to rejoice in God her Savior, and we can too. In fact, since we carry the Spirit of Christ in our souls, we should be the happiest people on Earth…not because of our circumstances, but because of our souls…it is well with our souls because of Who indwells our souls…the Spirit of Christ, our God…our Savior! Mary carried Jesus in her womb and Christ in her soul. We individually carry Christ in our soul and together we carry Jesus as His body…the Church. We are Christ’s body in this world. So like with Mary, we too, can rejoice because of the One we carry.

Let’s look into one more prophecy today, or one more ‘proof-you-see’, and we’ll continue more next time. But now notice what Isaiah predicts about the identity of the coming Messiah. And Isaiah was given the amazing gift of prophesying things about both the First Coming of the Messiah right along with things about the Second Coming. And nowhere is this more evident than in Isaiah chapter 9. But before we get to the wonderful revelation about the Wonderful Counselor and so on, notice what Isaiah says before that in Isaiah 9:1,2 – “But there will be no more gloom for her who was in anguish; in earlier times He treated the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali with contempt, but later on He shall make it glorious, by the way of the sea, on the other side of Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles. The people who walk in darkness will see a great light; Those who live in a dark land, the light will shine on them.” The very lands that came under the dark rule of the Assyrians would be the very land that would witness the bright light of the Messiah’s life and salvation. This light would be for both the Jews and Gentiles.

But in reality, this celebration of the First Coming of Christ, that we call ‘Christmas’ is like that every year in every land. For by nature, without the light of Christ, every land is a dark land whose people live in darkness…spiritual darkness…actually what the Scriptures refer to as a ‘kingdom of darkness.’ Col. 1:11-14 – “We also pray that you will be strengthened with all His glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.”NLT

That’s quite a stark title for life on our planet Earth, isn’t it? ‘The kingdom of darkness’ Every Christmas we celebrate the fact that we have seen a great light…and that light is Jesus Christ, who is the Light of the world! And every Christmas is the opportunity for those who live in darkness, live in this spiritually dark world…it’s the opportunity for them to be rescued out of this kingdom of darkness and to be spiritually transferred into the Kingdom of Light…the Kingdom of Christ. This One whom Isaiah then goes on to describe as – “For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.”

Isa. 9:6

You probably noticed that we stopped before Isaiah continued the prophecy in verse 7. But that’s where we’ll pick it up next time, as that part prophesies of Jesus’ Second Coming. But back to the identity of just ‘Who’ our Messiah is…He is our Wonderful Counselor. Jesus told the Disciples that even after He ascended to Heaven that He would still be with them in the presence of God the Holy Spirit, who is our Wonderful Counselor. God the Holy Spirit not only grows His consoling fruit in our spirit, but He also leads and guides us in His counseling ministry into all truth…which is the Word of God.

And Jesus is our Mighty God, sovereign ruler of the Universe. Our part is to make Him be the ruler of our heart and mind and body and soul. He is our Eternal Father, as He and the Father are One. He is our Maker and Creator, and as the Apostle John says, “…for all things have been created through Him and for Him.” And He is our Prince of Peace. And one day Jesus Christ will impose His peace over this world of strife and war and destruction and darkness. But right now, we can experience His peace as we let the peace of Christ rule in our heart and life.

Oh, to be sure, Christmas is all about Christ. And as Christians, not only our holidays, but our very lives are also to be all about Christ, for He is our Wonderful Counselor, our Mighty God, our Eternal Father, and our Prince of Peace!

The Command to ‘Be ……………….’

Study Guide, November 30, 2025

Pastor Clay Olsen

Since we are still in the ‘Thanksgiving after-glow’, let’s expand further on this theme. And as far as Thanksgiving itself, let’s focus on how we are supposed to be…as in how we are commanded to be.

But first, think about this: It’s much easier to know what to do about anything when you know what to be in everything. Plus, the benefits in knowing what to be relieves us from much of the pressures that often come with knowing what we are to do. And no, this doesn’t lead to that question of: ‘To be or not to be, that is the question.’ No, for God has already given us commands and instructions of both what to be and also of what not to be. Therefore, ‘To be’ is no longer a question…it’s a command! The only question is… “Will we ‘be’ who and what we have been commanded to be? That is the question!’ And another plus…it’s when you give more focus to ‘being’ than you give to ‘doing’ that you also become better equipped to deal with whatever it is that you have to do. What do we mean?

Again, since we just celebrated ‘Thanksgiving’, let’s start with the most obvious. Let’s review what God says about that. Col. 3:15- “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.” ‘Be Thankful!’ That’s the great thing about a command from God. You don’t have to evaluate it. You don’t have to feel one way or another about it. You don’t have to have circumstantial reasons for it. You don’t even have to fully understand it. No, the commands of God stand alone! God’s commands need no outer props! The commands of God are simply the instructions of the Creator instructing us on how we were created to be, as well as what we were created to do. The commands of God are also the optimal way for us to live in this world, and the optimal way prepare for life in the new world. Bottom line? You can’t improve on God’s commands as the best to live your life. You can’t improve on God’s commands as the best way to glorify God, and to also be happy in this life!

For example: In a previous Thanksgiving message we delineated several benefits of ‘being thankful’, or of practicing an attitude of gratitude. I’m not going to go over that again, but let’s just mention some for emphasis, like: Boosting brain power, lowering depression, strengthening cardiovascular health (no, not like…Thank you Lord for this Moon Pie…no, you’ve got to be discerning about it all…although, those are pretty good…now you want one, right…sorry), (and more benefits of practicing thanksgiving) improves immunity, strengthens relationships, builds resilience, reduces stress, and most of all…strengthens your faith! All of that from practicing gratitude on a daily basis? Yup!

It’s like one Pastor said: “Feed your faith and you’ll starve your doubts to death!” That’s right, by recognizing the many things we can thank God for – even in the tough moments, the practice of thanksgiving feeds your faith. It can strengthen your body, mind, and spirit.

Gratitude can starve the negative thoughts and faith-depleting stresses, all the while reminding us of the blessings all around us. It helps us turn our focus to God, who is the author of all good things. I’m grateful that Jesus said, “In this world you will have troubles. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) And, don’t forget Paul, who wrote, while in prison, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 Even in a dark and cold cell Paul could talk about the need to practice gratitude and faith!¹

All right, let’s move on to another ‘Be’. ‘Be watchful’… ‘Be on the alert!’ 1 Cor. 16:13- “Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.” 1 Pet. 5:8- “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.” Mark 13:33- “And since you don’t know when that time will come, be on guard! Stay alert!”

We are not only God’s witness to this world, we are also God’s ‘watchmen’ in this world. We are to be like the Sons of Issachar, who understood the times, and therefore knew what to do about it. We are to be ready to give a defense for the hope that is within us. Which implies that people around us will first see the ‘hope that is within us.’ How do they see it? Because they see a different spirit within us. Even though they see us as fellow citizens, they also see us as strangers and sojourners, who are getting ready for something more than this world. They see us as people who are getting ready to go somewhere. They see us as people who are looking for something that’s coming. And that’s when we tell them that they are absolutely right! We are looking for the Blessed Hope and appearing of Jesus Christ! “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.” Titus 2:11-14 NASB

Are you watching for Jesus’ return? Are you alert to the signs of the times? Are you on guard against the accelerated works of the devil, knowing his days of having his ways are getting shorter and shorter? Be alert! Be clear minded! Be on guard! And did you also notice that this passage is also a good check for each of us, as in: We should pause and ask ourselves: “Is that how others see me, as looking for the blessed hope of Jesus’ return? Do others see me focusing on godly living, and being zealous for good deeds for God’s sake?” Let them see your hope, and then take opportunities to tell others about your ‘Hope’…your Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

And that leads us right to another command to be… ‘Be holy.’ God’s command to His people in the Old Testament was: “For I am the Lord your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy.” Lev.11:44 And then God’s commands to His New Testament saints is: “So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.” 1 Pet.1:14-16 NLT

So, essentially, a non-negotiable aspect of being a follower of God is the pursuit of holiness. It’s one of God’s top goals for our lives. Which calls for us each to see where the pursuit of holiness is in the list of our top goals for our life. In other words, make a list of the top 5 goals for your life. Now, is the pursuit of holiness in them? Is it time to make a new list?

Notice how the Apostle Paul puts it in 2 Cor. 7:1 – “Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” And then how about this translation…it’s the Aramaic Bible in Plain English (ABPE): “…and let us cultivate holiness in the awe of God.” That’s good! ‘Cultivate holiness’, as in weeding out anything that’s damaging the development of a holy life, or ‘deadheading’ anything that is not producing or adding to the growth of holy living. But again, God’s will for your life and for my life is: “Be holy because I am holy.” It’s not a suggestion. It’s not even a question – like: ‘To be holy or not to be holy’…nope, don’t even ask. It’s a command.

How about another ‘Be’ command? First let’s look at the verse: 1 Cor. 15:58- “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.” Put that in your favorite verses list! Thank the Lord that nothing we do for God’s glory and other’s gain is ever done in vain. Every good prayer, every good work, every good intention…everything we do for good counts both for now and forever!

But also notice the attitude of the toil: ‘Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.’ One of the best examples of that in nature is a tree…and old tree. Here’s something fascinating about old trees. Old trees may not grow taller every year, but they do keep bulking up—like a human bodybuilder. That’s the summary of recent research into the life of trees. In an article on research into the life of trees it said: “Once trees reach a certain height, they do stop getting taller. So many foresters figured that tree growth—and girth—also slowed with age. “What we found was the exact opposite,” says Nate Stephenson, a forest ecologist. “Tree growth rate increases continuously as trees get bigger and bigger.” Stephenson got together with 37 scientists from 16 nations to answer the question on a global scale. They examined nearly 700,000 trees that have been the subject of long-term studies. Here’s their conclusion: While trees did stop getting taller, they continued to get wider—packing on more and more mass the older they got. And we’re not talking about the tree-equivalent of an aging crowd with beer guts—old trees are more like active, healthy bodybuilders.² Is that cool, or what? That’s how we can be…be like a steadfast, immovable tree, that just keeps getting more and more built up in the faith, built up in our spiritual fortitude, and built up in our knowledge and grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. Like an old tree, we are to keep adding more and more rings of truth and love to our lives.

All right, one more ‘Be’ command for today: And it’s a powerful one…actually, the most powerful one of all. Eph. 5:18 – “And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit.” Again, it’s not a suggestion! It’s not an option! It’s not just an interesting topic for discussion. It’s not just a spiritual practice for some Christians and not others. It’s not just something that will bless your life and others…although it certainly will, but the point is this: It’s a direct command from God for each one of us! ‘Be filled with the Spirit!’

And so the question is: “Are you?” And if not, why not? I have no good reason not to be filled with the Spirit…and neither do you. It’s something I have to make sure of every day and throughout the day. So, okay, what does that mean to be filled with the Spirit? What’s the context of the verse? ‘Dissipation.’ What happens when one is dissipated? What is ‘dissipation?’ The Greek word literally means tossing-head. It was the common term for a hangover. We associate this term with drinking, but the Bible doesn’t limit it to the use of alcohol. Whenever we leave our calling to chase after the world, there’s a wasted period of time while we get back on track again. This is the period of a ‘spiritual hangover.’

Too many Christians are living most of their lives in spiritual dissipation. They’re either giving in to the desire for the things of the world, or they’re simply under the influence of the world…or just their own self-will or self-control.³ God calls us to be under the influence of the Holy Spirit. God calls us to daily turn the control of ourselves over to God the Holy Spirit to be in control. It’s pretty much like a surrender of self to the Holy Spirit to be in charge. My son Nate was describing ‘surrender’ as the ‘switch’ that changes everything in your Christian experience. It’s when you surrender to God the Holy Spirit to rule over your life that you move into a new realm of kingdom life and into a new growth of spiritual experience. But without surrender to God’s control, you remain stunted in spiritual growth and stagnant in spiritual fruit.

Again, we come back to God’s commands. God’s commands are not only for the purpose of doing what we were created to do, but foremost for becoming who we were created to be. And only by becoming who we were created to be can we then also experience what God wants to do. For God wants to do something for us, and in us, and through us. As we commit to being filled with His Spirit, He commits to growing His fruit in us…the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. And of course, the self-control is for turning the control of self over to the Spirit…the Holy Spirit! But, Friends, everything our souls crave are found in these nine fruits of the Holy Spirit. How just like our God to make it so that what blesses God the most in our lives is what will also bless us the most throughout our lives!

So here we have it: Five ‘Be’s’ for the holidays. ‘Be thankful…Be watchful…Be Holy…Be Steadfast…and Be filled with the Spirit.’ You can almost hear God saying to us: “Way to be!”

1. momsforamerica.us
2. preachingtoday.com/illustrations
3. quartermastersministry.com/dissipation

Tracing the Amazing Wonders of the Personhood of God, Pt. 5

Study Guide, November 16, 2025

Pastor Clay Olsen

So, how about these quotes from notable Christian leaders?

“God does not love populations, He loves people. He loves not masses, but men. He loves us all with a mighty, personal love, and that love has feeling—it grieves, it rejoices, it yearns.”

A.W. Tozer

“Think not that God sits on high, indifferent to your tears, for ‘in all their afflictions He was afflicted.’ The heart of Jesus still beats with compassion for His people.” Charles Spurgeon

“God’s love is not a mild benevolence but a consuming fire. His emotions are perfect—never uncontrolled but always expressing the fullness of His holy character.” J.I. Packer

“We are not wrong to talk of the ‘emotion’ of God’s love; but His love is a steady, unrelenting, creative energy that nothing can deflect or diminish.” C.S. Lewis

Pretty great insights into our God! One of the inspiring truths we have been seeing in our adventure of looking deeper into the Personhood of our God is how deeply ‘Personable’ our God really is. And once we get a hold of how ‘Personable our God really is it then lifts us up to a new level of our discipleship. It lifts us up to relating to our God on a level that now connects our ‘devotion’ to God with our ‘duty’ to God. We begin finding that the Words of God are not only informing our minds, but they are now transforming our hearts. We find that these awesome revelations of the Scriptures are now leaving us not only with a sense of awe over the Scriptures, but especially over the Author of the Scriptures. And we discover that our God is not only pleased with our commitment to grow in the knowledge of Christ, but that our God also wants us to experience His pleasure upon us as we grow in character of Christ.

Remember that saying about imitation? ‘The highest form of flattery is imitation.’ That’s great, but we would take that up another notch, or more, and say – ‘The highest form of praise is imitation.’ When we make it our goal…and even more…make it our central act of devotion to become more and more like our God and Savior, Jesus Christ…that is the highest form of ‘praise’ that we can give to our God. And, again, God’s response to our praise is His…what? God’s response to our praise to Him is His pleasure toward us. And in sensing, and experiencing…and yes, in feeling God’s pleasure upon you produces a powerful effect on your sense of significance, your sense of personal satisfaction, and a greater desire to worship and serve your God, who takes pleasure in those who fear and worship and serve Him. “The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him, in those who hope in His mercy^.” Ps.147:11 NKJV

In fact, the Lord wants us to ‘feel’ His pleasure upon us as we run our race of faith. Remember, it is this ‘pleasure of God’ upon us that will power us up for living out the doctrines that God has given to us. It is God’s pleasure upon us that not only inspires us intellectually and volitionally but also inspires us emotionally…just the way our God wants to inspire us! Remember: Doctrine is directly connected with Emotion. Mark it down: ‘Doctrine without emotion is cold orthodoxy; emotion without doctrine is simply humanistic enthusiasm. But doctrine with emotion forms a truthful life-altering faith!’ Think again to God’s call to us: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” Mark 12:30 NIV To be sure – Doctrine and devotion belong together.

Therefore, as we learn God’s great doctrines with our mind, the natural and right response should be a devotional reaction of our heart with the emotions of awe and wonder and yes…love…love for our God, Who is the God of all truth and love. Doctrine and devotion – Don’t leave home without them! Which takes us back to the wonders of the connections between the Doctrines of the Bible and their emotional attachments.

Note our next doctrine: the Doctrine of Creation.

Genesis 1:1: “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” 

Psalm 19:1: “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His 

hands.” 

Isaiah 40:26: “Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name.” 

Col.1:16:”For in Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and 

invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created 

through Him and for Him.”

Of course, with the wondrous works of our God in His creation of the heavens and the earth and all who dwell upon it, the emotions of wonder and awe and of course, gratitude and praise rise to the surface of our souls. And interestingly enough, so does another emotion…one that we often simply identify as a character trait, but it is also powerfully emotive. Notice: “When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained; What is man that You take thought of him, and the son of man that You care for him? Yet You have made him a little lower than God, and You crown him with glory and majesty! You make him to rule over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet.” Ps. 8:3-6 NASB

As the Psalmist considered the greatness of God as witnessed in the greatness of God’s creation he felt a powerful sense of humility wash over his soul. The story is told of President Theodore Roosevelt, that whenever he and Charles Fairbanks, Vice President, began feeling the power and prestige of their positions, they would go outside and look at the stars and the heavens for a while. And then President Roosevelt would say, “Now then, do we feel small enough?” And then they would go back to work with a refreshed humble attitude about themselves. Remember, the right up look to the One who is the Creator of all will then give you the right outlook as one whom God has created. It will be an outlook of humility…a humble attitude about yourself and a grateful heart toward your Creator.

Speaking of humanity, let’s go onto Anthropology, or, the Doctrine of Humanity. And let’s explore what the Psalmist revealed about God’s plan for man. That is, God created humanity with a purpose of managing all that He had created; first, managing the works of Earth and then expanding to all the works God’s hands…all Creation. God’s plan was to create a family for Himself who would then rule and reign along with Himself over all that He had created.

Talk about the emotional connections with these purposes of God! God’s plan was for His children to steward and manage and care for all that He had created! You see, along with that humility about ourselves are also the emotions of excitement and joy and thanksgiving about God’s plan! Remember, God’s intention was for His children to have dominion, or stewardship, over all the works of His hands. And although God’s plan has been effaced by the sin of man…God’s plan has not been erased. And when God completes His building up of His redeemed family through His redemptive plan, then His ruling plan for man will continue and will expand for all eternity.  “But as it is written, ‘Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them that love Him'”.  1 Cor. 2:9 KJV

Think about it: Why do you think that things such as owning a section of land or having a home to call your own and such is so satisfying and fulfilling to the human experience? Where did that longing for some sense of ‘dominion’ or ‘management’ or ‘stewardship’ over something on this Earth ever come from anyway? Of course! God designed mankind with ‘dominion’ in mind…the Biblical sense of dominion, that is…of care-taking and developing and managing something of that which the Creator had made…made for His family. Do not forget what you are looking at when you look at the Earth and the Stars and the Heavens above us. Our Heavenly Father is saying to His children: “I made all of this for you!”

Plus, remember, it is only a short matter of time before every unrepentant person is going to have to turn over to God whatever they have falsely thought they owned in this world…they will have to turn it back over to God and to God’s redeemed children. For everything in this world, everything that you see…every piece of land, every building, every structure, every person’s portfolio…everything that you see, you need to say… “My Heavenly Father owns this. God owns it all!” “The earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains, the world, and those who dwell in it.” Ps 24:1

There is only One Owner of this world and all it contains. People the world over have only temporarily taken charge of what in fact belongs to God. But soon, all worldly dominion by worldly people will be turned back over to God and to God’s people to be managed according to the godly dominion that God intended for it all, and God will one day soon impose ‘His will’ over His world.

We can even see in our present Earth experiences some glimpses or previews of the coming Kingdom, or we should say Kingdoms. And even though our present world has been terribly sin-damaged and thus has distorted the original plan of this ‘godly dominion’ by man, still, we do have some previews from it. Look some of Jesus’ own previews about His coming Kingdom and our experience of it.

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Mt 6:19-21 It’s like that good old saying, “No, you can’t take it with you…but you can send it on ahead!” Oh yes, Jesus is clearly talking about storing up tangible rewards in the coming Kingdom that He will award to us based upon our faithful service and sacrifice for His will in this present world.

Jesus also said this: “And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name’s sake, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life. Luke 18:29,30 Jesus was speaking about both spiritual blessings and physical compensations in both the spiritual and physical coming Kingdom.’

And note Jesus’ instructions about faithfulness in the stewardship of the things on Earth in relation to the enjoyment of the true riches to come in Heaven. “He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much. Therefore if you have not been faithful in the use of unrighteous wealth, who will entrust the true riches to you? And if you have not been faithful in the use of that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own?” Luke 16:10-12 Notice that the positive side of Jesus’ admonition here was that faithfulness in our stewardship now is going to be rewarded with greater stewardship over even greater riches that will be apportioned to us in Heaven.

Why, even in the Parable of the Talents Jesus gave us a preview of our coming dominion and ruling privileges in the coming Kingdom. “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.” Matt 25:23 And in the Gospel of Luke it expanded to say, “…I will make you to rule over ten cities”…revealing here that part of God’s plan for those who are faithful in serving Him is this world is to be given special ‘ruling assignments’ and service privileges in the coming Kingdom.

And yes, we said previews of coming Kingdoms, because like, whereas this present Earth is a dim preview of the coming Millennial Kingdom, the Millennial Kingdom is a bright preview of the coming Eternal Kingdom. But now, what features and previews do we see in the Millennial Kingdom concerning our coming experience of having godly dominion of God’s world? Notice what Isaiah foretells about the Millennial Kingdom…about this coming ‘Age’ when even the harmony in the animal kingdom is restored. “They will build houses and inhabit them; They will also plant vineyards and eat their fruit. They will not build and another inhabit, They will not plant and another eat; For as the lifetime of a tree, so will be the days of My people. And My chosen ones will wear out the work of their hands.” (or, will have full use of and profit from the work of their hands) Isa. 65:21,22 NASB

How amazing is that? God reveals that that in the Millennial Kingdom there will be the experience of enjoying private property of homes and personal dwellings, along with the blessings of sharing in community developments and enjoying an abundance of goods and services. God’s people will have homes and properties and all kinds of rewards for their labors in their continuing privileges as being God’s stewards of His Earth and world. The real world of Heaven is going to have a lot of real ‘Earthy’ feel and experiences to it!

Realize this: It was God’s desire all along for Him to have both a spiritual family who would live with Him in a very physical world. And in this very physical world God’s family would enjoy living and developing and exploring and expanding their experiences in having godly dominion over all the works of their God’s hands. Oh yes, God’s plan for man…or God’s plan for His redeemed children is so great that it should greatly impact us emotionally. For it is when you know more and more about what God has in store for us in the future that we are then more and more filled and thrilled about it in the present, as well as then being more and more equipped to deal with whatever is temporarily happening in this present, but temporal world. To say that what God has planned for us is exciting…well, that is a major understatement! Rather, God’s plan for us is intended to emotionally excite us day by day, for it is safe to say that our God, too, is excited about it. You mean, our God gets excited…really? Well, where do you think our emotion of excitement came from in the first place?

Tracing the Amazing Wonders of the Personhood of God, Pt 3

Study Guide, October 26, 2025

Pastor Clay Olsen

So, how are you feeling today, emotionally, that is? Seems like an odd way to start a sermon, right? Or, I prefer to call our message times ‘Family Bible Studies.’ Still, why would asking about ‘emotional feelings’ in our journey of looking into the wonders of the Personhood of God be so important?

This was remarkable…[image of emotions wheel] It’s called a Wheel of Emotions…with joy, sadness, love, fear…and so on. And it shows when certain emotions are combined they then make another emotion, like healthy Fear plus Surprise equals ‘Awe’. And Serenity plus Interest equals Optimism. And Trust plus Acceptance equals Admiration…and so on. Pretty cool! I actually found a list of 183 different emotions, feelings, and moods. I think that it was called an ‘exhaustive list of emotions’…I felt exhausted after just reading it!¹

But back to the question: Why do we feel at all? Why are we emotional beings? “Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness. God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” Gen 1:26,27 NASB Now, one of the main components of God’s image, which is mostly over-looked of course, is the ‘holy moral image’ of God. And that is what was lost in the Fall, but is then rebirthed at conversion. We are reborn into union with God’s own holy moral image, in relation to sharing in God’s nature. That wonderful reality is what the Apostle Peter reveals to us in 2 Pet. 1:4 – “And because of His glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share His divine nature.” NLT It is God’s own nature that we now share that give us what Paul calls the ‘new nature’ or ‘new man’, as it is called in Eph 4:22-24. And it is part of the gift of our salvation. Plus, this is what secures us in our ‘position’ as sons and daughters of God. And, of course, we are expected to then put into practice this holy moral living, out of the new holy moral nature which we have been given in our position in Christ.

But the other components of this ‘Image of God’ are ‘mind, will, and emotions.’ And we point this out because, as we earlier pointed out, so many people, including Born-again people, tend to respond to God and relate to God on the mental and volitional level, but are greatly deficient in relating to God on this ‘emotional’ level. And in doing so, not only are they not fully honoring and pleasing their God, but they are also forfeiting much serenity and happiness throughout their Christian lives! Even part of Jesus’ high priestly prayer included His deep desire that His people would experience more and more of His ‘joy’ in them. “But now I come to You; and these things I speak in the world so that they may have My joy made full in themselves.” Jn.17:13 And as we previously pointed out, it is crucial to understand that part of the strength that God is supplying to us, to handle and work out and experience a sense of victory over the hardships of this life, is by experiencing the very strength of ‘His joy’ that He is trying to share with His people!

But…and here’s the key…you can’t share Jesus’ joy if you are not experiencing the very Person and Personhood of Jesus, in order to share His joy. For His Personhood includes not only the mind of God, and the volition or will of God, but also the ‘emotions’ of God. In other words, God wants His children to experience this journey of life through experiencing the life of their God. And in order to experience God in your life you not only need to look at life through the mind of God (the Word of God), and make choices in your life based upon the will of God, but we also need to feel the things that God feels about this life and about your own life. You will need to look more to God and relate more to God and think more about God as your ‘God who feels’…your ‘God who cares’…your ‘God who loves’…your ‘God who rejoices’…and on and on.

This is a major part of your contentment in Christ. Plus, embedded in the essentials of contentment is something that we shared with our Life Groups. It goes like this:

The Secret of Contentment is:

A confident, settled heart-felt trust in the moment-by-moment love and care of God;

And a surrendered will to my Father’s will and plans that He has for my life;

And a committed belief in the truth that God is daily leading and guiding and providing, and is fully in control of my life in every task or circumstance…regardless of my present understanding or experience…

Knowing that earth at best is a battlefield; Heaven at the least is joy beyond measure; and that the Lord Jesus Christ is my Savior, who has said to me: “I have redeemed you and you are Mine. I have called you by My name. You are precious in My sight, and I love you.” (Isa. 43:1-4)

 

This is why we keep repeating the word ‘experience’ so much, because there is a common disconnection between what many Christians profess to believe about God and what they are actually experiencing in their behavior and day to day lives. Why, even the names of God reveal more about God than just His power and authority and rule and such. For example: One of the most remarkable encounters with a person and the Personhood of God was with an Egyptian woman…Hagar. Hagar was trying to get back to Egypt after much strife and turmoil in her daily life. And then in her distress and struggle God came to her: “Now the angel of the Lord found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, by the spring on the way to Shur. He said, “Hagar, Sarai’s maid, where have you come from and where are you going?” And after the Lord consoles, comforts, and assures her of His plan for her and for the son she would have, she says this: “Then she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, “You are (El Roi) a ‘God who sees’; for she said, “Have I even remained alive here after seeing Him?” Gen 16:7, 8, 13

By the way, this is another Pre-incarnate appearance of the Lord Jesus Christ…a Theophany. And in this Hebrew name of ‘El Roi’ is the revelation that God is the ‘God who sees.’ And the reason He is the ‘God who sees’ is because He is the ‘God who cares’…He cares for hurting people. He is as the Psalmist said: ^“The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.” “The Lord is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion.” And – “The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The Lord is good to all; He has compassion on all He has made…The Lord is trustworthy in all He promises

and faithful in all He does. The Lord upholds all who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down.” (Ps 103:8; 116:5; 145:8-9, 13-14 NIV)

Be certain of this: Whenever you are hurting, for any reason and over any situation or circumstance, know that your God is your ‘El Roi’…your God who sees…your God who cares…your God who is full of compassion for you, wherever you are and for whatever you are going through, just like with Hagar. He is a very emotional Person; He is our emotional God.

And note this: By God coming to Hagar, He is showing you and me that He is the God who comes to us in our affliction and in our sorrow and in our pain. Whatever you are feeling, God feels it deeper still. Whatever ‘care’ you are carrying, God cares deeper still. Whatever joy you are enjoying, God enjoys it deeper still. He is the God who feels’ what you feel, and He is there with you and will go through it with you and help you in many ways…some we will understand, and some we won’t, but we can know, like with Hagar…God sees, and He comes to help. God always sees us and always comes to help us.

So, again, when we think about God, we often think of His power, His wisdom, His holiness…and such. And we are in awe and rejoice in each of these wonderful attributes. But as we are seeing, God wants us to also be…could we say, in light of the soon coming ‘Rapture’…God wants us to also be ‘caught up’ with the amazing emotions of our ‘God who feels’ so that we can be emotionally ‘caught up’ with our God, day by day. You see, we are to be ‘caught up’ or ‘raptured’ in our walk with God long before we are actually ‘caught up’ or ‘raptured’ in our going home to live with God.

Speaking of names that reveal more of Personhood of God, how about this one – Jehovah Mekaddishkem? (juh-Ho-vah mek-KAH-dish-KIM) That’s a mouthful, right? But that’s a name God gives Himself – ‘The Lord Who Sanctifies’. We see it in Exo. 31:12 – “…that you may know that I am the Lord who sanctifies you.” And also in 1 Thess. 5:23,24 – “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” And again in Heb.13:12 – “Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood, suffered outside the gate.” What we are seeing is that God Himself sets us apart as His chosen people, a royal priesthood, holy unto God, a people of His very own. He cleanses our sin and helps us grow and mature and follow Him throughout this life and all the way Home.

This is another example of how believers often overlook the emotions that are behind the works of God, especially in connection with a word like ‘Sanctification.’ ‘Sanctification’ may sound rather ‘stoic’, but it’s just the opposite. The reason God is our ‘Jehovah Mekaddishkem’, the Lord Who Sanctifies, is because He is the our ‘Jehovah Shalom’, or, ‘The Lord is Peace.’ Our God loves peace. His original creation was a world at peace, peace between God and mankind, peace between the animal kingdom, peace in the angelic kingdom…But when sin invaded in the world, all of that peace was broken, and spiritual warfare became rampant. But sin did not stop God’s plans nor defeat God’s desire to share His peace with a people for His own possession. The Creator chose to also become our Savior. “For by Him (Christ) all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. “He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross…” Col 1:17-20

God made a way that the penalty of our sins could be removed, and the peace restored between us and our Prince of Peace, our Jehovah Shalom. There is a very emotional word we use to describe what Jesus did in order to regain this peace with all who would believe and become His Born-again children. We refer to the work of the Cross as ‘The Passion of Christ.’ Passion is about as deep of an emotional word as there is. And it both describes and implies amazing things about our emotional God.

The word ‘passion’ originates from the Latin word ‘passio’, meaning ‘suffering’ or ‘enduring.’ This then led to the meaning of passion being the “sufferings of Christ”. And over time, the meaning expanded from suffering and emotion to its modern sense of strong enthusiasm, which developed because it was a state of being controlled by an emotion. We often think of ‘passion’ in its usual sense of strong love or controlling desire. But historically it carried that concept of ‘suffering’…yet linked to purpose, as in suffering due to love.

Jesus was also called what? Notice: “He was despised and forsaken of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; And like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely our griefs He Himself bore, And our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed. All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; But the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him.” Isa. 53:3-6 NASB

Even in this ‘Gospel of Isaiah’, as its often called, we see our Lord described in terms of deep emotion… ‘Man of Sorrows’… ‘Suffering Servant.’ Jesus suffered because of His love…it was a ‘suffering love’ for us. But again, the entire work of our redemption was as deeply emotional for our God as it was mental and volitional. And just another reason for us to think about and to relate to our God on as deep of mental, volitional, and emotional level as we can. Every belief about God that we have has a corresponding emotion attached to it. And that emotion is intended to move us to then think about our God and to relate to our God not only mentally, but emotionally…just the way our God thinks about and relates to us!

Back to our premise of this line of study…a walk with God that does not include an emotional component in your beliefs and your behavior is not only a deficient and an unbalanced walk with God, but it is a walk that misses out on one of the most motivating parts of worship and fellowship and service with and for God, our emotional experience of God. We call our beliefs the ‘Fundamentals of the Faith’, but what is so sadly overlooked is that every ‘Fundamental of the Faith’ has a corresponding ‘Feeling of the Faith’ as well. And why would you want to leave the ‘Fun’ out of ‘Fundamental’ anyway?

We’ll continue this ‘fun’ later on…

1. Thoughtcatalog.com/January -nelson/2020/04/list-of-emotions

Tracing the Amazing Wonders of the Personhood of God” Pt. 2

Study Guide, October 19, 2025

Pastor Clay Olsen

Last week we began an adventure of encouragement in what we called ‘Tracing the Amazing Wonders of the Personhood of God.’ And one of the premises for such an adventure is that it makes a great difference in how we relate to God and how we relate to others and how much we individually flourish all due to not only ‘what’ we think about our Lord and Savior, but also ‘how’ we think about our God. And the lion’s share of ‘how’ we are to think about our God comes from the revelations and insights and descriptions of how God Himself wants us to think about our God, the Lion of Judah. (That’s a little preview there about the Lion part…)

And although we are planning to mostly trace these wonders chronologically, every once in a while we’ll fast forward to some others, just because of how amazing the ‘Personal’ revelations of our God really are! For an example: We know that we are anxiously looking for the Blessed Hope of Jesus’ return for His Church in the Rapture of the Church. But in terms of ‘anxiously looking forward’ to this we need to include thinking about how much our Lord Jesus Himself is anxiously looking forward to it! What do we mean?

I remember having this pointed out by a Teacher in our Greek studies, who pointed out that the Greek has two different words for ‘air’. One is ‘aeros’, and the other is ‘aer’. ‘Aeros’ was used to describe the far regions of space, or the regions of the stars. ‘Aer’ was used when describing the lower atmosphere around the Earth…even as close as mountain heights. Now, which word do you think God had the Apostle Paul choose when describing Jesus’ return, or we should add…describing Jesus’ coming back from the Father’s house as the Bridegroom returning to gather His Bride, coming back for His Church, and then returning to Heaven? Right! The word that God had Paul record is ‘aer’! The amazing implication here shows us just how anxious Jesus is Himself to ‘catch away’ His church to be with Him in the Father’s house! He descends almost to the mountaintops when coming for His Church and to then take us Home! Jesus longs for His Church, His Bride, His children, His redeemed people, to be ‘Home’ with Him!

And right here, this character trait of God’s ‘longing’, of His ‘anxiously wanting’ His children to be with Him, is a stunning revelation of just how ‘personal’ is ‘the Personhood of our God.’ And that’s also another amazing reason of why it is so important to make sure that whatever ‘image’ you have of God…make sure that your ‘image’ is based more and more upon the ‘Image of God’ as God reveals Himself and wants to be better known and better understood according to His revealed ‘image’ of Himself!

And one of the great effects that this will have on us is that it will include us in those who are anxious for and longing for and will ‘love His appearing’, just as the Apostle said in 2Tim. 4:8- “…in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.” NASB The better you know the Personhood of Jesus Christ, and know Him in a ‘personal way’, the more you will long for and will love His appearing. And the more you long for the return of Jesus Christ the more you will live for Christ…live for Christ in such a way as that God will long to reward you with what Paul identified as “The Crown of Righteousness.” How like our God, to be so moved to such a degree that He wants to give special rewards to those children who are anxiously looking forward to Jesus’ return and thus are living their lives accordingly.

Speaking of Jesus’ return, and this will be a fun study sometime…for when it comes to ‘Rapture events’, the Rapture of the Church won’t be the first time someone was raptured. Actually, there are at least 7 Rapture type events in the Bible! And sometime we’ll do a walk through them. But when it comes to the ‘first Rapture’ event, that brings us to this remarkable Old Testament saint, which will also reveal another personal characteristic of the Personhood of God. Let’s look…

Gen. 5:21-24 – “Enoch lived sixty-five years, and became the father of Methuselah. Then Enoch walked with God three hundred years after he became the father of Methuselah, and he had other sons and daughters. So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years. Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.” NASB What? A mere 365 years old? Oh yeah! Enoch was just in his prime of life at that time. Remember his son Methuselah was how old when he died? Right…969 years old. I can imagine him sometimes saying, “Oh, to be 800 again!” Of course, before the Flood, the longevity of humanity was much longer…much much longer. But how about Enoch getting to be the first person ‘raptured’ by God? ‘Rapture’ is a word that is used to describe being ‘caught up’ to Heaven. The New Testament Greek word for that is ‘Harpazo’. Of course, ‘Rapture’ sounds more like its Latin origin of ‘Rapturo’, which means a ‘snatching away.’ Actually, the Latin Vulgate includes the word ‘rapiemur’ in its Latin Bible Version, and it is translated as ‘snatched away’ in the English translation. But the English word ‘rapture’ is derived from this Latin word.

In our last study we noted the amazing experience of how the Creator of our first parents…the Creator being the Trinity of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, then manifested Himself to those whom He had created in what is described as a Theophany, or the Pre-Incarnate appearance of the Lord Jesus Christ. And the intimacy of their experience was described as being ‘a walk’… “…the Lord God walking in the cool of the day” with Adam and Eve…indicating their previous and usual habit…God walking with them and them walking with God.

You ever notice how much God loves ‘walking?’ He doesn’t even need His 10,000 steps…God just enjoys walking, especially with His people. Jesus was continually calling people to ‘walk’ with Him. Of course, He deepened it by putting it in the form of ‘Follow Me’. Which, by the way, ‘Follow Me’ is, in fact, a descriptive way of saying, “Repent”… “Turn from following your own way to now follow God’s way.”

But what makes Enoch’s ‘walk with God’ so remarkable is that he found himself walking right off the Earth and right into Heaven. So what was it that moved God so deeply that God not only one day caught up with Enoch, but then caught Enoch up with Him right into heaven without Enoch even dying first?

Rapture generally denotes being escorted into Heaven apart from physically dying. We say ‘generally’ because remember Philip’s experience? Philip was walking on a road from Jerusalem to the desert area of Gaza and shared the Gospel from Isaiah with a court official of the Queen of Ethiopia. And right after he baptizes this new Ethiopian believer, it says: “When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; and the eunuch no longer saw him, but went on his way rejoicing. But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he kept preaching the gospel to all the cities until he came to Caesarea.” Acts 8:39,40 NASB

The Lord ‘snatched Philip away’…and he found himself about 60 miles south of where he just was. That would be like you walking along the beach in Emerald Isle and all of a sudden you are now walking on the beach near Wilmington! Philip had never experienced that before! But he was ‘snatched away’, and guess what the Greek word was there in Acts? Right! ‘Harpazo’… ‘snatched away’… ‘caught up’… ‘raptured!’ It was like a Rapture preview!

But again, whenever the Bible describes someone as one who ‘walked with God’ it’s describing a particular trait that has a particular personal effect upon our very Personal God. For note what Heb. 11:6 reveals to us about that: “By faith Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death; and he was not found because God took him up; for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God.” Not only was Enoch ‘right with God’ through being saved by grace through faith and given the gift of God’s salvation righteousness, but Enoch was also pleasing to God through his daily walk with God, which consisted of how the Psalmist put it when he said: “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to You, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” Ps. 19:14

Like the Psalmist, Enoch’s daily intention and mindful practice was to think and to live with the purpose of pleasing the Lord each day in what he would do and in what he would say. And how did this affect God? Even though God is ‘omnipresent’, or God is ‘everywhere present’, still God was so enjoying Enoch’s personality and character that it was like, instead of God coming to Earth to walk with Enoch here, He caught Enoch up to Heaven to walk with God there!

Which is to point out another huge take-away…for not only did Enoch and the Psalmist and other faithful saints have the power to bring pleasure and joy to the very personal heart of their Maker and Savior…so do we…so do you! For our God is a very personal God and He can be deeply moved by our intention to live in such a way that we make it our goal to make the words of our mouth and the meditation of our heart and the conduct of our life be pleasing to our God! And the key to being pleasing to God is to first make it your purpose to be pleasing to your God, like Enoch’s purpose and David’s purpose and Paul’s purpose was each day. And by the power of the Holy Spirit we can each do that!

But wait…there’s more! So, was there anything else about Enoch that caused God to be pleased with Enoch to such a degree that He wanted Enoch to walk even closer to Him in Heaven than He could on Earth? There’s more about Enoch in the Bible and we find it in the single chapter Book of Jude. Take a look at this: Jude 1:14-16: “It was also about these men that Enoch, in the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord came with many thousands of His holy ones, to execute judgment upon all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their ungodly deeds which they have done in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.” These are grumblers, finding fault, following after their own lusts; they speak arrogantly, flattering people for the sake of gaining an advantage.” NASB

Now, this prophecy of Enoch was not taken from the Apocryphal ‘Book of Enoch’, written by a different person, and written after the destruction of Jerusalem. No, this was an actual prophecy made by the actual Enoch of Genesis. And it was like God the Holy Spirit said to Enoch: “That was good Enoch…I’m going to have Jude record what you said, and that way it will be recorded for my Church and for all time.” …maybe something like that…anyway, God wanted Enoch’s prophecy included in the Bible…

But what a prophecy! This is actually a double prophecy, describing Jesus’ return in judgment after the Great Tribulation period, and also of the Judgment after the final rebellion at the conclusion of the Millennial Kingdom. And in just one verse four times Enoch uses the word ‘ungodly’…ungodly people, ungodly deeds, ungodly manner of their lives, and ungodly treatment of God Himself.

So we see here that Enoch not only pleased God in being a ‘consecrated servant’ of God, he also pleased God in being a ‘passionate defender’ of God! Enoch stood up for the honor, for the truth, for the defense, and for the glory of God. Enoch practiced what Paul would later instruct us in Eph. 5:8-11: “…walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them…” NASB As followers of Christ we are also to be defenders of His honor, defenders of His truth, and defenders of His glory. As we saw in Jesus’ own dealings with people: There are times to gently instruct and correct those who are honest seekers, but then there are also times to turn over the tables of those who are ungodly and dishonest scoffers! It’s like Solomon also pointed out in Eccl. 3:7,8, that there is: “A time to be silent and a time to speak. A time to love and a time to hate…” And we are to pray for discernment to know what time it is!

But note carefully: Part of what pleased God about Enoch was how much Enoch loved godliness and hated ungodliness…or hated sin. The word ‘hate’ usually throws people for a loop because they usually define it in an unrighteous way…as prejudice or bitter jealousy…or spite and malice and such. Certainly, that is an ‘unrighteous type of hate.’ However, there certainly also is a ‘righteous hatred’ that we see expressed by Enoch here and is defined for us in Prov. 8:13: “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverted mouth, I hate.” NASB Righteous hatred of sin and evil is part of what is included in what it means to ‘fear God!’

Remember this: You can measure your ‘fear of God’ by measuring your ‘hatred of sin and evil.’ You can also measure your passion for ‘godliness’ by measuring your passion against ‘ungodliness.’ Something the ‘fear of the Lord’ includes is – to hate evil…to hate sin. We are to be careful not to hate sinners, but we are commanded to hate sin… to hate the sin that is destroying them and others and to hate the sin that God Himself hates. That’s how you can measure how much you really do fear God…actually how much you really do love God, by loving the things God loves and hating the things God hates…ungodliness and sin! Plus, it’s how you can measure how much you really are committed to pleasing God…how much you really do want to ‘walk with God’ and be a ‘loyal friend’ to God.

Remember, Jesus revealed to His Disciples that He wanted them to include another layer to their relationship…for them to think of having not only a ‘Lordship’ relationship of ‘Master and servant’, but also think of having a ‘Friendship’ relationship of ‘Savior and Friend.’ Jn. 15:14,15 – “You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.” NKJV

Enoch walked with God thinking of God as his Creator, his Redeemer, and his Best Friend. And that was just the way God wanted it! And guess what? That’s just the way God wants it to be with you as well. And that’s just how ‘personal’ the Personhood of our God really is!

Tracing the Amazing Wonders of the Personhood of God

Study Guide, October 12, 2025

Pastor Clay Olsen

We are about to embark on an adventure of discovering some of the amazing wonders of the Personhood of God. And why is there a need for such an adventure? Because one of the major problems that many Christians face in trying to live out the Christian life is that they have not grasped what the Apostle Paul specifically prayed for Christians to grasp and to then experience in their walk with God. Note: “For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.” Eph. 3:14-19 NASB

And while this passage is a whole study in and of itself, it makes a connection between communing with Christ, who indwells our lives, and comprehending the love of Christ throughout our lives. In other words, to better understand the breadth and length and height and depth of the love of Christ, we are to better understand the breadth and length and height and depth of the Personhood of Christ who has come by grace through faith to indwell our spirit forever and ever. And one of the wonders of that is that the more we do come to understand the Personhood of our God the more we will then be able to understand and to then revel in the breadth and length and height and depth of the love of God for us.

And thus, to do that we are going to trace God’s own revelations of His Personhood, because of all the things God wants us to better understand, it is to understanding this: ‘Who’ our God really is, and ‘What’ our God is really like and ‘How’ He wants us to think of Him and ‘What’ He wants us to thus experience in our relationship with our Maker and our Savior. So, are you ready to begin the adventure?

We begin with a walk, a walk in a garden…not any garden, but, right…the Garden of Eden. Gen. 3:8- “They heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day…” In one of the most respected works on the Book of Genesis, Dr. Henry M. Morris writes this: “God was walking in the garden in the cool of the day. The more or less offhand way in which this is stated indicates that this was a normal event, perhaps a daily appointment time at which the Lord met with them for communion and fellowship. This is no crude anthropormorphism, but a repeated, or even continual, theophany, in which the Word of God, Christ preincarnate, clothed Himself in human form in order to communicate with those whom He had created in His own image.”¹

So from the very beginning of God creating human beings in His own image, He reveals Himself to His created children as being not only their God, but as being their God who is, as Isaiah later records, their “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, and Prince of Peace.” Isa 9:6 And in this revelation of Himself they realize that their Maker is also a very ‘Personal Being.’ A Person Being with a distinct ‘Personality’ and a distinct personal character and a Being with whom they could daily know and trust and love and enjoy, and on and on! Yes, long before C. Austin Miles wrote the Hymn, Adam and Eve experienced its words every day in that Garden, as God came to walk with them in the cool of the day…

 

“And He walks with me, and He talks with me,

And He tells me I am His own,

And the joy we share as we tarry there,

None other, has ever, known!

 

He speaks and the sound of His voice,

Is so sweet the birds hush their singing,

And the melody that he gave to me,

Within my heart is ringing . . .”

 

In your own walk with God, do you ever have a joy that you share with your Lord as you tarry there in the cool of the day? Do you ever get a ‘ringing within your heart’ from sensing the presence of the Person of God in Christ in your life? That’s something of what Adam and Eve experienced with God before the Fall and then regained it after their repentance and the second birth of their spirit. And, of course, that’s what God wants each of His children to experience in our own walk with God, as we come to better know and to deeper understand what it means that He is our Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, and Prince of Peace.

The question to ask ourselves is: Does any of this describe my experience in my relationship with God? If not, then this journey into the breadth and length and height and depth of the Personhood of God is designed to help each one of us experience something more of what it was like when our first parents used to, day by day, walk with God in the cool of the day. True, this world is not the Garden of Eden anymore, but your walk with God in your world can be much like it was with Adam and Eve in their world. It’s what that postulate of the Westminster Confession was seeking to state: ‘The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.’ It’s what God through Nehemiah was trying to help us understand is the key to living out a vital and soul satisfying life. What is the strength of your life…knowledge, talent, accomplishments, possessions, aptitude, abilities? Neh. 8:10: “…the joy of the Lord is your strength.” NASB

And how do you acquire that kind of joy? You can’t work it up…but you can walk it out, as you take a walk with your God in the cool of each day. And we’re not talking about a time of day, but about having a particular focus throughout the day. For, you see, this ‘Chief end of man’ is also to be the chief focus of each day. When you make the primary focus of each day be to glorify God and enjoy Him forever, you will then find yourself coming to better know the Personhood of your God and being filled with the joy of your Lord.

The Personhood of God: Let’s think about it: Throughout the Bible, whenever God appeared to people in physical form, it was the Second Person of the Trinity, the Son of God, that did so. The theological description of this is a Theophany or Christophany. The term ‘theophany’ is a combination of two Greek words: theos, meaning ‘God’, and phainein, meaning ‘to show’ or ‘to appear.’ It refers to a visible manifestation of Deity, often associated with extraordinary events that show the presence and the character of God.

And so what we have here in Genesis 3:8 is…brace yourselves…the first ‘Theophany’, the first appearance of the Pre-incarnate Christ in the Bible. Essentially, the first appearance of the Pre-incarnate Jesus in the Bible! For remember, whenever the invisible Spirit of God became visibly manifested to people it would be the Second Person of the Trinity that would do so. Do you remember Philip’s words to Jesus? Jn. 14:8-10: “If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.” Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me?”

So again, the manifestation in human form of God the Father and God the Holy Spirit would be through God the Son. Which reveals to us that this ‘Theophany’ who walked with Adam and Eve in the garden in the cool of the day was in fact the Pre-incarnate Jesus Christ! Oh yes, wonder of wonders, right? And then thousands of years later, this ‘Theophany’ would permanently take on a fully physical human body in the Incarnation of God, Jesus the Christ, in Greek, or Jesus the Messiah, in Hebrew.

Which points to another ‘in fact’…for ‘in fact’, in the creation of the physical body in which our first parents were given, God was ‘in fact’ also creating the kind of body with which He would one day forever clothe Himself! God would become both Divine and Human…Christ and Jesus…fully God and fully Man. Oh yes, those who saw Jesus also saw God the Father and God the Holy Spirit…the three in One…the Trinity of God.

But, think again…thousands of years before the wonder of the Incarnation of God is this wonder of the Pre-incarnation of God. It was Christ, who would become Jesus Christ, who was walking and talking and fellowshipping and communing with His created children.

One essential point being: When Adam and Eve thought about God, they thought about this very personal God…this Immanuel…God with us…God with them. Oh yes, they thought of His Godhood, but at the same time they thought of His ‘Personhood’. And right there is a major disconnect from how many people, Christians included, think about and relate to God. But when you disconnect Personhood from Godhood you disconnect communing and fellowshipping, and all the joy God created you ‘to share with Him as you tarry there with Him.’

A lot of theological teaching about God leans heavily to the side of God’s transcendence…the existence of God beyond the physical. And that is often coupled with both the transcendence and the ‘utter otherness’ of God. It leans hard on God’s unfathomable and incomprehensible being and nature and power. It stresses God’s thoughts and ways being so different and so much higher than our thoughts and ways that not even the distance between heaven and earth can measure that. And while all this is absolutely true, it’s also completely incomplete in relation to God’s own revelation and description of Himself to His world, and especially to how God wants His own reborn children to think of Him and to know Him.

For while we are to be in awe of His power over us, we are to also be at peace in His passion for us. While we are to live in the fear of our God we are also to rest in the favor of our God. While God is the Holy Judge of all mankind, He is also the compassionate Heavenly Father of His sons and daughters. In our born-again relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ, His transcendence is linked with His tenderness. And therefore, we are meant to understand and glory in and rejoice in both! It is because the God of the Universe is also our Immanuel for our spirit that we can say and sing, “It is well with my soul.” So mark it down: The more that we come to know the Personhood of God the more we can then relate to our God in a personal way, which is exactly the way our God wants us to know Him and to think of Him and do life with Him!

All right then…so what are some characteristics of God’s Personhood? Let’s explore…

Here’s a fun question: So what type of personality are you? Granted, people are often a combination of many types, but sometimes a person’s personality has some component that sort of drives them. How do you like this description of Personality? ‘Personality is any person‘s collection of interrelated behavioral, cognitive, and emotional patterns that comprise a person’s unique adjustment to life. These interrelated patterns are relatively stable, but can change over long time periods, driven by experiences and maturational processes, especially the adoption of roles, such as in working and parenting.’

To that I say – “Wowzers!” That’s a headful, right?! We usually think of people’s personality in terms of them being, for example: Very analytical about people and things…or very resolute, seeking to resolve or reconcile or mediate people and things…or very managerial, adept at leading people or things…or very creative, even innovative with people and things. And then there’s that whole extrovert and introvert aspects of personality. One way I’ve heard those described, in terms of an extrovert, is one who gets energized from interacting and engaging in social settings and communications, whereas an introvert is one who gets drained after interacting and engaging in social settings and communications. Most people are a combination of many of those things, but the real point we are pointing out is why does anyone even have a personality at all? It is because our Creator has a Personality…a distinct as well as perfect personality that can be known and understood and then related to based upon His glorious personality!

This is a revelation from God about Himself you should dwell upon over and over…Jer. 9: 23-24: “Thus says the Lord, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the Lord.” Therefore, central in the personality of God is the perfect balance of these three glorious characteristics. Note His amazing love and mercy. In one Psalm, Psalm 136, God had David repeat God’s lovingkindness or mercy is everlasting twenty-six times in a row! That’s how important it is to God that we know that about Him and think about Him and relate to Him according to His lovingkindness toward us.

And perfectly balanced with His mercy is His justice. We are to know that whenever God’s mercy is spurned, His justice steps us…His justice is certain! The clearest example of that is John 3:16-18- “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” God always begins with lovingkindness…with mercy. But when His mercy is rejected or neglected, then His justice is assured. Remember, the gift of Free Will to mankind meant that ‘choices’ have been given to everyone, but ‘consequences’ belong to God alone. For He is the God of perfect love, but also perfect Justice.

And completing this perfect balance is God’s righteousness. Remember, God can only and always do that which is the perfectly righteous thing to do. For God is perfectly righteous. And so not only is God’s lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness key to His personality, God tells us that He also delights in these things. Aha! And so it’s right here that we have a big-time takeaway! For if this majestic balance of mercy, justice, and righteousness is what delights our Creator, what then is the key to bringing delight into the lives of those made in the image of the Creator? Exactly!

Thus, our need, then, to better know and understand the Personhood of our Creator, Savior, and our Heavenly Father. And our adventure will continue…

1. Dr. Henry M. Morris, The Genesis Record, p. 116

 

All Creation Groans, Pt. 8

Study Guide, September 14, 2025

Pastor Clay Olsen

So, how many of you enjoy ‘RV’ing’? We live in the land of RV’s, living right here on the Coast. There are even several ‘RV’ parks around here. But here’s an idea…even if you don’t own an RV, everyone can live an ‘RV’ lifestyle? Well, you first have to revise the RV just a bit so that the RV stands for ‘Redemptive Value!’ Right, so every believer can live a ‘Redemptive Value’ lifestyle by living their lives in such a way that a redemptive value will be added to every aspect of their lives. What do we mean? Let’s explore.

First, we need to differentiate ‘Salvation redemption’ from this ‘Sanctification redemption’ that we are referring to in how we live and deal with our life. As for Salvation redemption, everyone is in need of Salvation redemption. Our natural condition was characterized by guilt: “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Christ’s redemption has freed us from guilt, being “justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:24). The benefits of redemption include eternal life (Revelation 5:9-10), forgiveness of sins (Ephesians 1:7), righteousness (Romans 5:17), freedom from the law’s curse (Galatians 3:13), adoption into God’s family (Galatians 4:5), deliverance from sin’s bondage (Titus 2:14; 1 Peter 1:14-18), peace with God (Colossians 1:18-20), and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). To be redeemed, then, is to be forgiven, holy, justified, free, adopted, and reconciled. (See also Psalm 130:7-8; Luke 2:38; and Acts 20:28.)¹

Also, in reference to our salvation, remember, the Apostle Peter said this: “…knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.” 1 Pet. 1: 18,19 The gift of our salvation is free to us, but it cost our Lord Jesus everything! We were purchased from the judicial courts of condemnation by the sinless precious blood and the very life of Jesus Christ. Jesus’ life for ours was the only way that we could be pardoned from the sentence of sin that was upon us. And Jesus not only paid the redemption price for us, but He paid it IN FULL! Remember Jesus’ word about that? Outside of ‘Agape’, it’s one of the most beautiful words ever spoken by our Lord… ‘Tetelestai’… ‘Finished’… ‘Paid in Full!’

Whenever you get one of those ‘faulty feelings’ or ‘false ideas’ about that there must be something more you must do to earn your salvation…for one thing, you can’t earn it, but thankfully, rejoice in the fact that Jesus Christ earned it for you! Therefore, your salvation is already complete in Christ! Why? Because Jesus paid it all! The ‘Redemption Price’ of your salvation was paid in full by the sinless blood of Jesus Christ!

Now then, as for how we are to then live as ‘Redeemed’ children of God, we are to now live our lives basically ‘redeeming’ everything else in our lives…redeeming them in the sense of making the most of them, making the best of them…turning whatever we do and say into having some ‘Redemptive Value’ to it all. And ‘Redemptive Value’ is: ‘The glory of God, the blessing of others, and our eternal rewards.’ Remember how the Apostle Paul put that? “See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” Eph. 5:15,16

Why, even Gandalf, in the Lord of the Rings, responded to Frodo’s lament about difficult times by stating, “All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us”. That’s pretty good! They didn’t call him a ‘Wizard’ for nothing! No, just kidding, there are no ‘Wizards.’ J.R.R. Tolkien, a Christian man, enjoyed adding some fantasy to his stories along with his Biblical themes…themes like what Gandalf said. JRR Tolkien and C.S. Lewis were part of an informal literary discussion group at the University of Oxford for nearly two decades. They called themselves ‘The Inklings’. Clever name! They also shared with each other about and helped each other in their Christian journeys together.

But, remember, last week we pointed out that we do have a Biblical call upon us to make the most of our days since we live each day in the countdown of our Mortality. And while none of us knows what number we are on in our countdown, what we do know is that yesterday was one less day to decide what to do with the times that have been given us. And, today is one day closer to the end of the times that have been given us. Thus, decide carefully…or rather: “Redeem the times that you have left of the times that have been given you.”

But what about the times in our lives that are interrupted by ‘suffering’? Or, we could ask: Is there any redemptive value even in our times of suffering? Yes there is! For even in our times of suffering we can make even our suffering produce something of lasting value for our own lives, and for other’s lives, and especially for the glory of our loving God!

Which, by the way, do remember, and we emphasize this again and again…remember that whenever we talk with someone who, sadly, is dealing with suffering in some way, always be sure to comfort them with that great trinity of comfort from our God of all comfort. We can confidently share this ‘trinity of comfort’ with others when the subject of ‘suffering’ comes up. And that ‘trinity of comfort’ is: ‘God cares about our suffering, God shares in our suffering, and God is delivering us in our suffering…delivering us either from it or through it, but we can be sure about it. These 3: God cares about, shares in, and is delivering us from or through our suffering are immediate and powerful helps to those dealing with suffering. And you can add one of my all-time ‘go to’ verses: Isaiah 41:10 – ‘Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” NASB

So, since we are mortals, we will have to deal with suffering of various types and degrees in this world. But, and more so…as Overcomers in Christ, whenever we do encounter suffering, we can make it so that it doesn’t just mess with us, but we can make it produce something for us…and for others…and for the glory of our Great God. So here we go with some action steps on how to put a harness and reins around the neck of suffering to make it produce something of ‘Redemptive Value.’

If the enemy of suffering is going to invade your life, make suffering surrender to God’s will over your life and surrender to God’s works in and through your life. For example: Make pain produce deeper Prayer in your life. One ancient saying by enemies of Christ about Christians was that ‘Christians were like nails…the harder you hit them, the deeper into the wood of their faith they would go.’ That’s very true of committed Christians!

So, pain and suffering are going to take you somewhere, so make sure it takes you deeper into God. Again, whenever pain and suffering come to you, make them produce something for you by going deeper into Prayer. Take your suffering to the Throne room and make your suffering surrender to your King. Heb. 4:16 – “Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” NASB

Tell your suffering, “I serve the King of kings and the Lord of lords. So if you are going to mess with me, you are going to serve Him, too. I’m going to pray more for God’s mercy and grace in this time of need. And then I’m going to pray for others who are going through various sufferings as well. And then I’m going to pray for ways to testify and to witness and to honor God even more through the troubles you have caused me and my family and others. Suffering doesn’t just get to be a ‘sting to you’…no, make suffering be ‘a servant for you.’ Make it serve your deepening prayer life. Make it serve your empowering prayer life. Make it serve your closer prayer life and walk with your God and King.

Also then: Make suffering solidify your Identity even more. For example: Although even God’s children get victimized by sufferings, suffering does not change our Identity in Christ. In Christ, we are Overcomers! In Christ, we are Conquerors! In Christ, we are Victors! Again, suffering may victimize us, but it doesn’t change the fact that we are still ‘Victors!’

Remember in our reading last week the Apostle Paul taught us to confront those things that contend with us. He even confronted the enemy of ‘Death’ by speaking to it as an enemy: “O Death, where is your sting? O Death, where is your victory?” And then he declared that God has already given us the victory over even the last enemy, which is ‘death’. That’s why, as Chip Ingram reminds us, that we fight not for victory…we fight from victory! We are already ‘Victors in Christ!’

So what do Victors do when enemies assault them or assault their loved ones? They confront them in the name of Jesus who has already given them the victory. Like with, ‘O death’…we can confront all enemies of God’s people. Like when we are assaulted by disease: “O cancer, where is your victory?” “O heart disease, where is your victory?” “O depression, where is your victory?” “O sorrow, O pain, O criminal, O assassin, O Devil…where is your victory? But thanks be to God, Who gives us the victory in our Lord Jesus Christ!”

Whenever any kind of suffering comes to us, it has come to a ‘Soldier of Christ.’ It has come to a ‘Victor in Christ.’ Therefore, it’s going to have to deal with us on our terms, not on the world, the flesh, or the devil’s terms. Tell suffering that if it has come to take something from you, it cannot take something from you without giving something to you. Tell suffering, “You can’t just take from me…you are going to have to WORK for me!” Put suffering to work! Tell your suffering that it is not going to just be destructive in your life, but by the power of God the Holy Spirit, you are going to make it foremost be constructive in your life, because in Christ, you have already defeated it!

Remember, every enemy of Christ and of Christ’s people, from physical enemies in the form of sickness and sorrows or in the form of wicked and evil people, to our spiritual enemies of the flesh and the devil…every enemy of God’s people is already a ‘defeated foe!’ Mark it down: The war over this world, the flesh, and the devil has already been won by our Lord Jesus Christ. And all Christians share in His victory. So what’s really going on in this world is that, absolutely, the war has already been won, but there will still be some persistent battles and skirmishes with the enemy until our King returns to impose His rule over this world. But until that day, we will have to fight against these various and sundry ‘skirmishes of sufferings.’ Again, the war has been won, but the skirmishes continue. Each and every enemy has already been defeated, but they are not yet eradicated…not until the New Kingdom comes. Therefore, we will still have to battle them. But, again, even in this fighting of the good fight of faith, God will make even the pains caused by our enemies to become gains in the lives and the futures of His children. And that is unique to God’s children in this world…temporal pains become eternal gains for God’s people.

So practice “Redemptive suffering”…not in any soul saving connotation, as some groups have really twisted that concept, but practice it in the redemptive sense that Paul talked about, as making the most of it, of making the spiritual best of it, of making it work and serve your purposes of growing deeper in Christ and going further in glorifying Christ and blessing others.

Tell pain that you are going to make it help you ‘prioritize’ your life! And one of those priorities will be the priority of Praise in your life. If you are going to have to live with pain, then pain is going to have to live with ‘Praise’…Praise in how you deal with your days, and in how you deal with everything else as well, including pain, and struggles, and suffering.

Remember, the book of Psalms is filled with examples of praise even in the midst of deep pain and distress. And so that provides a great model for using the power of praise in handling hardship. And in Acts 16, after being imprisoned and beaten in Philippi, Paul and Silas prayed and sang hymns of praise to God. They were the Victors in that battle! All throughout the Bible, the practice of praise helped believers turn their sufferings into a deeper life of trust in God’s care and reliance upon God’s promises, which then strengthened their faith and lives.

And as they focused on God’s promises, it produced an enduring witness to others of the hope found in Christ alone. So instead of being consumed by their adversities, their praise redirected them from themselves and their circumstances to focusing on God as their refuge and strength, and even in helping others around them into recognizing the presence and the pre-eminence of God!

Certainly, adversity can be alarming. Suffering can be draining. But praise is the practice that both consoles your soul and puts you in control, through the empowering control of God the Holy Spirit working in you and through you. As you praise God for His attributes, like His justice, you are then reassured that God will see to it that any suffering and any sorrow that comes to you will be met with vengeance by God upon whatever or whoever caused your suffering, as well as great recompense for you for anything you had to endure in your times of suffering. It is when you praise God that you will also experience the presence of God in a special way as revealed by Ps. 22:3, in that we are told that God inhabits the praises of His people. What an amazing grace gift from God right there! You want to experience the presence of God? Start praising Him more and more and more! And, realize that it is through entering into God’s presence that brings an inner peace and a calming to our soul.

Plus, it is this practice of praise that prompts our recalling of God’s previous works and blessings in our life. Praise really does have a transforming effect upon our mind. Sometimes, like chains, suffering shackles a person’s mind and heart in bitterness. But through the practice of praise those chains are broken, and the mind and heart are set free in your victory. And not only does ‘Praise’ have a transforming effect, but ‘Praise’ has a ‘transporting’ effect as well. It’s not an ‘out of body’ experience, but it truly is an ‘out of self’ experience. If you have ever lost yourself in communing with your Savior, you will know what this means.

So you can make suffering serve you in helping you lose more of your old self and thus find more of your new self, as you experience more of your union with Christ. But again, you will have to tell your suffering that it does not control you. Tell your suffering that it is not in charge over you. Tell your suffering that you do not belong to it…because you belong to your Maker and your Savior, and He has already defeated your suffering, as well as has defeated all of your enemies!

Again, praise God not only for your victories whenever you experience them, but praise God mostly that you are a Victor every day, and in every way, and will be a Victor in Christ for all eternity, because Jesus Christ has given you the victory!

 

1. What is the Meaning of Christian Redemption?, Gotquestions.org

All Creation Groans, Pt. 7

Study Guide, September 7, 2025

Pastor Clay Olsen

Since Sharon and I lived in South Dakota, a little story that happened in South Dakota caught my eye. While a family was traveling, they were using both their GPS for navigation and their Bible audio version for their Bible readings. Even though the GPS interrupted occasionally it didn’t distract them much until the time the audio version was going through the account of God leading the Israelites through the wilderness – “And the Lord said to Moses”…and then they heard: “in 2 miles, take Exit 110.”¹ Never saw that in the Bible before…

We have been on a journey in our studies seeking to better understand an issue that for many is kind of like a ‘wilderness issue.’ It’s the issue of ‘Suffering.’ And fortunately, we do have a GPS to help us navigate through this wilderness of suffering. We have ‘God’s Promises Service.’ It’s when we know more about what God has promised, and even what God has not promised, that we can both better understand this wilderness issue of suffering and help others better understand it as well. So, let’s explore further.

And because we know that our great God is the God of all love, the God of all hope, the God of all comfort, and on and on, whenever the hurting and suffering people around us ask that universal question of ‘Why does God allow suffering?’ we really should always start with assuring them of God’s great love, and of His care, His compassion, and such…with something like: “Well, what we know for sure is that God cares about our suffering…God shares in our suffering…and God is delivering us in our suffering…delivering us either from our suffering or through our suffering, but delivering us for sure.” Again, those who are suffering are hurting and often confused, and so they need to be assured of our God’s great compassion for them. And then, if they really want to learn more about the reasons for suffering in this fallen and broken world, we can then share what we have been walking through together in our studies on ‘suffering’. But again, basically…be sure to reassure people with what we can know for sure.

For example, as we earlier stated, our deliverance is certain…whereas the timing of our deliverance is what is uncertain. So one thing we have pointed out before is that we must trust God with the timing…trusting is in our hands, but timing is in God’s hands. Remember, the Psalmist revealed: Ps 31:15- “My times are in Your hand…” NASU

And then for those who really do want to know more about what we are to know more about, since we have God’s revelation on the reality of all issues that we face in this world, we can share what we have learned from the Scriptures concerning the issue of suffering. However, also realize this: Many people around us are not receptive to Biblical reality for explaining the reality of this world. We are to realize that a major reason that many people are not open or receptive to Biblical reality is because of man’s nature and habit of living in denial of reality.

For example: There is a Latin phrase that states: ‘Memento mori!’ The phrase means – ‘Remember that you must die.’ Stark as that may sound, it was simply a common practice in ancient times to remind people of their mortality. And by reminding others of the reality of their mortality it provoked them to make the most of their remaining days. That reminds us of the Psalmist’s exhortation to us of Ps 90:12- “So teach us to number our days, that we may present to You a heart of wisdom.” NASU This brevity of life is a daily call to us to daily call upon our Creator and Redeemer in thanks for being our Lord and Savior and in consecration of worship and commitment to service. It’s a call for us to live in appreciation of the gift of eternal life in Christ rather than any expectation of how we think life ought to be in this temporal life.

The reality of mortality is a major theme of the Scriptures, and it has been a major theme throughout history. But it was never a stand-alone theme, because the Scriptures always connected it with the greater reality of ‘immortality.’ So mortality and immortality were both to be the constant reality that people lived with, and thought about, and talked about, and therefore both influenced them to live their lives in dealing with the one and preparing for the other.

But that practice has mostly become a lost art of living for much of our modern world of ‘Reality deniers.’ And this ‘lost art of living in reality’ has even influenced many well-meaning people to then live with false expectations about how life ought to be in this world. But, as we also mentioned before, if you live with false expectations, it just sets you up for more frustrations, more disappointments, discouragements, and perhaps even worse…a crisis of faith.

Many have walked away from God because they falsely believed that God promised them ‘Immunity’ in this world, when what God has promised His people is ‘Immortality’ in His world! Again, God has not promised ‘Immunity’ from trials, troubles, struggles, and sufferings in this world. God has promised us ‘Immortality’ and perfect health and joy in His world. But until we have immortality in all things we will not have immunity from all things. And some of those things include struggles and suffering because of living in a ‘mortal world.’ And struggles and suffering is part of what mortality means.

Again, what God has promised is that He has promised to deliver us either from all these things or through all these things. And God promises to one day remove our ‘mortality’ from us and to clothe us with ‘immortality!’ 1 Cor 15:53-57- “For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory. “O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” NASU

Suffering is never to be a question about God’s care…suffering is always to be a reminder of our mortality…And a reminder of our coming immortality! And all because of our victory in Jesus Christ…our victory over mortality!

Remember, mortality is the condition of everything in this world, from the planets and stars and galaxies to plants and animals and human beings. In my 1828 Noah Webster ‘pocket’ Dictionary…Mortality is defined as ‘being subject to death’ and ‘having the necessity of dying’ and the ‘irrevocability in the manner that must cause death.’ So again, ‘Memento mori!’ Remember that you must die.

So, mortality means not only being subject to death, but it also means being in the state of ‘Entropy’, as we previously pointed out. And ‘Entropy’ is the slow and ongoing process of decay. Biologically, entropy’ begins at conception. Actually, human life is the slow and ongoing process of decay. Remember the revelation…and we are not being redundant…we are purposefully repeating this from our previous studies…2 Cor 4:16- “Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.” NASU So, embedded in the very meaning of ‘mortal’ is ‘suffering’….as ‘mortal’ includes… ‘wasting away, decaying, dying.’ Now, that might be a little depressing when someone asks you “How are you doing?” to always answer the question with “Oh, just wasting away, decaying, and dying”…how are you doing?” The conversation might just end there, too! But you would be entirely accurate in saying that because that is the reality of Mortality.

So the basic answer to “Why does God allow suffering?” is – “Because God allows us to be Mortal!” And mortality includes suffering…Every mortal human being is suffering…in various ways and degrees. Everyone is dying, but just at different rates. That’s why everyone’s only hope is only found in the Lord of Life, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! But for all mortals who are also God’s children, He is delivering them either from their suffering or through their suffering until they exchange their mortal bodies with immortal bodies, which will also then eliminate all bodily suffering for His children!

This is the powerful paradox and reality of life that we are to thoroughly understand as God’s children who are temporarily living in this mortal world. And of course, none of us likes thinking about our mortality, but we ought to love thinking about our coming immortality…and then let that motivate us to tell other mortal people how they too can be assured of becoming immortal in God’s coming world of immortality!

Who doesn’t love the idea of becoming ‘Immortal?’ ‘Immortality’ has been the quest of mortal man from the beginning of mankind. And there’s nothing wrong with this quest for immortality. It’s part of that hunger in the soul for the Creator and God of the soul. What’s wrong is that so many will not repent unto God in their quest for immortality. But as Jesus clearly stated: Luke 13:5- “I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” NASU

Throughout history people have been looking for the key to immortality. World religions are filled with that theme. Many movies have been filled with that theme. Many in science and medicine have been fixated on that theme…all the while the Scriptures have been proclaiming that there is no ‘key’ to immortality, because immortality is only found in a ‘Person’…the Person of Jesus Christ! No one needs a key to immortality and eternal life, but everyone needs a Savior in order to be given immortality and eternal life! Everyone needs the Savior Jesus Christ, for Jesus is the only Way, the only Truth, and the only Life in this mortal world and in the world of immortality ahead.

But when any mortal person neglects or rejects receiving the Lord of life, Jesus Christ, as their personal Lord and Savior, then when their mortal life ends, their soul will not be resurrected unto immortal life but will be resurrected unto immortal death…meaning immortal separation from their Creator and God. Revelation 20:14 calls it ‘the second death.’

Remember, it is important to know that both the saved and the unsaved will be resurrected. And ‘resurrection’ refers to the body that houses the soul. Note what Jesus said in John 5:28-29- “Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth — those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.” NKJV Of course, the type of body the unsaved will have will be one that is fitted for existing in the land of Gehenna Hell. That was part of the warning that Jesus gave in Matt 10:28- “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” NKJV

The Apostle Paul also stated that both the saved and the unsaved will be resurrected. Acts 24:15- “I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust.” NKJV The Prophet Daniel also cited the resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous. Dan 12:2- “Many of those whose bodies lie dead and buried will rise up, some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting disgrace.” NLT

So the Scriptures do reveal that the unsaved, too, will be resurrected and fitted with

a body that can live forever, or actually…fitted with a body that can ‘die forever’…as their existence is an eternal separation from God, and death essentially means ‘a separation.’ And that is another reason that Paul said to all: 2 Cor 6:2- “At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.” Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is the day of salvation.” NLT

That’s why we exhort people so often to make sure of their relationship with God. One reality about ‘mortality’ is that we don’t live in ‘tomorrow’…we live in ‘today’. We don’t have ‘tomorrow’…what we have is that we only have ‘today’. You will always live in the ‘now’. We could actually call it ‘the eternal now’, because ‘now’… ‘today’ is what we have. When ‘tomorrow’ comes, it becomes ‘today’. That’s why everyone needs to make sure that you have a saved relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ today. Remember the Apostle James said: James 4:13-15-“Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.” Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.” NASU

One clear message that comes from our mortality is that our mortality is a call for us to make sure that we have received the promise of immortality. And, again, the promise of immortality is received by receiving the Person who grants us immortality, grants us eternal life…our Lord Jesus Christ.

We still need to unpack some action steps concerning the issue of suffering. And we’ll do that in our studies ahead. But know that your sense of peace and repose in dealing with the reality of your mortality and suffering is found in the assurance that you can have of having eternal life even now in your born-again relationship with Jesus Christ. If you have any question about that relationship, remember, ‘Today is the day of Salvation.’ Be sure you have asked Jesus Christ to come into your life and be your personal Lord and Savior…while it’s still called ‘Today!’

1. Linda Fishel, Reader’s Digest, August/September 2025, p. 18

All Creation Groans, Pt. 6

Study Guide, August 24, 2025

Pastor Clay Olsen

What do you think these three images have in common? [Show Stars…Galaxies…Babies] Keep that in mind and we’ll come back to that. But sometimes one issue demands such attention from us that we isolate it from other issues. We’ve been Biblically examining one such issue…the issue of ‘Suffering’. Certainly, suffering is so alarming and so harming that it is justified to have such great attention in the lives of most people.

As we mentioned, the issue of ‘Suffering’ is the most questioned issue of all by people concerning matters of faith. And it’s both natural and normal to have deep questions about the suffering that comes into our lives and others. In fact, in God’s gracious and caring ways, God invites questions of all kinds, as the Bible is an ‘Open Book’ to the world. ‘Come and See’ is God’s invitation to everyone about everything. That’s why God the Holy Spirit moved Prophets and Apostles to record the Scriptures…the ‘revelation’ from God which would communicate and commune with people everywhere in wondrous and amazing ways, but yet with one particular purpose. The Apostle Peter recorded it, and we have cited it, but we need to state it again, and then unveil it further. It’s this: 2 Peter 1:1-4- “To those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature…” NASU

So not only is the Bible the Words of God to all people, but the Bible is also the revelation that is necessary for people to know in order to come to know their God as their Lord and Savior and to then to trust Him and worship Him and serve Him and live godly lives. And we rejoice in knowing that is why we have this indescribable collection of sixty-six books of God’s revelation to the world and especially to each one of us, His children! But it also points out a very profound reality about the very nature of God’s revelation…of the Bible…which sheds great light on how the Scriptures deal with every issue of life, including the issue of suffering.

Notice carefully: The Bible follows a particular pattern of revelation. It’s a pattern of ‘Necessary Revelation’. We say ‘necessary’ rather than even ‘needed’, because even the concept of ‘need’ is often viewed as optional from man’s side, whereas, ‘necessary’ points us to that which is absolutely vital as viewed from God’s side. So the Bible is the collection of what God views as ‘absolutely vital information’ for His created people in order for…as the Apostle Peter pointed out…for His created people to become His created and converted people…for anyone to be able to come to know their God as their Lord and Savior and to then trust Him and worship Him and serve Him and live godly lives.

So note again: The Bible is ‘Necessary Revelation’ that fulfills that overall purpose. What the Bible is not, is that it is not ‘Complete Information’ about either this present world, nor the world to come. And knowing this difference equips us with great understanding and great comfort in dealing with even such a difficult issue as suffering. How so?

Let’s expand on this: God’s pattern of ‘Necessary Revelation’ is the same for all the subjects of this world, from the subjects of Creation and Science to History and Medicine to Prophecy and even on into Heaven itself. Take Creation and Science for example. God revealed to us that He created the Heavens and the Earth according to His Will and by the power of His Words…through His omniscience and omnipotence…through His abilities as being – ‘God!’ So, along with what He had recorded in Genesis about it, He could have also revealed volumes of encyclopedic information explaining all the questions we might have about the wonders of Creation and the particulars of Science, like DNA and RNA and the Molecular composition of all living organisms, and on and on, in order to explain His handiwork and to prove His works. Of course, He could have…but for now, He gave us Stars and Galaxies and Babies. God gave us partial revelation in His Word about Creation and the revelation necessary for us to know Him as our God, and then He gave us enough miracles in this world, for now, that continuously declare the glory of God…like Stars and Galaxies and Babies!

God followed the same pattern of revelation with the subject of Prophecy. Do you remember the question that Jesus’ Disciples asked Him about the timing of His coming Kingdom? Acts 1:6-8- “So when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, “Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” NASU

Could Jesus have informed them and had them record for us the details of every prophetic event that was going to happen in the coming millennia, and in the coming centuries, and in the coming decades ahead leading up to His return and the ushering in of His Kingdom? Of course He could have! But He revealed what was necessary for them and for us to know for now in His Word, and what was necessary for us to know by becoming ‘The Living Word!’ And He did this by taking on the form of Humanity, and then by proving how much God loves us by giving up even His own life for us on a Cross to redeem us. And then He raised Himself from the dead, by the power of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Jesus even gave us the Resurrection and recorded His Ascension into Heaven for us, in order to assure us that every promise He has made to us in His Revelation of the Scriptures to us is all true and will also come to pass!

But again, notice that Jesus revealed the answers that were necessary for them to know, but He didn’t reveal every answer to everything they wanted to know. But with the revelation given that was necessary and needed, they now knew enough to be both content and confident, and to be even more committed to following Jesus and serving Him and seeking to do His will. You see, just like with the Disciples, we haven’t been given the answers to our every question about the timing of Jesus’ return either. However, we have already been given enough answers in prophecies that are necessary for us to know in order to know that Jesus is coming back exactly as He promised! The revelation that we do have in the Scriptures represents the ‘Necessary Revelation’ about Prophecy that is necessary for us to, like the Disciples, be Jesus’ witnesses both in our own Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria, and to the remotest parts of the world!

And that is the pattern that God has used in His revelation on every issue and subject of life. It’s the pattern of ‘Necessary Revelation’, which is what the Bible represents. It is essential that we understand this about God’s revelation, because just like with every other issue in the Scriptures, while the revelation we do have about suffering is not a collection of answers for all of our questions, still, it is the revelation that is necessary for us to be able to then trust God…to trust God because of the answers God has already given and because of the truths that we already know about God’s character and caring and compassion as revealed in Jesus Christ. And therefore, we have more than enough reasons to be able to be at peace and to rest over the rest of the revelation that we one day will know about every subject of life, revelation that is for now – ‘necessary, yet partial revelation.’ Still, what we are to know is that the revelation that we do have is the exact revelation that we do need for knowing God as our Lord and Savior and for trusting and worshipping and serving Him, and for living godly lives now and forever.

The answers that God has already given us about every subject in which we have questions are clear enough to give us peace for the time being over every question we still have that will be answered in due time, in God’s time, when it’s the right time for God to answer it. Plus, it’s like the Apostle John said about Jesus…remember that? John 21:25- “And there are also many other things which Jesus did, which if they were written in detail, I suppose that even the world itself would not contain the books that would be written.” NASU If God would have chosen to explain the processes and record the answers to all questions about all subjects like – Creation, Science, History, Medicine, Prophecy, and even Suffering, the world could not contain the books that would be written. Now, perhaps in Heaven there will be like the ‘Library of Heaven.’ Imagine the size of that Library! Maybe one whole ‘Planet’ will be ‘The Library of Heaven’ with books explaining every subject, along with historic videos showing how God created the Heavens and the Earth and the New Heavens and the New Earth and so on…along with coffee and chocolate to enjoy while we’re there…maybe…it’s possible!

Let’s take it further: So could God have had His Prophets write out an answer to every person’s questions that He knew that they would have, explaining every instance of like…their suffering? Of course God could have! But for now, God revealed what was necessary for us to understand about what life was going to be like, both for His own children and for unsaved people in this world. All needed to know that until we live in God’s restored world of the Millennial Kingdom and then into God’s resurrected world of the Eternal Kingdom, that all mortal people would have to live in this cursed and damaged and decaying and dying and mortal world of suffering, where even His own prophets and apostles and, especially, even His own Son suffered.

Jesus even showed us His own tears that He shed over the suffering caused by sickness and pain and death, even to those He would resurrect! In addition to that, remember, God told us that He suffers with us: Isa 63:8-9- “He said, “They are My very own people. Surely they will not betray Me again.” And He became their Savior. In all their suffering He also suffered…” NLT We have talked about the marvel that God allows Himself to suffer with His people…with you and with me! We never suffer alone, but always ‘with’…we suffer with Jesus and Jesus suffers with us, even in us. And certainly, God will reveal more reasons about that when we are able to sit down with Jesus and talk with Him for hours and hours about all of our questions. And Jesus will give us all the answers we need, maybe even want. We’ll have eternity to talk about it all, you know!

So again, God could have given us parchment and later paper, with the revelations with every answer about every question we have, like even about His love and care for us. But what was absolutely vital and necessary in order for God to demonstrate His own love for us was to give us ‘Jesus!’ So God gave us Jesus, and the Cross… “For God so loved the world, loved you, that He gave His only Son, so that in believing…in receiving Jesus…you would not perish, but have eternal life.” In the Cross, God proved everything necessary for us to know His immeasurable love for us, and to also be given His redeeming sacrifice for us, in order to have us belong to Him forever and ever. God gave us the Cross as proof of His love for us. And in addition, God gave us His precious promises of how He was going to help us in our times of suffering, along with His promises to deliver us…either from it or through it. And that is essential to know.

So note: We haven’t been given the answers to our every question about suffering. However, we have already been given enough answers…or rather…we’ve been given enough ‘necessary revelation’ about suffering to know that God does love us and is suffering with us. And in knowing that God loves us and is suffering with us, we are then assured that we can rest in His love and trust in what He is doing about it, in spite of everything we do not yet know or understand about it. And, as we have also stated, we can rest assured that He is delivering us! For God is our Deliverer, and thus He will deliver us from all harm. Yet, we are to know that this ‘deliverance’ will be either immediately, or in time, or in eternity. God will deliver us either from it or through it, but either way…we are to know it!

For an example of that, the Apostle Paul knew that God was his Deliverer and even said that God would deliver him from all evil. Notice: 2 Tim 4:18- “And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!” NKJV Think about that. This testimony came from one who had been stoned, lashed several times, imprisoned and treated harshly, gone without food and proper clothing, and more. And yet, his testimony was that God was His Deliverer, and he trusted in God delivering him according to God’s timing. Which tells us that trusting in God’s deliverance includes trusting in God’s timing, for that deliverance will be either from the suffering or through the suffering, but for sure…we will overcome the suffering, and are to be confident of being victoriously delivered!

Here is something else that people, even followers of Christ, often do not think about in connection with the issue of suffering. Suffering is a time that not only reveals what we know about suffering…it is a time that reveals what we know about our God. Like Paul, do we know and trust our God as our Deliverer, even when we are in the midst of needing deliverance? Like the Psalmist, do we know and trust God as our Shepherd, even when we are walking in a shadow period of our lives? Like Peter, do we know and trust God as ‘The Way, The Truth, and our very Life? Do we know that God has given us everything we need to know, or rather, everything that is necessary for us to know to worship God and to live godly, even like when Peter was about to be martyred for being a follower of Christ?

Again, certainly, suffering rightly calls for us to seek to understand what we can learn from the Scriputers about it, so as to better handle it. But suffering also rightly calls for us to seek to also use it for our constant purpose of living a godly life and for glorifying our God, even glorifying our God before the eyes of others. For there is one thing about suffering for sure…suffering is one thing that gets the attention of others. They may not pay attention to you when things are going well, but they sure pay attention when they are not…especially when you are suffering. Suffering is one of the most powerful platforms from which to point others to your hope…to your Blessed Hope, your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (And we’ll talk about that more later on too.)

And one more thing for our study today…Suffering calls out not only ‘Why’, but it also calls out ‘What now?” What now am I going to do about this suffering, about my suffering? Even if I don’t understand all there is about it, still, what am I going to do about it? And ‘What we can do about it’ is part of what we’ll examine in our next study.

 

All Creation Groans, Pt. 5

Study Guide, August 17, 2025

Pastor Clay Olsen

We often speak of reading the Scriptures as ‘listening to the voice of God.’ Dr. John MacArthur, who recently moved into Heaven, is now actually listening to the voice of God. How awesome is that?! And guess what? Soon, so will you and I. But for now, as Dr. MacArthur liked to say, “If you want to hear God speak to you, read your Bible out loud.”

As we have been walking through one of those ‘shadow’ subjects of life, the subject of ‘suffering’, we’ve emphasized how important it is to look to the Scriptures for the light that we already do have about our God and about God’s ways with His children. It is essential to listen to what God has already told us about Himself and about His working in our lives. And one clear point we are making is this: Don’t ever let any of your own thoughts or feelings or anyone else’s thoughts and feelings that contradict what God has said in His Word have sway over how you then think or feel about God or yourself…and especially about shadow subjects, like suffering.

Rather, develop a trust habit like the Psalmist developed, so that he could then say what he said about struggles and sufferings…about shadows. Remember? Ps 23:4-6- “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” KJV

The Psalmist knew that in this world, there would be shadows…shadows of struggles and sufferings. There would also be enemies and troubles and tribulations, as Jesus also told us about that. That’s the reality that the Psalmist knew that he would have to face while living in this broken and cursed world. But he also knew the reality that his Shepherd, his Savior, his Refuge, his Deliverer was going to walk with him through it every step of the way, even all the way through the valley of the shadow of death. And he knew that God’s goodness and mercy to him would be greater than the shadows around him. He knew that he would have to face the shadows, but he also knew that because of his Shepherd’s love and care and goodness and mercies over him and with him, that he did not ever have to fear the shadows. He did not ever have to fear the evil, or the struggles, or the sufferings.

And that is what we can also know because we have the same Shepherd…the same Savior and Deliverer. We have the same love and care and goodness and mercies of our Savior that the Psalmist had for him also following us all the days of our lives. And in knowing that about his Shepherd, the Psalmist could also then deal with what he did not yet know about each instance of suffering in his life. For once you have the revelation of God’s immeasurable love for you, you can trust and wait upon whatever explanation you would like to have about everything else…like about trials, and struggles, and sufferings.

Remember, the circumstances of life do not define the Person and character and love of God. The Cross of Jesus Christ defines the Person and character and love of God. Therefore, do not look through the circumstances of life, like struggles and trials and sufferings, to see God, but look through the Cross of Christ to see God. For it is when you let yourself be convinced and controlled by the love of Christ that you are then prepared to face any circumstance of life…any struggle, trial, and suffering with trust and respose.

It’s like with what the founder and first president of Dallas Theological Seminary, Lewis Sperry Chafer once said. A reporter asked him what the most profound truth was that he had ever discovered that directed his life. Dr. Chafer answered: “Jesus loves me, this I know…for the Bible tells me so.” How great is that? Everything comes down to that. The Psalmist didn’t understand every instance of his sufferings at the hands of his enemies and the circumstances of his life, but he clearly understood that God’s love for him was higher than the heavens are above the earth. And in understanding that he could then rest in the comfort of that truth and drink from that full cup of God’s love for him to then satisfy any other longing that he had. And it will be the same for us.

Asaph was a Levite musician and worship leader during the reigns of King David and King Solomon. He also contributed to the Psalms. And in Psalm 73 he testified about what David had also been testifying. Notice: Ps 73:23-26- “I am continually with You; You have taken hold of my right hand. With Your counsel You will guide me, and afterward receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but You? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” NASU

I like how our Brother Darrell says that two of his favorite words in the Bible are –
“But God.” Me, too! Like here with Asaph – “But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” If we could remember to say that to every trial, every struggle, every bout have with suffering – “I pray against this, I pray for deliverance from this, I pray for a miracle in this, I pray for victory over this…yet my flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”

That is the same kind of ‘statement of faith’ that Daniel’s three friends made. You remember them – Shake-a-bed, Make-a-bed, and To-bed-we-go! Actually, it’s Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego…oldie, but a goodie. They said: Dan 3:17-18- “If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.” NASU

They, too, were ‘ready for either’ as we have been emphasizing in our studies on suffering. Again, what is possible for God’s people while living in a world of suffering is that it is possible that we may experience sufferings. But just like with Asaph and these three Heroes, we believe that our God is able to deliver us from them. But even if that deliverance doesn’t happen in the way we pray, we still will not worship or serve anything or anyone other than the Lord our God, who is the strength of our heart and our portion forever.

Again, the Cross of Jesus Christ explains everything we need to know about our God and explains everything we need to know as to why we can trust God with our spirit, soul, and body…even in times we do not understand the ‘whys’ of some hard things in this world.

And yet, how like our God, that although He has not given us an explanation for each instance of suffering in this world, He has given us many revelations about the reasons for suffering in this world. From the very beginning of Mankind’s history, God clearly revealed that because of the Fall of Man in Sin, that this world would be cursed by the effects and damages of sin. Thus, what God intended for good, would now be badly damaged…and the effects of these damages would reach into the physical environment, and into human relationships, and into the struggles in our everyday existence. Remember…Gen 3:17-19- “…Cursed is the ground because of you; in toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you; and you will eat the plants of the field; By the sweat of your face you will eat bread, till you return to the ground, because from it you were taken; For you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” NASU

Even God’s first physical children would now experience hardships, struggles, and sufferings…not as a punishment or from a vindictive response of God. No, remember, God Himself provided a covering for their sin. God loved Adam and Eve and saved Adam and Eve from their sin sentence. And that atonement that God provided symbolized the atonement that the Christ, the Messiah, would one day provide for us all through Jesus taking the punishment for sin in our place. God loved Adam and Eve, just as He loves each of His redeemed children. It’s just that until God would re-create this world now damaged by sin, that even His own children would have to live their mortal lives in a world of thorns and thistles. And when you live in a world of thorns and thistles, even God’s children get scratches and cuts and wounds.

In the early morning hours of November 6, 1977, the Kelly Barnes Dam failed. Located at the bottom of the Dam was the Toccoa Falls Bible College. The flood inundated part of the campus and a trailer park. Thirty-nine people died in the flood. A reporter asked one of the men from the campus why God would allow that to happen to a Bible College. The Christian man said, “When you live in a campus that is at the bottom of a Dam and the Dam breaks, the real possibilities are that you could get hit by the flood, no matter who you are.”

Remember, as we pointed out before, when you live in a world of suffering, everyone suffers in some way and in some degree. The rain falls on the just and the unjust. As long as we live in this world, Christians and non-Christians alike, will have to deal with the real world. Plus, as we saw in our last study, as soon as a person is converted, as much as God would love to have them come Home to live with Him in His home of Heaven, God does not remove them from this world, because He has works for them to do and a witness for them to carry out in this real world of sufferings. But when you live in this real world of sickness, and struggles, and sufferings, the real possibilities are that you may have to deal with what is real while living in this real world of suffering. And yes, our deliverances from sufferings are certain! But our deliverances may be immediate, or they may be in time, or they may be in eternity. And that is right where we have to trust God…trust Him for the timing of our deliverances.

But again, unlike the way some respond to questions about suffering, like there are no answers…on the contrary, there are clearly many answers and many reasons to the ‘why questions’ about suffering. Yet, like with Job, God has not yet told us everything we would like to know about each instance of suffering in ours and in other’s lives, but God has told us everything we now need to know about the reasons that His children and others have to deal with sufferings in this world of suffering. But as to why God doesn’t spare all His children from all suffering all of the time…that is not yet revealed to us. Actually, then it would be called ‘Heaven on Earth’. And one day it will be. But remember, God has not promised us Heaven on the old Earth, but He has promised us Heaven on the New Earth. And Jesus is preparing that as we speak!

But one thing for sure, no matter how much the sufferings of this world take from us, God has revealed all the reasons we need to be filled with ‘hope to handle any of it.’ Remember, God will not allow this world, the flesh, or the devil to take more from us than He will restore or give back or return to us much more. Rom 8:16-18 – “The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” NASU

Know this: We not only have hope in the midst of our sufferings…we have the Blessed Hope, our Lord Jesus Christ, Who is with us and in us, and Jesus will help us and enable us to victoriously go through any of it.

Here’s a caution about responding to questions about suffering. Sometimes when Christians are asked the ‘why questions’ about suffering from unbelievers they give answers that are without hope, or answers that are simply not Biblical. They say things like, ‘we don’t know why good people suffer”, or “there are no answers for the ‘whys’ of suffering”, and so on. But those responses are not only blatantly untrue, but they also leave people without hope! Those are the kind of answers that do not do anyone any good at all! No, remember that the Apostle Peter clearly told us that we are to prepare ourselves with the Words of God to be ready to give an answer and to speak to the questions people naturally have about this world. We are to be ready to speak to them about the ‘hope’ that lies within us…or particularly about our Blessed Hope, the Lord Jesus Christ! 1 Peter 3:15- “…but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence.” NASU

Certainly, this speaks of being able to clearly share the saving message of the Gospel of Christ, but it also calls for us to be prepared to share the revelations of God’s truths to a world floundering in falsehoods. We need to be able to share God’s truths about this issue of suffering, especially since this issue of suffering is the most questioned issue of all by the world about God and matters of faith.

We need to clearly tell people in this world that a real reason for sufferings in this world is because we live in a world that is damaged and is reeling from the effects of mankind’s sin, which explains why everything is harder than it was supposed to be, harder than it was created to be. There wasn’t supposed to be struggles and sorrows and sufferings in this world. But the presence of sin in this world has now made this world to be a world of suffering in which we now temporarily live! God created a perfect world, but sin brought a curse upon it so that we now live in a world of ‘thorns and thistles.’ We need to remind people of this reality!

Plus, we need to remind people that there is no such thing as a ‘Utopian world’…but there is a Heavenly world. ‘Utopia’ is a man-made concept that is man-centered rather than God-centered. And that’s like Dostoyevsky said about man and his ideas of ‘Utopia’… “Humans make bad gods.” They sure do! So what we are then left with is that there is either this broken and damaged world of suffering or there is God’s world of Heaven, where sickness, sorrows, and sufferings are completely and forever gone from the experience of every child of God in Heaven.

But as long as we live in this world, even though it is temporary, even God’s children may temporarily suffer, from no fault of their own or without any fault in their God, for sure. Plus, we have already given several more reasons in our previous studies to add to this Biblical picture of why there is suffering in this world in the lives of both the just and the unjust.

But because we are ‘more than conquerors’ in Christ, the issue of suffering is not just about what suffering does to us, but it’s about what we can do with it…about what we can do with one of the worst aspects of having to live in this world. And it has to do, not with what ‘suffering is’, but with ‘Who God is’, and therefore what we can do about the instances of sufferings that come into our lives. And we’ll explore that in our next study together.

 

All Creation Groans, Pt. 4

Study Guide, August 10, 2025

Pastor Clay Olsen

There’s a quiet theme that runs throughout the Old and New Testaments that, once you hear it, becomes the loudest influence on how you understand your life and your world around you. The theme is this: The life you are now living is not lived unto yourself. The life you are now living is linked to the lives of others who came before you and to others who will follow you. And the life you are now living is going to bless others that follow you in many and in manifold ways. Through the life you are now living you are both serving and sacrificing for others that will follow you in some ways that are known and in some ways that are now unknown, but one day will be fully known. In the amazing ways of God, every person is both a distinct individual yet is also distinctly joined to those in the past, present, and those still to become…the ‘Body of Christ’…the ‘Family of God.’

There are many passages that reveal this theme, but one notable one is in 1 Peter 1:10-12 – “As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries, seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven — things into which angels long to look.” NASU

The Prophets learned that the lives that they were living were being lived in the service of others. They learned that their lives were serving as a basis upon which others who would follow them would become the beneficiaries of the successes, struggles, sufferings, and sacrifices of their lives, ministries, message, and service. And the profound reality is that the same is true of you, and of others who will follow you. Others yet to come into the family of God will become the beneficiaries of the successes, struggles, sufferings, and sacrifices that you are now making that will be used of God for their blessing, as well as for your gain. God has promised that to you.

When this theme is applied to civil life, we say that we today are the beneficiaries of the sacrifices of those before us made, especially as in battles and warfare, so that we can enjoy the freedoms and privileges we now have in our country. Their sufferings were actually ‘sacrifices’ that were offered on battlefields for our sake. That’s why we call them ‘Heroes’. Heroes are those who sacrificed of themselves for the sake of protecting, defending, and blessing others.

Think about that further: Parents don’t want their children to have to go off to war. But they do so for the sake of others who need to be defended and delivered from the evil that is going on in this world. They know that their child could be wounded, or even killed. Good soldiers get shot on battlefields with no fault of their own. And why? Because that’s what happens when you fight on a battlefield.

Who is our God to us? Our God is our Heavenly Father. As we have stated: God is our Perfect Parent. And our Perfect Parent does not want to have His children to have to go to war in this world, fighting against the forces of darkness, fighting against sin and evil, fighting against sickness and disease and danger of all manners. No, the heart of our Perfect Parent is to give His children not only our daily bread, but to also deliver us from all evil, and to heal us from all our diseases, and to give us all good things, and to do everything on Earth for every one of His children just as they are in Heaven. That is God’s heart for us…but this world…this present Earth is the present world in which we have to live for now. And in this world, few things are being done on Earth as they are in Heaven. For this world is a world at war with the Kingdom of Heaven. This world is a battlefield. And although our Perfect Parent does not want to have any of His children have to fight the good fight of faith on this battlefield of Earth, we are the only ones on Earth who can. We are God’s soldiers for Christ.

Think about it: Jesus also said that His people are the salt of the Earth. The only reason the world has not undergone complete decay is because of the presence of God the Holy Spirit in the lives of His children around the world. And Jesus said that His people are the lights of this world. The only reason that the world is not in total darkness in falsehood is because of the presence of the Spirit of Truth, who is God the Holy Spirit in the lives of His children around the world. The very presence of God’s people in this world is staying the decay and bringing light into the darkness.

But Jesus also said that this world loves darkness more than light and loves their sin more than the only Savior of this world. So mark it down: the reality is; as long as we are in this world, we will be at war against the world, the flesh, and the devil. And when you are in a war, the real possibility is that you may get shot…you may suffer…you may become a ‘wounded warrior’ in God’s army.

But again, the only way for those who are yet to follow us, to have the chance and the immeasurable privilege to become children of God…to become a part of the Body of Christ…to become sons and daughters of God’s forever family, is for us, for God’s children to continue to fight the good fight of faith, even if we get wounded in the fight.

But because of our good fight of faith, those who will follow us will become the beneficiaries of our successes, our struggles, our sufferings, and our sacrifices. And each of these, especially our sufferings, will be precious to them, and immeasurably precious to our God. And you will be a ‘Hero’ to those who had the opportunity and privilege to become a child of God because you were one of those who were here to fight the good fight of faith on this battlefield of Earth. And what this also means is that in essence, our present sufferings that we face are the sacrifices we make for the sake of those yet to come into the family of God. Our sufferings are essentially – our sacrifices. (We’ll come back to that.)

We are to also know that God’s directive will for His children is to be with Him in His Kingdom, His Home, that where He is we may be also. Jesus told us: “I go to prepare a place for you, that where I am you may be also.” (Jn. 14:2) God’s directive will for us is to experience His kingdom, which is a kingdom of peace and righteousness and joy in the Spirit. Know that it is not God’s directive will for any of His children to have to live in a world that harms His children with sorrows and sicknesses and sufferings. That is what we are to know about our God.

But we are also to know that the only reason that God permits His people to live in this fallen, broken, and cursed world of suffering and evil is because there are more souls yet to birthed and saved and brought into the forever family of God. And in the plan of God, His people were predestined to be His ambassadors to this lost and dying world.

Theologically, this plan is referred to as God’s Directive Will and God’s Permissive Will. God permits things He does not prefer. Just like it is not God’s will that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Pet. 3:9) But we also know that God permits people to reject His will and resist His Gospel and neglect His great salvation. As Jesus looked over Jerusalem, He said that He wanted to gather them all to Him as a hen gathers her chicks. But then He also said; “But you were ‘unwilling’!” God let them do their will…let them have their way. I once heard it put, that a sign in front of Heaven said “God’s will be done!”…and it had our name signed to it. And then there was a sign in front of Hell that said: “Your will be done.”…it was signed by ‘God’.

But again, God’s family is not yet completed. And yet, God’s family is daily being physically birthed and spiritually rebirthed! But they are coming into God’s family from this foreign land of the battlefield of Earth. And we, along with all God’s children on this Earth, are the Soldiers of Christ that are fighting this good fight of faith in a foreign land and on a battlefield for the sake of our future brothers and sisters in Christ.

And that is also why our personal sufferings are, in reality, more than personal sufferings…they are precious sacrifices in the eyes of our Heavenly Father. Which also means that our sufferings are of immense value in the eyes and heart of our God. In fact, the Psalmist reveals that our sorrows and our sufferings are so precious to God that even our ‘every tear’ is kept in a bottle by God for both His remembrance and for our reward. Ps 56:8- “You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in Your bottle. You have recorded each one in Your book.” NLT Know that every sorrow you have experienced, every suffering you have endured, and every sacrifice you have made will be made up to you by your Heavenly Father in many ways and in manifold rewards. God will compensate you many times over for any struggles, sorrows, and suffering that you endured from living on this battlefield of Earth. And know this for certain: In God’s eyes, the sufferings that you are facing are the sacrifices you are making that make it possible for those who are still to follow you to become delivered from this kingdom of darkness into God’s Kingdom of Light and Life. Your present sufferings are eternal sacrifices that will forever bless your forever family and be rewarded by our Eternal God.

And in God’s eyes, since you, yourself, are ‘precious in His sight’, know that our God hurts over every hurt of yours. God grieves over every sorrow over which you grieve. God suffers over and with every instance of your suffering. God cares more deeply about our sufferings that we can even think or imagine. So while we may not understand the timing of our deliverance from our particular sufferings, since we know that God’s love and care for us is perfect, we can then rest and trust in whatever the timing our deliverance might be.

Which gives answer to that age old question of ‘Why does God allow us to suffer?’ And much of the answer has do to this reality of where we live…which expands that question to – ‘Why does God allow His people to live in a world of suffering where they may experience suffering?’ And that answer has to do with this: Since God has allowed us and appointed us to be His ‘body’ in this world…His ‘hands and feet and voice’ to this world, and since this world is a world of suffering, even God’s people will experience suffering. Again, when you live in a world of suffering, you will suffer. Everyone suffers in a world of suffering. But God is also delivering His people either from their suffering or through their suffering. And there is no question about that. God is our Deliverer and He will deliver us.

The question about suffering then is no longer about ‘why’, but about ‘when’. The question about suffering for God’s people is not about ‘Why me?’, but about ‘How long?’

For the child of God then, the issue of suffering is not a ‘caring issue’, it’s actually a ‘timing issue’. And, since we know what the possibilities are about the ‘timing’ of God’s deliverances for His people, we know that the timing of our miracle could be immediately…or our miracle could be in time…or our miracle could be in eternity. ‘Timing’ is out of our hands… ‘Timing’ is in God’s hands, and that is where our trust can rest as well. Because we know the heart of our God we can trust in the works of His hands. So, yes, we have many answers revealed in the Scriptures about ‘God’s caring’ for us in our suffering. The only answers yet to be revealed are about the ‘timing’ of our deliverances and our victories.

But we need to come back to how we are to identify our sufferings, for in order to more realistically think of our sufferings, we also need to re-identify them not as ‘sufferings’, but as ‘sacrifices’. Again, Parents don’t want their children to have to make sacrifices on the battlefields of life, but they know that it’s the only way for others to be defended and delivered. In a similar way, neither does our God, our Perfect Parent want His children to have to make sacrifices on the battlefield of this life, but it is the only way for others to have the opportunity to be defended from the enemy and delivered into the family of God.

Again, the only reason this world is being allowed to continue at all is that God’s family is not yet complete. Do you remember how that passage in Hebrews 11 ended in talking about those who suffered on this battlefield of Earth? “And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect.” (Heb. 11:39-40 NASU) These suffering saints did not experience the fullness of the promises of God because there were still others to be added, to be birthed and re-birthed, to become members with them in the fullness of redemption and salvation. And as we pointed out in our last study, we may experience similar sufferings in this life just like some of these suffering saints experienced. And, again, just like with those who experienced what we call ‘miracles’, we may also experience those kinds of miracles as well. In fact, in the experience of life on this battlefield of Earth, many of God’s people experience both – both the miracles of immediate deliverances and victories, but also experience struggles and sufferings in the world of suffering. So as we pointed out before…we need to be ‘ready for either’.

And that brings us back to our theme…to the overarching reason that God allows this world of suffering, and for any suffering, especially of God’s people, to continue at all. It’s because God’s family is not yet complete. These dear suffering saints of the OT went through their sufferings for us…for you and for me. We call them ‘Heroes’. And today, God’s saints are going through sufferings for those still to be reborn into the family of God out of this suffering world. And they will be so thankful that you endured this suffering world so that they could become part of God’s new world. And to them, you will be a ‘Hero!’

All Creation Groans, Pt. 3

Study Guide, August 3, 2025

Pastor Clay Olsen

One of the most indescribable realities of the Christian life is the wonder of the indwelling of God the Holy Spirit in our life. No doubt the Disciples were stunned when Jesus told them this: John 14:16-17- “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.” NASU And in these present days, in this ‘Church Age’, Jesus revealed that not only is our God our ‘Immanuel…God with us’, but our God is also the God who ‘Indwells us!’ When we ask Christ into our heart and life, He not only comes into our life, but by His Spirit, He unites His Spirit to our spirit. And thus, we not only now share in God’s own eternal life and Spirit, but God shares in our life and our spirit…and even…well, let’s let the Apostle Paul unveil this wonder to us.

1 Cor 6:19-20- “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.” NASU

Now, we revel in this truth, knowing that through our redemption in Christ that we fully belong to God, body, soul, and spirit. But even though the implications and the ramifications of this reality that God Himself has both united His Spirit with our reborn spirit and even indwells our physical body as His temple on Earth are beyond our understanding…thankfully, they are not beyond our trust and our hope. And one of the most wonderous implications of this directly relates to what we have been examining for a couple of studies now…and that is, the realty and the effects of suffering in our lives. In fact, it raises another question about suffering, for you see, since God now shares in both our spirit and our body, that means that whatever affects our spirit and our body also affects our God, who has united Himself to our spirit and actually does indwell our body as His temple.

Therefore, the often-asked question of ‘why does God allow suffering’ reaches an even higher and deeper question of ‘why does God allow Himself to suffer with us, and even in us?’ For this now means that, as children of God, since our life is forever shared with God, God now shares in whatever we are going through in our life. Oh yes, to be sure…God even shares in our sufferings.

Recall that before Paul’s conversion to Christ, he persecuted followers of Jesus, arresting and taking many to prison, even hounding some to death, as the Scriptures state. But then, on his way to Damascus, Jesus came to him. And do you remember what Jesus said to Paul? Acts 22:6-8- “But it happened that as I was on my way, approaching Damascus about noontime, a very bright light suddenly flashed from heaven all around me, and I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’ And I answered, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said to me, ‘I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting.’ NASU

Jesus didn’t ask Saul why he was persecuting His people…Jesus asked him… “Why are you persecuting Me?” In Jesus’ union with His people and in His indwelling ministry in His people, whatever Jesus’ own people were going through in their sufferings of persecution, Jesus was going through their suffering as well…going through it with them!

This is a powerful truth, and a powerfully stunning truth, and a powerfully comforting truth to realize that whatever sufferings we have gone through or are going through or will go through, our God has gone through it with us or is going through it with us or will go through it with us. But again, why God allows Himself to suffer along with us in our sufferings adds an even further layer to the mystery of suffering.

But it’s not all mystery, because there are some things about suffering that God has already revealed to us that God intends to help us deal with what has not yet been revealed. And we have been reviewing many of those reasons for the existence of suffering in this fallen, broken, and cursed world. Which, even in saying this we see several reasons for the existence of suffering in this world. And yet, how amazing that there are still so many vestiges of beauty in the earth, and still so many experiences of comfort and joy in relationships, and still so many days of health and healings, and other enjoyments, in spite of living in a decaying and dying world. That in itself is a grand testament to the mercies and the graces of God that are new each morning! But we should think further, actually we should dwell most on what God has revealed about how our suffering affects our God.

In one of the most remarkable passages unveiling more about the Personhood of God, which we are also going to explore more about in the weeks ahead…but as the Prophet Isaiah is reminding the people about God’s works and ways with them over the years, he then reveals this to them: Isa 63:7-9- “I shall make mention of the lovingkindnesses of the Lord, the praises of the Lord, according to all that the Lord has granted us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which He has granted them according to His compassion and according to the abundance of His lovingkindnesses. For He said, “Surely, they are My people, Sons who will not deal falsely.” So He became their Savior. In all their affliction He was afflicted, and the angel of His presence saved them; in His love and in His mercy He redeemed them, and He lifted them and carried them all the days of old.” NASU

Again, this one of the most moving expressions of the compassionate love of God in the Old Testament. Contrary to some portrayals of God as distant and detached or unaffected by the plans and the plight of man, in many ways and in many places throughout the Scriptures God reveals His deep emotional bond with His people. God’s heart is a heart of a perfect parent…our perfect parent, our Heavenly Father, who feels more deeply and cares more deeply over the afflictions and sufferings of His children than any earthly parent ever could. And we know how deeply the suffering of children affects loving earthly parents. Multiply that exponentially about our Heavenly Father!

So, whenever the question of suffering in God’s people arises, just like we shared about the unfathomable love of God for us, we must reassure and remind ourselves and others of this great truth of God’s immeasurable compassion and care for His children, and this great truth that our Heavenly Father suffers right along with us…in fact, even more than us, for “In all our afflictions, our God is afflicted.” Thus, even when we don’t have a hold on the understanding of each instance of suffering, we can have a complete hold on this complete assurance that God cares even deeper about our suffering than even we do or even can. And we can also have a hold on our blessed hope, because Jesus Himself is our Blessed Hope, and thus, we can rest assured knowing that Jesus is working on whatever both He and we are going through in whatever instance of suffering that it is.

Now, to expand on some further ‘helps’ in better understanding the issue of suffering in this present world we must realize that there is another common misunderstanding and false assumption about the issue of suffering. And it is directly linked to this: Many unmet expectations in this life and world are due to so many unrealistic expectations about this life and world. Without a realistic understanding of what followers of Jesus may have to face in this world, you will carry unrealistic expectations of how life ought to be for you in this world. And unrealistic expectations create further unbiblical beliefs. And unbiblical beliefs create more and more inner conflicts…mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and physically…on top of whatever trial or suffering that you are facing. So as we have been emphasizing in our studies, our expectations about this world are to be those that God has told us to expect in and from this world. And in one of the clearest statements about what we are to expect, Jesus put it this way: John 16:33- “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” NASU

Notice what Jesus didn’t say. He didn’t say – “In this world you may have peace”. No, essentially Jesus said ‘In this world you will have tribulation…in this world you will have troubles…in this world you will have trials…in this world you will have sufferings…in this world you will have persecutions…it’s only IN ME that you may have peace.’ In other words, don’t look for peace in anything in this world because our peace is found only in a Person…the Person of Jesus Christ! Our peace is not found in our circumstances of life, but only in the life of our God and Savior. Our peace is not found in our possessions, or in our pleasures, or in our health, or in our talents, or in our abilities, or in our accomplishments, or in anything other than in the Person of Jesus Christ alone. And note, our peace is not even found in the answers to our ‘Whys’, but only in our trusting in ‘Who’…trusting in ‘Who’ it is that loves us with an everlasting love and is walking us through this world of sufferings and tribulations. Our peace is only found in our union with Jesus’ own eternal life and in resting in His presence and relying on His sufficient grace in our daily life and in His promises for our eternal days.

If you expect to find peace in anything else in this world, you are not living in the real world. In fact, what Jesus told us to expect in this world is tribulation…trials, troubles, struggles, sufferings. This is what Jesus told us to expect in this world, but, thankfully, He also told us what to expect in Him and from Him…peace, and courage, and hope, and the understanding that He has already overcome it all, and therefore, in time…so shall we…and yes, sometimes in this world, but all in the better world of our real Home. As overcomers with Christ, to be sure, we will overcome all tribulations, overcome all trials, overcome all sufferings, overcome all struggles…but, again, as long as we live in this world, we must be ready for either…either overcoming them now or going through them now.

And one of the clearest teachings that reveals to us that God’s people are to be prepared to be ready for either is from the chapter on the heroes of the faith in Hebrews 11. We have looked at that before, but it’s right here, in connection with these believer’s experience in this world that we clearly see what is possible for even faithful believers to experience in this fallen, broken, cursed, decaying, and dying world.

Notice: And the revelation starts with the examples of overcoming in their present times:

Heb 11:32-38- “And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received back their dead by resurrection…”

But then the attention turns to the suffering parts…to the examples of saints going through sufferings in their present times. “…and others were tortured, not accepting their release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection; and others experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, (which history records happened to the Prophet Isaiah), they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated (men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground.”

So here we are shown two groups of believers, both in the ‘Heroes of the Faith’ chapter of Hebrews, both men and women of faith, both under the favor and graces and workings of God in their lives, both with no reasons that anything was wrong with their faith nor anything wrong with God’s working in their lives. But both had drastically different experiences in either overcoming the struggles they were facing or going through the sufferings they faced. No explanation is given as to why they were in the group they were in, other than that this world was not worthy of them…not worthy of having God’s people, the salt of the Earth and the lights of the world living in their midst. The thing is: Both sets of saints were Ready for Either. Which implies the next question for us – “Are you?” Are you Ready for Either?

What this passage does explain is the reality of this world in which we live, and it explains what the possibilities are for God’s people living in this world of tribulations and sufferings. The realistic possibilities are that even God’s people may have to face similar struggles and sufferings while traveling through this fallen, broken, cursed, decaying, and dying world. The realistic possibilities are that while traveling through this world of suffering, that a child of God will have to deal with fallen sinful people, will have to handle broken social structures, will have to exist in a cursed environment, will wrestle with decaying mortal physical bodies, and will minister to a lost and dying world. And in some of these settings the realistic possibilities are that you may experience things experienced by the first group of Heroes…great victories in battle, miraculous healings, and amazing escapes…or…or you may experience things experienced by the other group of Heroes…social persecution, physical persecution, destitution, physical sufferings, or even martyrdom. And the thing is, in either one, like with these Heroes, nothing will by wrong with your faith that cause it, nothing will be wrong with your works to bring it on, and certainly nothing will be wrong with God or with God’s works on your behalf.

So right there we do have several answers for the ‘whys’ about suffering that we can scratch off the list. We’ve scratched off the ‘why’ about God’s love…and the ‘why’ about God’s care…and the ‘why’ about God’s compassion – oh, it’s just the opposite really, as the Scriptures clearly reveal God’s very own passion for us…even His own suffering with us. And now we can scratch of that ‘why’ that’s often connected with thinking there must be something wrong in our faith…scratch that off! And we can especially scratch off any ‘why’ about there being something wrong with God’s works or God’s will. Never! Not even possible! So there is no mystery about any of those ‘whys’ in connection with suffering, as the Scriptures clearly answer all of those. And those answers are what we need to share with so many who have so many ‘whys’ about suffering.

We have more to explore even further in this last passage, but for now we clearly see, like with Job, when it comes to the issue of ‘suffering’, the more clearly you come to understand ‘Who’ God is and ‘who’ we are in relation to Him, our Perfect Eternal Parent, the more peace you will have about the ‘why’s of everything else in this life. For the better you understand the heart of your God, the more settled your hope will be that in time, in God’s time, you will come to better understand the reasons for everything else in your world…even about tribulations and sufferings. Plus, knowing ‘Who’ is with us in our sufferings, our Lord Jesus Christ, is what empowers us to go through any sufferings in this world as ‘Overcomers with us in Christ and Overcomers with Christ in us!’

All Creation Groans, Pt. 2

Study Guide, July 20, 2025

Pastor Clay Olsen

When people ask me, “How are you doing?”, I often answer with, “Which part? The Inner Man or the Outer Man? The Inner Man is doing pretty well, but the Outer Man has some issues.” That’s meant to be light-hearted, of course, but it’s also based upon a fact of life in this present world. In fact, it behooves every one of us (and you gotta love the word ‘behooves’, right?)…but it behooves every one of us to carry the understanding about this present life that the Apostle Paul carried with him and revealed to us. And it’s found in 2 Cor 4:16-17- “Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” NASU

We could spend considerable time just unpacking that ‘glory’ part and the ‘unseen’ part, but for this study, we are looking into the ‘outer man’ and ‘inner man’ parts. Therefore, to better understand what’s going on in our own lives, as well as the lives of others around us, we need to better understand what’s going on in this present world in which we live. And I keep saying ‘present world’ because this world is not the way God intended it to be, nor is it the way it is soon going to be when it’s time for God to first renovate this world, and to then resurrect it. But until God does that, what we have is a world that is decaying and suffering from the effects and damages of the destructive presence of sin in this world of humanity and in our present environment.

Remember, in our science classes we learned about the Second Law of Thermodynamics. The second law of thermodynamics states that, as energy is transferred or transformed, more and more of it is wasted. In other words, there is a natural tendency of any isolated system to degenerate into a more disordered state. The second law of thermodynamics also points to the process of ‘entropy’. And ‘entropy’ is the gradual process at work in this world which continually moves things into decay and disorder.

 Have you ever wondered why things naturally fall apart, why your coffee cools down, or why your socks always seem to vanish in the laundry…maybe not that one… It’s like what your office and garage can look like unless you re-order or re-organize it from time to time. Think of a melting ice cube. It starts as a neat, solid block (low entropy) and turns into a puddle of water (high entropy). Entropy is what happens if you park a new car in the woods and leave it there for many years. When you come back it has become covered with rust, dust, and decay of its parts. Entropy happened to it! Beach erosion and food spoilage would be some other examples…as so would ‘aging’. As organisms age, they experience a gradual decline in the organization and function of their cells, tissues, and organs, which can be described as an increase in entropy. Again, these everyday things are examples of entropies. 

The thing is, it’s essential to know that we live in a world of ‘entropy’…where everything in creation, from the Stars to the Earth to our own bodies are all subject to decay and disorder…basically…to ‘mortality’. Thankfully, ‘mortality’ does not have the last word on it all, for God, who is the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End…God has the last word on behalf of His people! And He had the Apostle Paul tells us about it.

We often read this passage at a Celebration of Life service for a fellow believer who has moved from this present Earth to the Eternal Heaven with our Lord Jesus Christ. But it’s meant to be a guiding light for everyday living…so let’s read it! 1 Cor 15:50-57- “Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory. “O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

NASU

By the way…it’s an oldie, but you just can’t pass up the time a Church had a sign with that verse over its Nursery that said: “We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed!” Clever, for sure! Now, yes, praise God that in His new world we will enjoy an immortal body, with perfect health, and in fullness of joy each day of Eternity! That is the coming reality for every Born-Again child of God. But the present reality is that, until we live in that world, we will live in this world…and this is a world of mortality.

For any mortal human being, mortality means that no matter how healthy they may feel at any given time, the reality is that their mortal body is still in decay and wasting away. Note the New Living Translation of that passage: 2 Cor 4:16-18- “That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.”

We should ‘camp out’ on those last two verses and spend some “Praise God” time on those truths, right? But we must face the truth that we live in a mortal world, a dying world, and in mortal bodies, dying bodies, awaiting the immortality of our body. Our soul is already immortal. In fact, every human being is an immortal soul. But not every immortal soul also has an immortal spirit. Only those who have turned to God in repentance and received Jesus in faith as their Savior have had their dead spirit raised up to eternal life in union with Jesus Christ. And those ‘in Christ’ will also be given an ‘immortal body’ like that of Jesus’ own immortal body.

But back to our present mortality. Mortality means that even when a person is partially well in his or her body, he or she is also partially ill in their body. Their body is presently undergoing decay and is, in fact, wasting away…that is – dying. When he or she is no longer partially well, but completely ill, that is when their body dies. But, again, physically speaking, until we die, the mortal body is decaying. Sorry, that is not intended to depress you…it’s intended to impress you with the wonder over any measure of wellness and health you now are experiencing at all! You see, most people’s expectations of this mortal world and of their own mortality are completely unrealistic…and so are many Christians as well.

We live in a world cursed by sin. Why are any of us forgiven? Because of the love and grace and mercy of our God and Savior. We live in a world of sickness and disease. Why do any of us ever experience any measure of health and physical well-being? Because of the continuous healing working of God in us and for us day after day. We live in a world that is in decay and is wasting away. Why do any of us have any hope and joy at all? Because our ‘inner man or inner woman’…our inner Spirit is being renewed day by day in our eternal union to the Spirit of Christ, who is the Lord of life and giver of all good things in the lives of His children. It is this greater reality of our inner man or inner woman, that is in a secured and eternal relationship with our Creator and our Redeemer, that is to be the greatest reasons for our daily rejoicing and encouragements as we fight the good fight of faith in this temporal world.

Now then, when you live in a dying and decaying world, any experience of good health is really an exception, not the norm. We each need to let that reality sink into our Worldview. I recall reading about a former President’s conversation with a Doctor when his grandchild was very sick. He said how surprised he was that a person so young could be so sick. And the Doctor responded by saying that is not what surprised him. No, he said, with all of the viruses and harmful bacteria and sickness that everyone is exposed to every day, what surprised him was that anyone was ever well at all! Friends, that is the reality of this sin-damaged and mortally infected world in which we live. Realistically, we ought to be surprised about the times that we have any measure of good health at all.

Think about it: Every day God is healing people. Many insightful Doctors always respond to patients and families, who thank them when they experience healing, with a statement that, as Doctors, they can only treat their illness…because only God can heal. God is the only One who heals people. And they are absolutely right!

And that takes us to a most wondrous revelation in Psalm 103. Many of us love Psalm 103. My Parents used to read it together every morning. It starts out: Ps 103:1-3- “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget none of His benefits; Who pardons all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases…: NASU Note that ‘pardons all your iniquities’ and ‘heals all your diseases’ are both in the ‘present tense’, meaning that this is an ongoing activity of our God, especially in relation to us, His children. This is a fascinating revelation of God’s continuous works…meaning that the Psalmist reveals that, for the child of God, God is not only continuously cleansing us from the presence of our iniquities, He is also continuously healing us from the presence of our sicknesses and diseases! In fact, in His general grace with unsaved people, and in His special grace with His saved people, if God were not actively healing people from the constant barrage of harmful bacteria and deadly viruses that infests and infects our present world, then there would be even less semblance of any of the general health that many the world over experience and enjoy on a day to day basis.

Each of us, like the Psalmist, as we offer our daily blessings and thanks to God, and seeking to not forget, but to remember all His benefits…should also be thanking God for both cleansing us from our all our iniquities and for healing us from all our diseases. And that brings us to another aspect of God’s works in relation to healings.

Note carefully: Therefore, since God is presently and continuously healing us from illnesses that we are not even aware of, and since God is actively healing us from illness we are aware of, the real question therefore is never “Why does God not completely heal me…from whatever illness you are experiencing?” No…you see, we no longer have to wonder about the ‘Why’, because the Psalmist already revealed that God is healing us. So that releases us from worrying about the ‘why’ and now we can just turn our attention to the ‘When’. When will God completely heal me…from whatever illness it is that you have”, for as the Psalmist revealed – God is continuously healing us from ALL diseases.

And that both relieves us of the angst and the stress of the ‘Why’ and the ‘If’ and the ‘How’ about our sicknesses and our sufferings, and it replaces all of that with trusting in and resting in the ‘When’ and the ‘Then’ and the ‘Wow’ about our sicknesses and sufferings. What we are to know is that God is healing us from all our diseases, just like the Psalmist knew. Healing is not a matter of ‘If’, it’s just a matter of ‘When’.

Now then, when the healing is sudden, immediate, and can’t be explained by natural processes, we call it a ‘miracle’. Technically, yes, but practically, since all healing is from God, what we call ‘natural’ still has the fingerprints of the ‘supernatural’ all over it. When a baby enters the world, many, who do not recognize the fingerprints of God, simply see the baby as a natural addition to this natural world. But for those who know their God, they see the fingerprints and the handiwork of God all over this precious gift from God, as they look upon this ‘miracle’ of God.

Remember this: Part of the spiritual blindness of mankind is that unconverted people do not see the supernatural fingerprints of God all over every part of this so-called natural world…from the planets and the stars to the living and breathing beings of life on earth. You say, ‘breathing’? Breathing is about as normal and as natural a physical process as there is, so people think. But that is not all that it is. For the Prophet Daniel revealed to a Babylonian King that God held his very breath in His hand. And the Apostle Paul declared and clarified this a group of Athenian philosophers: Acts 17:24-25- “The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things.” NASU

How about that? Even the very breath that unbelievers use to deny God is being given to them by God. How ironic, how foolish, and how sad. But, again, the more that we learn to see the supernatural hand of God at work in this so-called natural world, from the daily giving us the very breath we breath to the daily supplying us with the very strengths we have to the daily healing us from the various sicknesses that bombard us, the more we will be able to see the miraculous works of God at work each day! And then, like the Psalmist, we too can say: – “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget none of His benefits; Who pardons all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases…”

So many Christians so needlessly worry and wrestle over ‘if’ God will heal them, or the ‘why’ they are not yet being healed, and so on, when instead, like the Psalmist, they could be resting in the fact that God truly is presently and continuously healing them from sickness they don’t even know about, and from the ones they do know about. And thus, they can then be praising and blessing Him for His healing works in them, and also trusting in the blessed truth that God is at this very moment both cleansing them from all their iniquities and healing them from ALL their diseases !

And, at the same time, we must also know, like the Psalmist knew, like the Prophets knew, like the Apostles knew…they all knew that since they could rest in this truth that God was healing them, that they could also rest in the ‘timing’ of God’s healing for them. They could rest in both God being their Deliverer, and rest in the timing of His deliverance. And so, we are to know and to rest in that as well. Remember, that is what the Psalmist also testified: “My times are in Your hands.” (Ps. 31:15) ‘Praying’ is in our hands….’Timing’ is in God’s hands…and we are to trust Him with that all of the time.

They rested in knowing that the healings themselves would either be immediate, or the healings would be in time…or even that the healings would be in eternity…meaning, the healings would either be ‘temporal’ or they would be ‘eternal’. But they would be certain! Again, that is what we must know and rest in as well.

We’ll continue this quest into the questions of suffering and struggles in this life, but we can daily dwell on the truths of God’s immeasurable love for us and His constant care with us and His daily sharing in whatever it is we are going through…along with His grace and works to deliver us through it all.

 

All Creation Groans

Study Guide, July 13, 2025

Pastor Clay Olsen

Watch video online — https://www.facebook.com/eichapel/videos/1734770530740175

In our study today let’s think together about one of the toughest issues people face in relation to faith, and that’s the issue of suffering. It’s natural and normal to want to better understand both the ‘why’ of suffering and the ‘how’ to deal with it as children of God. And it is very important to be able to then comfort others who love God, but wrestle in their faith over this issue to better understand these things as well. The Scriptures reveal that this is to be one of our primary ministries with others. 2 Cor 1:3-5- “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ.” NASU

Now notice; it’s also important to correct others who are still in rebellion against God and are using their false speculations about suffering as further excuses to not repent unto God. These attacks against God and against God’s people are part of what the Apostle also pointed out in

2 Cor 10:5- “We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ…” NASU Worldly people often use the troubles of this world to cause further trouble to others because of their own resistance against God and God’s people. So we need to know this…and to know that whenever the issue of suffering arises there will be both – those who truly want to know more about the ‘why’ and the ‘how’ in order to better know God and walk closer with God…and there will be those who do not want to truly know more about the ‘why’ and the ‘how’ because they do not want to better know God nor do they intend to walk in obedience to God. So we need to be discerning about ‘why’ people are asking whatever ‘why’ it is that they are asking. Remember, scoffers are not looking for God’s answers to their questions. No, ‘scoffers’ simply use questions like they do accusations…accusations that have no basis in truth or reality. And ‘truth’ is that which corresponds to ‘reality’. And ‘reality’ is that which corresponds to ‘revelation’ – God’s revelation.

And that brings us to a starting place in responding to the issue of suffering in this world. And that is, that whenever suffering and tragedy and trials strike, it naturally takes us into the ‘unknown’ of ‘why this’, ‘why now’, ‘why them’, ‘why me’, and so on. But although that is the natural response to suffering…as children of God we are first go to the supernatural revelations from God. We are look to God’s Word for what is already ‘known’! For what is ‘already known’ will always help us better deal with what might be ‘presently unknown’. And we say ‘presently unknown’ because one day we will fully know what we now only know ‘in part’. 1 Cor 13:12- “Now we see things imperfectly as in a cloudy mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.” NLT There are some things about this life in which our present understanding will be partial and incomplete. We could rightly say this could apply to areas of struggles and trials and tragedies and sufferings. God has fully given us everything we need to know about our Creator and our Redeemer, about Christ’s great salvation, and about our great commission in sanctification and service. In fact, the Apostle Peter revealed this: 2 Peter 1:3-4- “God’s divine power has given us everything we need for life and for godliness. This power was given to us through knowledge of the one who called us by His own glory and integrity. Through His glory and integrity He has given us His promises that are of the highest value. Through these promises you will share in the divine nature because you have escaped the corruption that sinful desires cause in the world.” GOD’S WORD Version

In our new spiritual birth and eternal life relationship with God, and in God’s revelation of the Scriptures to us, God has given us everything we need to live a life of godliness and to live out the plan God has for us on this present Earth. Everything we need to know is in God’s Owner’s Manual, the Bible, which God has preserved for us. God has already told us everything we need to know, and one day, as the Apostle Paul stated, God will explain to us everything else we would like to know. Remember, the Bible is not information about everything we would like to know, but revelation of everything we need to know, for now, in order to live a full and faithful life! The Bible was not given for our ‘Information’, but for our ‘Transformation’. Although, in God’s gracious ways with His children, He has also given us so much information about so many things in this world and life as well. The Bible is an overflowing well-spring of essential revelation and of wonderous information.

We are to look to what we already know about the God of creation and His revelation, and then find our assurance and our comfort in what God has already made known about His character, and about His care for us, and about His love for us, and about His promises to us, and about this world around us.

Therefore, whenever you face any suffering or sorrow or struggle…always start with the ‘known’. You start and restart with what you know about your God and your Savior. And, granted, suffering can even unsettle the faith of Christians who do love God, but become disoriented by the harsh circumstances of life. Remember, there was a time when even John the Baptist became disoriented by his sufferings and asked the Lord to help him deal with his doubts. We see this in Matt 11:2-6- “Now when John, while imprisoned, heard of the works of Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to Him, “Are You the Expected One, or shall we look for someone else?” Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see: the blind receive sight and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the Gospel preached to them. “And blessed is he who does not take offense at Me.” NASU

That might surprise us to think that even John the Baptist had questions and needed reassurance by the Lord. In a way, that’s strangely reassuring to us all, right? Note something carefully here…God deals much differently with believers in their doubting and with their questioning than He does with unbelievers with their scoffing and with their mocking. Respectful questions do not disturb God at all. He deals gently with those who have respectful questions for Him. You and I can come boldly before the throne of God’s grace, and we will find God’s mercy and His help in our times of need…our times of disorientation…our times of questions. But disrespectful scoffing against God…oh, that is very disturbing to God, and He will respond with justice and judgment with those who scoff at and mock Him or His people. So remember, Jesus is careful and compassionate with those who care for Him…but Jesus rebukes and convicts those who do not care for Him. And that is the example we must follow as well.

With John the Baptist, Jesus didn’t rebuke him for his question in the midst of his sufferings, rather He reassured him about everything; that he was right about Jesus being the Messiah, and right in his relationship with his Messiah, and that what he had been doing was exactly what was right in his ministry for his Messiah. And note carefully: Jesus assured John with the ‘knowns’…He assured him with the things that were known about the Messiah and God! All that Jesus was doing was exactly what the revelations of the Prophets said that the Messiah would do! And thus, knowing more about the ‘knowns’ of God’s Word is what gave John peace in the midst of his sufferings. And it will be the same for us.

Now then, when tragedies arise people often question the ‘love of God’…as in ‘How can a loving God allow…and so on?” If there is one thing about God that should never be a question, it is ‘the love of God’. Why, God is the very revelation of love to our world. The Apostle John even reveals that the central essence of God is ‘love’. 1 John 4:7-10- “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” NASU

Yes, there are reasons for sufferings in the world, and even sufferings in our own personal world, but they never have anything to do with anything defective or deficient in the love of God. The love of God for the world, especially for His children, is the most perfect thing in existence, for our perfect God is perfect love. Plus, the greatest possible demonstration of love to this world was the Cross of Jesus Christ! John 3:16-17- “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.” NASU

John 3:16 is the answer to any question about the love of God. The Cross of Christ is the ultimate answer to any question about God’s love and care for the well-being of people, especially of those who have believed and received Christ and His salvation. The Cross settles all questions about the love of God, and thus, any question that should ever arise in any of God’s children about God’s love and care for them, due to their trials or troubles or sufferings, should subside into a settled assurance about God’s love for them because Jesus has already proved that to us in this greatest possible demonstration of how much He loves us. God’s love for us is a complete and settled ‘known fact’ of life…of our lives!

Then, sometimes the question comes in the form of “How can a good God allow suffering?” That reminds me of another question…a question Jesus asked the rich young ruler after he called Jesus ‘Good Teacher’. Jesus asked him: “Why do you call Me ‘good’? There is only one who is ‘good’.” Jesus was asking him if he understood that only God is ‘truly good’ in the complete sense of the word. And therefore, in Jesus accepting that title of ‘Good’ He was essentially asking him if he realized that he was talking to the Messiah, who was not only the only Savior, but also the only God! This rich young ruler’s real problem was that he didn’t know God in a personal way at all. He didn’t know the Father nor the Son nor the Holy Spirit. He needed to come to know the Triune God!

Many who ask the question of ‘how can a good God allow suffering’ won’t understand the answer either, because they don’t what they are asking. They don’t know that their idea of a good God is not the Biblical revelation of ‘Who’ God really is! They don’t know the one holy and just God of the Bible, who is not only good, but He is completely good and completely perfect!

Think about it: the question of ‘How can a good God…’ implies that something that God is doing is not good, that is, that something is wrong with what God is doing or not doing. But since God is perfect in His character and in His conduct and in His will and in His works, whenever there is ever anything wrong or deficient, it is never in God’s perfect will and perfect works, but always in this present world of countless wrongs and deficiencies, and in our imperfect understanding and reasoning about it all. Our response to God about anything we do not understand should always be like the Father’s whose son Jesus had delivered from an evil spirit, who said: “I do believe…help me with my unbelief…help me to believe more.” Or, “I know that You, my God, are perfect, loving, righteous, and just in all of Your ways and works…please help me better understand what’s wrong and defective and broken in this world of trials and tribulations and sufferings.” The problems are always from this cursed world, which is not our real home anyway, and never from our Perfect Parent, our God and Savior, who is walking us through this foreign land to our real home of Heaven.

Mark it down: Whenever there is anything we presently don’t understand about God and about God’s working, the problem always lies in our present imperfect understanding and never in God’s perfect character and His perfect workings. Think about it: If there were ever any deficiency, any defect, any imperfection, or anything wrong at all with our God, then our problems would be far greater than any and all the sufferings and problems the world has ever known. For that would mean that we would have an imperfect God and an imperfect Savior. And that would mean something was wrong with John 3:16. And if something was wrong with John 3:16 then we would be without truth, without a Savior, without forgiveness, without hope, and without Eternal life.

But our God is perfect in every possible way. All His words are perfect and true…all His promises are perfect and true…all His works are perfect and true. There is absolutely no problem ever with our Perfect God and in His perfect works. Again, the problem is always in this present broken world that is suffering from the effects of the curse of sin, which has affected and infected all of creation, from the Earth to the Stars. That’s why the Scriptures reveal that even Creation itself is groaning and awaiting its redemption, awaiting its deliverance from the curse and its renewal to a New Heaven and a New Earth!

And, as we stated, the problem is also in our present partial, imperfect, and limited understanding. And we’ll continue to expand on this in our next study. But for all of us who are blessed and privileged to know the One true God, who Himself is, The Way, The Truth, and The Life, if you should ever be asked either of those questions of ‘Why would a good God…or Why would a loving God allow suffering’, answer it with saying: “Let’s ask that another way in order to help answer that, because we need to start with what we know. So: “Since we know that God is a loving God, since we know that God is a good God, and since we know that God is a perfect God, how can we better understand the presence of suffering in this broken world, and in the lives of God’s people who are still living in this world?”

And then, with that settled, now you can look for what’s really wrong with this world and it’s works, because we know that there is nothing…there is not anything wrong in our God and in His works…in His works in this world and in His works in our own lives. There are a host of problems with this broken and dying world for sure. But as for God…our God is our only hope and strength and help in any and every trial and struggle that comes from living in a world of sin and suffering.

Let’s read together the doxology that the Apostle Paul wrote after also dealing with questions of the many problems of this world, but then rejoicing in the hope and help of our God. Rom 11:33-36- “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, OR WHO BECAME HIS COUNSELOR? Or WHO HAS FIRST GIVEN TO HIM THAT IT MIGHT BE PAID BACK TO HIM AGAIN? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.” NASU

 

Free Indeed!

Study Guide, July 6, 2025

Pastor Clay Olsen

Watch video online – https://www.facebook.com/eichapel/videos/709292865600193

How many have been to the Capitol for the fireworks on the 4^th? It’s pretty impressive with the Flyovers and then the orchestra playing the 1812 Overture along with the booming fireworks and all. (By the way…what year was the 1812 Overture written? This is not a trick question…Tchaikovsky wrote it in 1880, to celebrate the Russian victory over Napoleon’s invasion. Just thought you’d like to know…anyway…) What a great celebration of our Freedom in America. With the birth of America came our birthright of freedom. But a fascinating thing about freedom is that freedom is a two-sided virtue. It’s a freedom that is a ‘freedom from’ and a ‘freedom for’. In our country it was a freedom from oppressive rule…a bondage really, and a freedom ‘for’ the rights of…and you know the rest…the rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. And how thankful we are for all of those who gave so much so that we could live in a country with freedom from bondage and freedom for these great human rights.

As followers of Christ, we celebrate freedom as our spiritual birthright. And also fascinating, is that our spiritual freedom, too, is a freedom from bondage and a freedom for our spiritual rights…the rights of eternal life, liberty in the Spirit, and the pursuit of holiness…which, of course, is the key to happiness. So let’s continue the celebration as we celebrate our freedom in Christ and our spiritual birthrights.

But how about this…how ironic that in this land of liberty, this country of freedom, that so many are still living in bondage, living in spiritual bondage. To an unrepentant, unconverted man, the Apostle Peter said this: Acts 8:23- “For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity.” NASU Is that really the condition of an unconverted heart? Spiritually speaking…yes it is! This ‘gall of bitterness’ is a description of a poisonous presence in a person’s life, which is essentially what ‘sin’ is in a human life. Most people think of sin in terms of ‘wrongdoing’, which it is, but ‘sin’ is even more destructive than that. Sin to the human condition is what poison is to food. Once food has been poisoned, it has to be replaced.

Consider this: If you were given a bowl of stew that had been poisoned, if the waiter then said, “But I can take a little out if you’d like…or I can add a little more to it.” Would that do for you? No way! That would not do at all, because the stew is still poisoned. It would have to be completely replaced with a poison-free bowl of stew.

In a similar way, that’s what sin did to the human spirit. The human spirit has become poisoned in sin. And yet how strange, and futile, that so many people think that if they just take a little of their sin-poisoned works out of their life, and then add some religious works to their life, well, then their human spirit should be fine. But not only is that completely unbiblical, it’s also totally illogical. If their poisoned stew was still poisoned, regardless of how much they took out or added to it, then their sin-poisoned spirit is still poisoned in sin regardless of how many sinful works they remove or how many religious works they add. That’s why, in order for any person to come into a saved relationship with Christ, and freed from their sin condition, a person has to have a re-birth of their human spirit. Their sin-poisoned spirit has to be re-placed with a new spirit, which is a spirit that is now united to God’s Spirit.

Remember: the effect that sin had on the human spirit is that sin not only spiritually poisoned it, but spiritually separated it from God’s Spirit. That’s why Jesus said to this religious Teacher, who was always careful to remove wrong-doing from his life, and careful about adding religious works to his life…Jesus essentially told him, ‘You must be Born again…you must have your sin-sick spirit replaced with My sin free Spirit. Jesus exactly told him: John 3:3- “Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” NASU No one can enter the kingdom of God without having Jesus create a new human spirit in them by giving them His own Spirit. And Jesus gives His Spirit to the one who in repentance and faith receives Jesus into his or her life as their Lord and Savior.

And right there is the difference between ‘religion’ and ‘relationship’. The problem is not in religion itself, it’s just that so many religions have used religion ‘irreligiously’! They have tried to make having a saving relationship with God be based upon subtraction and addition…again, ‘subtraction’ in what their religion says people should not do, and ‘addition’ in what their religious teachers say people need to do in order to qualify for Heaven.

Again, how irreligious and false such teaching is. In fact, God pronounces a ‘Woe to you’ to such teachers that teach their people such false doctrines. Remember God’s warnings and woes to false teachers? Jer 12:10- “Many shepherds have ruined My vineyard, they have trampled down My field; They have made My pleasant field a desolate wilderness.” “My anger is kindled against the shepherds…” Zech 10:3 “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you shut off the kingdom of heaven from people; for you do not enter in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in.” Matt 23:13 NASU The final judgement and sentencing is going to be very hard on false religious teachers…on false religious shepherds who have taught falsehood instead of truth, and led so many people astray.

So sin is a poison in the human spirit. Sin is also a bondage of the human soul. Peter called it the ‘bondage of iniquity’. Again, how ironic, that so many Americans, who are living their lives in the land of the free and the home of the brave, are also still living their lives in spiritual bondage…their souls are in the bondage of iniquity and their spirits are being held captive by the devil. Say what? That was the Apostle Paul’s prayer for those in Asia Minor who, although many were enjoying some freedoms within the Roman Empire, were still fully deceived by not realizing their souls were being held captive by the devil. 2 Tim 2:24-26- “The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.” NASU

Right there is another irony: So many are blessed to live in this great country of societal freedom, yet many are still living in spiritually bondage…being held captive by the devil to do his will, which is anything that is not God’s will.

I was always struck by how Paul described repentance, in part, as people ‘coming to their senses!’ To not come to Jesus in repentance and faith is in fact, nonsense…not having enough sense to follow Christ as your Lord and Savior. You see, because people live in a world of deception, they therefore think according to delusion. And delusions are erroneous beliefs in the face of evidence to the contrary. Many people the world over are living according to erroneous beliefs about God, about sin, about Heaven and Hell, and how to be right with God, in spite of also living in the light of the facts of the God given evidence of the life and death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, who came into the world to save us sinners from an eternity of separation from God. If there is one excuse no one will ever be able to use at the Great White Throne Judgment before their final sentencing in Gehenna, is the excuse that they weren’t given enough evidence in order to believe and receive the Savior. Rom 1:18-20- “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.” NASU

Unbelievers have no excuse for continuing to be ‘Unbelievers’! For anyone who responds to the light that their Creator has already given them in His creation and in their conscience, they will receive the light and the life of the Savior who will save them from their sins and give them new spiritual life in union with Him. For any who will respond to the convicting and calling on their soul by God the Holy Spirit and seek the Lord, they will find Him. That’s a promise from God. Jer 29:13- “You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.” NASU

And when anyone seeks the Lord, he or she finds the Savior waiting at the door of their heart and life, just waiting to be invited into their life to become their personal Lord and Savior. And we pray that each one here today, and listening in, has that assurance, that you have opened the door of your life and asked Jesus to come into your life, to forgive your sin, and to give a new birth to your spirit in union with Jesus’ Spirit. If you have any question about your relationship with Christ, today is the day to make your salvation sure. Don’t leave Jesus outside the door of your life, waiting for you to receive Him into your life. Remember, the Apostle John said: 1 John 5:11-12- “And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.” NASU

Mark it down: Eternal life is not a thing…Eternal life is a Person. Eternal life is not something that we can earn by anything we do or not do. Eternal life is Someone with whom you come into an eternal relationship. John 17:3- “This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” NASU That’s why we say, “You have something that God wants, and only you can give it to Him…your heart. And God has something that you need, and only God can give it to you…eternal life.”

So be sure you have given God your heart, your life…that’s repentance, and be sure you have asked Jesus into your life, trusting in His works to forgive your sins and make you right with God…that’s faith. And when you do, you are then freed ‘from’ your sins, and you are freed ‘for’ your birthrights…of eternal life, liberty in the Spirit, and the pursuit of holiness…which is true happiness!

These amazing wonders are birthrights of your citizenship in Heaven. Again, we thank God for the freedoms we enjoy as citizens of this great country. But we also thank God, praise God, for the freedoms we enjoy as citizens of the ‘better country’…as citizens of Heaven! Just think…for a child of God and a citizen of Heaven, whatever you have to face or have had to forfeit in this world that takes our health or our provisions or our relationships and such, nothing or no one can take from us our eternal life and the promises of our eternal birthrights and eternal inheritance in the Eternal kingdom of our God and Savior!

Remember that T-shirt? “Life is good…Eternal life is better!” When you have eternal life, everything else is only temporal…it’s ‘this too shall pass’…except for the good that God has given you and the good that you have done for God…for then, that will last and even be rewarded! I like how when you commend some Christians for the good they are doing and the service they are giving, they respond with: “Just working on my inheritance!” I know they are serving out of their love for God and love for others, but they are absolutely right about their inheritance! Our God longs to reward each of His children for each and every good thing they do for His glory and other’s gain. When you have eternal life, every good thing you do for God and others is another eternal investment you make in your eternal portfolio of your eternal inheritance! That’s just the way our great God is with His children!

And, those who are ‘in Christ’ are also freed for a life of liberty in our walk with God the Holy Spirit. Christ has ransomed us and delivered us from our captivity to sin and the devil, and therefore neither has any hold on us, whatsoever. You were a sinner in relationship to yourself, but you are now a ‘Saint’ in relationship with your Savior. Your shackles to sin have been broken and the power of death and the devil has been defeated. Neither sin nor Satan has any authority over you, for in Christ you more than a conqueror of both…you are free in Jesus, and you have the authority of your God that now rules and reigns over your life.

So now…now and for the rest of your journey on your way home…now is the time to be wise, to choose wisely ‘how’ you will live out the rest of your days as free men and free women. And wisdom is knowing what we have been freed ‘for’…we have been freed for the purpose of now pursuing holiness, and thus, becoming more and more like our Holy God, who loved us and gave His live to have us as His own children. And also, just like our God, He has made life in such a way, that the very way to be truly happy in this life is through the pursuit of holiness all through life. It’s just like the Hymn… “There’s no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey!”

Brothers and Sisters, enjoy your birthrights…Eternal life includes today, and every day after. Liberty in the Spirit involves letting God the Holy Spirit lead and guide you each day. And your happiness…your happiness will follow your holiness…holiness in how you think and talk and act each day. And then be sure every day to Praise God and to seek to please Jesus in what you do and say, for it’s because of Jesus that we truly are – ‘Free Indeed!’

Components of Biblical Friendship

Study Guide, June 29, 2025

Pastor Clay Olsen

Watch video online – https://www.facebook.com/eichapel/videos/710830451811728

How great is it that Friendship is one of the great themes that runs throughout the Bible. And of course it is, since God designed friendship to be a key part of our lives. Friendship has been described a lot of ways…some heart to heart, and some ‘tongue in cheek’. Let’s share some of those first.

This was fun…“A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg even though he knows you are slightly cracked.” —Bernard Meltzer And you’ll recognize this kind of logic… “It is more fun to talk with someone who doesn’t use long, difficult words but rather short, easy words like, ‘What about lunch?'” — That’s from Winnie the Pooh (Yeah, Pooh likes his lunch, especially with honey…lots of honey) And this makes a lot of sense to me… “There’s nothing better than a good friend…except for a good friend with chocolate.” (That’s what I’m talking about!)

But then there were Job’s friends…remember them? So, why was Job always so cold at night? Because he had such miserable ‘comforters’! Right, they weren’t comforting at all! But this was interesting, also because of who said it: “Friendship is born at the moment when one man says to another, “What! You too? I thought I was the only one.” (C.S. Lewis) Good insight, right? Yes, how often we think we’re going through something that we think we are alone in going through it…like no one else seems to wrestle with this…and so on, only to find out how many other people do wrestle with the same thing, but they haven’t found a friend or told a friend about their struggle either. That’s one of the unusually refreshing things about what Paul said in 1 Cor 10:13- “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.” NASU

That verse is a whole study in and of itself, but one thing we definitely learn from it is that whatever you ever face or have to deal with, be it some temptation, some trouble, some trial, some struggle…realize that not only are you not alone in it, but in fact it’s common among people! But the strange thing is, it’s not only common to have it, it’s common for people to think it’s just them, or to think that it’s not common, when in fact it is common.

Remember, we all share a common human nature, so we deal with common human problems, common issues. That’s why good friends, who are proven to be trustworthy and confidential and caring, are also so refreshing…because you can share with them whatever you are going through and they will come alongside of you to help you with it…help walk you through it. It’s like one of the sayings about friendship…’A friend is one who knows all about you and loves you all the same.’ And, ‘A friend is one who will neither maximize your weaknesses nor minimize your strengths.’ And, ‘A friend is one who strengthens you with his prayers, blesses you with his love, and encourages you with his hope.’

Which takes us to our ultimate Friend…The Lord our God! And do you remember what Jesus said to His disciples? John 15:15- “No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.” NKJV So our very God is also our very best Friend possible! Jesus calls us ‘friends!’ And then Jesus coupled this with another component of Biblical friendship, which is this. Actually, it’s even another one of God’s names. In John 14:16-17 Jesus said – “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.” NASU How great is that…that one of the names of God the Holy Spirit is – ‘Helper!’

So our God, who calls us ‘friends’, also calls Himself our ‘Helper.’ And so as our only God, as our best Friend, and as our ultimate Helper, we can know that our God is for us…He is with us…and, as amazing as it is, He is even ‘in us’…to assure us, to assist us, to guide us, to come alongside us, to comfort us, and to lead us in His paths of righteousness.

You’ll notice that this look into Biblical Friendship today is not so much ‘systematic’ as it is ‘scenic’. We are stopping to look at different scenes or aspects of friendship. That being said, here’s another name you’ll recognize: “Tis a great confidence in a friend to tell him your faults; greater to tell him his.” Benjamin Franklin

And that reminds us of that great Proverb that says: Prov 27:17- “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” NIV What do you think? Does iron, especially as a ‘tool’ need to be sharpened? To be sure, it does! For a tool, it’s either let it be sharpened or let it become dull. It’s the same with us ‘Human Tools’. We either let ourselves be sharpened or we will become dull…dull of hearing, dull of learning…dull of feeling…dull of caring…dull of serving…you get the picture.

But did you notice the key component here? “Let yourself be sharpened.” Something that is not common among common friends is letting your friend become a ‘Sharpening friend.’ In this you let your friend be a sharpening tool that God can then use in His work of ‘sharpening you.’ That usually has to be communicated to a friend, as most of us are hesitant to point out blind spots in our friends. That’s why we need to initiate or encourage their help, as in saying something like: “Anytime you see a blind spot in me that I seem to have about something or someone, please feel free to let me know. Go easy, of course…maybe one thing at a time….but let me know.” Or basically, just let your friend know that you are open to them to help you become sharper or to be sharpened in whatever it is that will help you become a better friend, a better husband or wife, or co-worker or neighbor, or especially a better disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ. Let others sharpen you, and then let God use you to sharpen others.

Say, did you have any imaginary friends as a kid? This one guy said: “The imaginary friends I had as a kid dropped me because their friends thought I didn’t exist.” (Aaron Machado) Poor fellow had some issues there…But this next component of Biblical friendship is not only one of the most blessed ones to have among friends, but also a powerful one to have among fellow disciples of Christ. You remember the scene: All of the Jewish women who knew of the prophecy of the coming Messiah knew that one would be chosen of God to bear the Christ child and become the Mother of the Messiah.

So now, Elizabeth found out that she was carrying the child that would become the forerunner of the Messiah. She was chosen of God to be the Mother to John the Baptist. Six months into her pregnancy she was visited by her cousin, Mary. Luke 1:39-45- “Now at this time Mary arose and went in a hurry to the hill country, to a city of Judah, and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. And she cried out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And how has it happened to me, that the mother of my Lord would come to me? For behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord.” NASU

By the way, this passage is also a powerful Pro-life statement because from the womb, the pre-born baby of John the Baptist leaped in joy at the sound of Mary’s voice, as she was carrying the Person of the Messiah. Friends, Tissue does not have the emotion of joy, nor does it leap with joy, nor does it sense and recognize the presence of its Creator and Redeemer. Only human beings can do that, and human beings are in the womb!

But did you see the remarkable component or element of Biblical friendship in Elizabeth’s response? Elizabeth could have wondered why she was not chosen to be the Mother of the Messiah. But instead, she had the opposite response of that, for she said: “…how has it happened to me, that the mother of my Lord would come to me?” Elizabeth was humbled and honored that Mary would come with this news to her. But even more, she was genuinely happy that her cousin was the one chosen by God to be the Mother of the Messiah.

One of the most significant and impactful components of Biblical friendship is the character quality of being genuinely happy when good comes to others. Instead of “Why not me?” this genuine friend responds in: “I’m so happy for you!” Instead of envy of others, there is joy for others. Instead of comparison to others, there is celebration with others. Instead of craving esteem for self, there is ‘giving’ esteem to others. Plus, to be genuinely happy when good comes to others is not only a mark of a priceless friend, but it’s also a mark of a godly disciple of God’s.

It’s also a good way to measure our spiritual maturity. Where is your ‘humility setting’ in relation to ‘being genuinely happy when good comes to others’? Is it ‘low’ or ‘medium’ or ‘high’, like Elizabeth’s setting was at ‘high’ with Mary – “…how has it happened to me, that you would come to me, to share about your wonderful blessing, or to share with me about your good fortune, or to tell me about your great victory?” “I’m so happy for you!” That’s a great place to be in your maturity level of life! When that is your genuine response, that is when you will know that you are genuinely a good-good friend. When you can share another’s happiness, is when you know you are growing in sanctification…you are growing beyond the strife of the self-life and into the joys of the ‘shared-life’.

Let’s take that a step further because when you want to have a way to measure where you are in your sanctification, this is a powerful measurement of that. What do we mean?

Rom 15:1-3- “Some of us have no problem with these things. So we should be patient with those who are not so strong and have doubts. We should not do what pleases us but do what pleases them and is for their good. We should do whatever helps the church grow stronger in faith. Even Christ did not live trying to please Himself.” ERV And that right there would be a great meditation focus for us all: “Even Christ did not live trying to please Himself.”

Where is the highest demonstration of ‘Friendship’ found? Now, we know that Jesus said: “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13 NASU Giving one’s life for another is the greatest demonstration of love. Also, living one’s life for another is the greatest demonstration of friendship. Note what Jesus said about this: “I want the world to know that I love the Father and that I am doing exactly what the Father has commanded Me to do.” John 14:31 God’s Word Version Jesus lived His life demonstrating His love for the Father, delighting in doing the Will of the Father, and the giving His life for the sake of the Father and for each of us.

One of the great hymns we sing is ‘What a Friend We Have in Jesus’. And that is truly amazing and encouraging. But the other side of having a Friend in Jesus is for Jesus to then have a friend in us! One of the highest goals of your life is to be a friend to Jesus. And to be a friend to Jesus is being to Jesus how Jesus was to the Father…doing what the Father commanded Him to do. And not just doing it, but ‘delighting’ in doing it, because of how much it pleased the Father for the Son to delight in doing the will of the Father.

Jesus connected His demonstration of love and friendship with the Father to show His disciples could they could show love and friendship to Him. For just before Jesus spoke about calling His disciples His ‘friends’…calling us disciples His friends, He said something else. Notice: John 15:14-15- “You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” NIV The way to demonstrate to God and to the world your love for God, is to seek to do what Jesus, your God, has given you to do, commanded you to do. The way to demonstrate to Jesus and to the world, your friendship with Jesus, is to seek to do what Jesus has given you to do, commanded you to do…to do His will. And the more that you seek to do His will, the more, like Jesus, you will come to delight in doing His will. The more that you seek to please Jesus first in your life, the more pleasing life will become for you. And the more that you seek to be the best friend you can be to Jesus, the better friend you will be to everyone else in your life.

You know, the Scriptures reveal that God sings over us…sings about us. Can you imagine Jesus singing something like: “What a friend I have in….and put your name there.” How about that? Oh yes, you can be that kind of friend to Jesus! What a friend you have in Jesus…and what a friend Jesus has in you! It doesn’t get any better than that!

“When God Arises”

June 22, 2025

Pastor Robert Kornegay

   Watch video online — https://www.facebook.com/eichapel/videos/688616737493769

Psalm 83 NIV 

A song. A psalm of Asaph.

Strengthening Relationships, Pt. 2

Study Guide, June 8, 2025

Pastor Clay Olsen

Take two people: One male, one female, from totally different homes, with different upbringings and experiences; Each with emotional uniqueness, with like and dislikes, each with some degree of independence, and with some self-centeredness, living in the same house; with different tasks and responsibilities, working from the same budget, trying to meet the same goals. Will they agree on everything? NO WAY!

Despite a couple’s firm commitment of love and loyalty to one another, the fact that the husband and wife are two distinct people makes some degree of conflict inevitable. Disagreements will happen. Thus, the need for living out our relationships according to Biblical principles rather than our personal preferences or our natural instincts. And, as we often point out, the problem with natural instincts is that our natural instincts often just ‘Stink’! That’s right…it’s similar to the ‘Stinking Thinking’ syndrome we mentioned last time.

When God said this about His thoughts and ways being different than our thoughts and ways, it applied to EVERYTHING! Isa 55:8-9- “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.” NASU (The next time you are outside, especially at night, look up at the Stars, and think about these verses. That distance from where you are to where the Stars are is the amount of distance and the amount of difference that God’s perfect thoughts and ways are from our imperfect natural thoughts and ways. Be careful though, it might make you dizzy!) That’s why we can’t just rely on our own human reasoning about anything…even how we approach interpersonal relationships, especially like ‘marriage’.

Now, certainly, God is the One that created us with the ability to reason and use our reasoning as we relate to one another and deal with life in general. But we are to first submit our reasoning about anything and everything to the ‘revelation’ of God’s Word. That way our reasoning will be ‘Biblically directed reasoning’. For if it’s not ‘Biblically directed reasoning’ it will remain ‘humanly distorted reasoning’. And that just leads to more and more vanity and wasted efforts about everything.

Here’s an example of Biblically directed reasoning in connection with relationships with others: (And we’ll look at it from 3 different translations in order to get the effect and impact of it.)

Phil 2:3-4- “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.” NASU

Phil 2:3-4- “In whatever you do, don’t let selfishness or pride be your guide. Be humble, and honor others more than yourselves. Don’t be interested only in your own life, but care about the lives of others too.” ERV

Phil 2:3-4- “Do nothing from factional motives [through contentiousness, strife, selfishness, or for unworthy ends] or prompted by conceit and empty arrogance. Instead, in the true spirit of humility (lowliness of mind) let each regard the others as better than and superior to himself [thinking more highly of one another than you do of yourselves].

Let each of you esteem and look upon and be concerned for not [merely] his own interests, but also each for the interests of others.” AMP

Perhaps some questions at this point could be helpful. Like: So, how much does God permit us to do out of selfishness and self-pride? The answer is: NOTHING! Another question: And what is ‘selfishness’ really? Answer: Selfishness is being concerned excessively or exclusively for oneself or one’s own advantage, pleasure, or welfare, regardless of others, or above others. Selfishness is basically having the attitude and expectation of: “I’m here to be served.” …Time to look up, because there it is again…that distance and difference reality check between God’s ways and our ways.

Mark 10:45- “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” NASU How utterly remarkable that if all God’s people made this one mental and emotional adjustment to how they lived, it would drastically change the world for good. In any and every place, from their marriage, to their family, to their church family, to their job, to their community…it would powerfully impact everything if they began with this ‘Jesus Attitude’ of: “I did not come here to be served, but to serve, and to give my life…not as a ‘ransom’, for that was uniquely completed by Jesus, but as a service to others.” And, of course, because of the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit, as Christians, we can choose to act on this ‘service attitude of Jesus’ every day.

Every day you are somewhere or you go somewhere. The question is: What are you there for? No, that is not a trick question about forgetfulness…like, “What I am here for…what, again, was I looking for?” Rather, is it a question about your purpose? For, you see, in any place or in every place, as followers of Christ…meaning, as ‘imitators of Christ’, we are to be there not to be served, but to serve, and to give our life as a service to others!

Now back to Philippians 2 – It does not say that others are more important than us, but that we are to consider them as more important…in that we move from ‘sympathy’ to ‘empathy’. And what’s the difference? Sympathy is feeling a sense of care or pity about another’s trouble or misfortune. So, there is a degree of compassion in sympathy. However, sympathy can create a sense of separation, as you’re observing the other person’s suffering from your own perspective. Whereas empathy involves actively understanding another person’s feelings and experiencing them as if they were your own. Empathy is a deeper level of connection, involving actively sharing and understanding the other person’s emotions. Sympathy can feel something for the problems of another, but empathy both feels and then seeks to do something about the problems of another. We see that in this: Matt 9:36-38- “Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.” NASU In Jesus experience we see His sense of sympathy, of feeling compassion, of then expanding into empathy, of then doing something in response to His compassion.

Strangely enough, but not surprising…is that this quality of ‘empathy’ in relationships is a quality that is and will become more and more absent from people’s character the closer we come to the Lord’s return. Jesus said the world will become more and more cold and calloused to the needs and the troubles and the misfortunes of others the further we get into the End Times. It’s pretty evident that the world is becoming more and more cold and calloused to the Will of God and the needs of others.

Even God’s people need to check their ‘Empathy meter’ now and again. One of the things to look for is to see if your ‘Empathy meter’ is showing that it’s in the ‘healthy range’, rather than the ‘hardening range’. And this can be measured according to how you are acting on the commands of what is stated in Philippians 2 – “…do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.” “Don’t be interested only in your own life, but care about the lives of others too.” “…be concerned for not [merely] his own interests, but also each for the interests of others.” The level of your concern for the interests and needs of others, and again, especially your Significant Other, will reveal the health of both your empathy meter and your obedience meter, as they go together.

Don’t let your ‘empathy meter’ get low, for that will invoke a different message from the Lord for you…as in: Rev 2:2-4- “I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance…and have endured for My name’s sake, and have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have left your first love.” NASU Remember, it doesn’t matter what all you have going for you if God has something against you. And when God has something against you, that always begins with something about your first love that has gone wrong. And your ‘first love’ always has to do with your love for God. And guess what? Your love for God is always connected to something else… 1 John 4:10-12- “This is real love—not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and His love is brought to full expression in us.” NLT So remember…we can actually measure how much God’s love is growing in us by measuring how much God’s love is showing through us…through us in sympathy and empathy and service to others, particularly our ‘Significant Other’…our husband or wife.

Speaking of serving others and concerning ourselves with the needs and interests and welfare of others, some naturally become confused about what happens to their own care and welfare. How can you live a full life if you are pouring yourself out?

How about another question: What is the secret to personal fulfillment? Again…look up to the stars again, because this, too, is different than we would think! According to human reasoning the pursuit of personal fulfillment is looking for ways to fill up yourself. Whereas the Biblical path of personal fulfillment is by faithfully emptying out yourself. Phil 2:5-7- “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant…” NASU

Certainly we know that Jesus laid aside His independent use of His Divine attributes of His Godhood as Christ. And He did this in order to live out His godly dependence as Jesus. But in doing so He also emptied Himself through His obedience and in His service to others as a bond-servant to God! But, whereas Jesus took on the life of a bond-servant by choice, we are to take on the life of a bond-servant because we really are ‘bond-servants’ of God. We really have been purchased by the precious blood of Christ! We have been purchased out of slavery to sin and into the freedom of belonging to Christ.

So, from the revelation of the Word of God we can then come to understand that the secret to personal fulfillment, or ‘Fulfillness’ in the soul and life of a person, is based upon that person’s ‘Faithfulness’ to the counsel and the commands of our God, Who alone can fill the soul in both our Heavenly salvation and in our Earthly satisfaction. Mark it down: ‘Fulfillness’ in our life is only possible through ‘Faithfulness’ to our God; for God alone is the only source of fullness in our soul and satisfaction in our heart and mind.

And, once again, we see that this reality is also as different in people’s thinking as the Heavens are above the Earth. And it shows us…or it assures us, that we can simply let go of wondering or worrying about experiencing personal fulfillment and satisfaction in life. It is God the Holy Spirit that fills us as we empty out ourselves in faithfulness in pursuing our first love, Christ Himself, and then seeking to let Christ love others through us…which, as we have clarified before, that love may be either tender love or tough love, depending upon which is needed. Either way, we are to let that be directed by God’s revelation which will then guide our human reasoning.

One more thing for today that we can simply let go of, as in wondering or worrying about, is related to where we began, and that has to do with ‘Differences’. Have you noticed that we tend to all be different from one another? Pretty much! One thing about the relationship of ‘Marriage’ is that the ‘Marital relationship’ is the stage upon which differences are on display. One interesting thing about that is the only difference between ‘marital’ and ‘martial’ is a misplaced “I”! Think about it!

Oh yes, the ‘misplaced I’ is a stumbling block in all relationships. Even with the Church

we saw that God intends for His Church to learn to think and act less according to the ‘self-life’ and more so according to a ‘Body life’ mentality, with Christ Himself as being the Head…the Head of the Church. And God intends that those of His Church, who also then become united in marriage, especially learn to think and act more so according to a One-ness life mentality…no longer competing against each other in ‘who’ is right, or ‘who’ gets their way, or ‘who’ gets the say in whatever decision they are making or deed they are doing. The Marriage relationship on Earth between the Husband and Wife is to be the reflection of the Salvation relationship in Heaven and Earth between Christ and His Bride, the Church. It’s no longer about living separate lives, but it’s about living ‘Shared lives! Notice: Eph 5:31-33- “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.” NKJV

And we’ll ‘flesh’ this out a little more in our next study, but what we see in both the Church and in Marriage is that because there has been a change from an individual identity to a shared identity, this requires a change from living according to our ‘individual mentality’ to living out a ‘shared mentality’ as well. And another amazing blessing that comes from that is that it gives even greater honor to each individual by sharing in what we started with: Phil 2:3-4- “In whatever you do, don’t let selfishness or pride be your guide. Be humble, and honor others more than yourselves. Don’t be interested only in your own life, but care about the lives of others too.” ERV

God’s thoughts and ways are not only higher than ours, but we are to also choose them over ours every day! We are to seek to make them ours more and more in how we think and act and live in all of our relationships.

 

 

Strengthening Relationships

Study Guide, June 1, 2025

Pastor Clay Olsen

Along with Pastor Josiah and Rachel’s wedding shower today and wedding approaching, we thought it would be helpful to walk through some Biblical principles that help strengthen relationships. Many of these apply to both marriage and each of our day-to-day relationships, so we can all glean some ‘helps’ together.

For example: In the counsel of Eph. 4:11-13 God gives His people, His church, a powerful Life-purpose statement. Let’s look: “And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.” NASU

Here we see God revealing that one of main purposes of leaders who serve the saints of the church is to more and more equip the saints so that the saints can better and better serve God’s church and others. It doesn’t matter if you are a young equipper or and older equipper, or a young equipper-snapper or an older equipper-snapper. (That was kind of a stretch, but it was just all set up there…anyway) But we also see that God has given His people another ‘identity’…and that is… a ‘Builder’, a ‘Builder’ of others, especially Builders of other Believers. And when you bring that identity into the marriage relationship, we see that one of God’s purposes for Husbands and Wives, as a ‘Builder’ of others, is to build up their spouse in emotional welfare, in mental well-being, in physical support, and in spiritual growth.

In other words, your marriage partner is your God-given life-long building assignment. Your spouse is your ‘personal building project’…not a ‘thing’ kind of project, but a ‘treasure’ kind of project. And so, right away, this God-given assignment gives a new identity even to your marriage; and that is, that your marriage is not only your gift from God, but it is also your ministry unto God. Oh yes, to be sure, marriage is a ministry, for ministry is rooted in the concept of serving others, reflecting the example of Jesus who came to serve rather than to be served. It involves meeting other’s needs with love and humility. And so, this moves you from the mentality of thinking of your marriage only in terms of ‘our relationship’ to even more so, thinking of it in terms of ‘My ministry’, which, again, is to do whatever you can do in order to ‘edify’, or to build up your spouse emotionally, mentally, physically, and spiritually. You now think in terms of: “What would the Lord have me do to encourage, to assist, to enlighten, and to help build up and strengthen my spouse in their emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual well-being and experiences?” Mark it down: Changing how you think about your relationship by identifying it as ‘My ministry unto God’ changes everything!

All right, so let’s go to some examples, let’s say, in the area of ‘Communication’. Do you use much ‘seasoning’ on your foods? You say, “What’s that got to do with ‘communication’?” Let’s see. Col 4:6- “Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.” NASU Okay then! And ‘by the way’…whenever you see “Let your”…and then whatever God says after that in the Bible, know that in the Greek, “Let your”… is the ‘Imperative mood’, meaning that God is not making a suggestion to us, rather this is a command. How about that? God is commanding us about how we communicate with others. God not only commands us how to treat others… ‘Love in truth’, but He also commands us in how to speak to others…‘Speak truth in love!’

One of the dangers of not seasoning what you are going to say is that it often leads to saying what you didn’t intend to say or meant to say. Do you see what we’re saying? How often does conflict in communication arise from the oft quoted saying of – “But that’s not what I meant! That not what I intended in what I said.” But others don’t hear ‘intentions’…they hear what you say. And you remember what James said about the power of ‘words’, right? James 3:3-6- “We put a bit into the mouth of a horse to make it obey us, and we are able to make it go where we want. Or think of a ship: big as it is and driven by such strong winds, it can be steered by a very small rudder, and it goes wherever the pilot wants it to go. So it is with the tongue: small as it is, it can boast about great things. Just think how large a forest can be set on fire by a tiny flame! And the tongue is like a fire.” TEV

A ‘bit’, a ‘rudder’, and a ‘flame’! Words are more powerful than we normally think. Words can warm others or they can burn them…all according to how you use them. That’s why the Word of God has so much to say about how we use the words of our tongue. Here are just some examples:

Prov 13:3- “Be careful what you say and protect your life. A careless talker destroys himself.” TEV That’s the thing about an uncontrolled flame of words…it not only harms the hearer, but it also burns the speaker.

Prov 18:13- “Spouting off before listening to the facts is both shameful and foolish.” NLT

Here we see that ‘listening’ is one of the most important parts of relating, right? We will come back to that.

Prov 29:20- “There is more hope for a fool than for someone who speaks without thinking.” NLT So foolish words naturally follow foolish thinking. And foolish thinking is speaking without thinking. Another example of ‘Stinking thinking!’

1 Peter 3:10- “For “He who would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit.” NKJV Here we see that harmful words come back on the speaker, just like the law of reaping what you sow. Or as they say… ‘What goes around, comes around.”

So what’s one great help in taming the tongue? Once again, a great word-picture from James can help us here as well. James 1:26- “If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless.

NASU A ‘bridle’! Now that would help…not sure if we would need the whole bridle…the headband, the noseband, the cheek piece, the bit and the throat latch. Maybe…

But the bridle is used for communication between the rider and the horse, allowing the rider to guide the horse’s direction, speed, and movements through signals delivered through the reins and bit. That sounds like it would be a great reminder for just how crucial it is that we carefully choose and use our words with others, especially with our ‘Significant other’.  

Now, the other thing that people hear when others speak is that they hear ‘attitudes’. And ‘attitudes’ have a powerful impact on whatever is said. Like the English teacher who was telling her students that two negative words together will make a positive, whereas two positives together will never make a negative. To which one of the students then said – “Yeah…right!” That’s funny, but you see how a snarky attitude can over-ride everything!

Remember: How you say something is as important as what you say, because how others often receive what you say is often based upon how it was said. Even children understand ‘attitude’ before they ever understand words. Develop the habit of being more concerned about how your communication affected others than about what you intended. That way you’ll be more careful about obeying Colossians 4:6 in thinking about how to say what you should say in order to communicate and season it all with grace.

But even with that said, communication is a challenging process. An example of the challenge is seen in this statement: “I know you believe you understand what you think I said, but I’m not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I said.” Say what? Plus, it’s reported that when you talk with another person you convey 6 messages: 1. What you meant to say. 2. What you actually said. 3. What the other person heard. 4. What the other person thinks he heard. 5. What the other person says about what you said. 6. What you think about what the other person said. Thus, the potential for miscommunication is high. That’s why the Bible has so much to say about what we say and how we say it. Carry your verbal saltshaker with you at all times. Season your words with grace before you dish them out to others…especially with your treasure, with the one with whom you share your life…your husband or wife.

One of the most helpful principles in communication is this: Test all your assumptions verbally by asking if they are accurate. And avoid acting until you have done that. You can avoid many unnecessary battles by testing all your assumptions before acting on them. Case in point: In the settling of the Promised Land, two and a half of the Tribes of Israel settled on the West of the Jordan. As for the sacrifices, all of the males of Israel were required to offer sacrifices at the altar of God’s tabernacle. But these two tribes thought they should build an altar as a witness that they, too, were part of Israel. They thought it would be a sort of witness of their unity with the other tribes. However, when the other tribes heard that they had built an altar, they made an assumption that these two tribes were now in rebellion against them and unfaithful to God. And they gathered men from all Israel to go to war against them. And they sent ten representatives to declare war and said: Josh 22:16-18- “Thus says the whole congregation of the Lord, ‘What is this unfaithful act which you have committed against the God of Israel, turning away from following the Lord this day, by building yourselves an altar, to rebel against the Lord this day? Is not the iniquity of Peor enough for us, from which we have not cleansed ourselves to this day, although a plague came on the congregation of the Lord, that you must turn away this day from following the Lord? If you rebel against the Lord today, He will be angry with the whole congregation of Israel tomorrow.” NASU

So they assumed that these tribes were now turning away and rebelling against the Lord and that was cause for war! But then they replied: “If we have built us an altar to turn away from following the Lord, or if to offer a burnt offering or grain offering on it, or if to offer sacrifices of peace offerings on it, may the Lord Himself require it. 24 “But truly we have done this out of concern, for a reason, saying, ‘In time to come your sons may say to our sons, “What have you to do with the Lord, the God of Israel? (Josh. 22: 22-24) “See the copy of the altar of the Lord which our fathers made, not for burnt offering or for sacrifice; rather it is a witness between us and you. Far be it from us that we should rebel against the Lord and turn away from following the Lord this day, by building an altar for burnt offering, for grain offering or for sacrifice, besides the altar of the Lord our God which is before His tabernacle.” (Joshua 22:28,29 NASU)

To which the representatives then basically said: “Oh! Sorry about that. Have a good day. See you at the tabernacle.” And they all went home. But the thing is…they almost went to war based upon a wrong assumption! Mark this down: It is human nature to make false assumptions and to also assume bad intentions about others…even those we love. This bent in our human nature is as old as humanity. That’s one of the reasons we are given this counsel for following the new habits of our new nature, which starts with: Phil 4:8- “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.” NASU Another ‘by the way’ here…this counsel of Phil. 4:8 is not a suggestion either…this is a command of God, whereby we are to discipline our minds, taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. And by making it a practice to test every assumption that you have about anything and everyone will not only save you from many unnecessary battles, but it will also make you more effective in your ministry of building up others around you.

And, if you are going to jump to conclusions, make a habit of jumping to positive conclusions about others, unless the facts prove different. As in, in the testing of your assumptions you do discover bad intentions or wrongdoing in others, well then, you can also then be better informed in order to do proper justice about whatever the wrong is! Either way, seek out truth first, so that you can then act upon truth and speak truth in love and love in truth! Plus, it is a great way to build up another when they know that you honor them enough and respect them enough to first test any assumptions you have by asking them to help you better understand because you value them and they are that important to you.

One other help for today anyway, is about that ‘Listening’ component. Whenever the Bible speaks about ‘listening’ it’s in connection with ‘learning’. When God says, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit of God is saying”, there is an intention connected to the ‘listening’. And the intention is ‘listening and learning’. Of course, with God, our listening and learning is foremost about what we need to be doing about whatever God has said and revealed to us. And in our relation to others, again, especially our Significant other, our listening is to be connected with the intention of learning more about their needs, so that we can then better fulfill this command: Gal 6:9-“Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.” NASU

And to our own household…God intends that we make it our intention to listen and to learn more and more about the needs of those whom God has called us to minister to and to build them up by going good to them emotionally, mentally, physically, and spiritually. And whenever we do that kind of good, God promises that we will also reap the good we have sown to others.

 

 

 

Come to Order, Pt. 10

Study Guide, May 18, 2025

Pastor Clay Olsen

It seemed ironic that in a series on ‘Order’, or ‘Coming to Order’, for the purpose of better understanding and living out Biblical principles, that we would conclude with Part 9. It seemed a bit more ‘orderly’ to conclude with Part 10. ‘9’ feels like a show that ends with ‘To be continued’. But, really, because we live in a world where there is so much ‘disorder’ about most everything, it’s not really known how many sessions we could include on a series of Coming to Order…Coming to Biblical Order. And since it’s not really known, I can’t tell you…yet.

However, what is ‘known’ is that when it comes to ‘disorder’ in relation to how both the world and even many Christians handle one particular ‘Discipline’ of the Christian life, the difference between the world’s practice of it and the Biblical practice of it is about as different as ‘destruction’ in nature versus ‘beauty’ in nature.

The issue that we are talking about is the difference between ‘Worldly Forgiveness versus Biblical Forgiveness’. And the results of practicing worldly forgiveness instead of practicing Biblical forgiveness are about different as chaos and destruction in nature and beauty and peace in nature. And one of the problems in many churches has been that many in church leadership and in church settings have adopted more of this ‘worldly’ or ‘humanistic’ idea about forgiveness rather than teaching their people and practicing ‘Biblical Forgiveness’. And the results of that have been harmful and unjust in properly defending and vindicating those people in those church settings that have been offended by not chastening and holding accountable those who have been the offenders, with either believers in the church or with unbelievers in the world. Again, the problem in this worldly idea about forgiveness is that it is damaging to the offended parties and it does not carry out justice on the offenders.

It bears repeating here that my Pastor in college was once Mr. Mid-West as a Body Builder. One night a thief broke into his house. Wrong choice by that thief…because the Pastor overwhelmed him and restrained him until the Police took him away. Later, the Pastor went to visit him in jail and witnessed to him. So he showed mercy in his forgiveness, but he also showed justice in that the man still had to do time for the crime. That’s how mercy and justice work together!

A key trait in worldly forgiveness is that ‘Biblical justice’ is always abused, either by neglecting it entirely or just canceling it out entirely. But ‘Justice’ is the very first requirement in God’s list of what He requires of people. Mic 6:8- “He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness (mercy), and to walk humbly with your God?” NASU By the way, I like what C.S. Lewis said about the ‘humility’ requirement. He said: “Humility is not thinking less of yourself – it’s just thinking of yourself…‘less’!” Yes, just be less occupied with yourself! Or, less occu-pewed, as my Dad put it!

But notice carefully that both Justice and Mercy are requirements of God upon all of mankind. There is a blessed harmony between them, and never a neglect or an abuse of either of them. And that is the problem with much of the worldly teaching about forgiveness that has seeped into many church settings. Mark it down: Worldly forgiveness is the abuse of Biblical justice, whereas Biblical justice is the friend of Biblical forgiveness. So let’s explore:

In the Bible, forgiveness is defined as a decision to release resentment, anger, and bitterness towards someone who has wronged you, while still acknowledging their actions and their need for repentance. Forgiveness is a powerful act of love and obedience, and it’s also a pathway to healing and peace for the one who forgives another. And isn’t that just like our benevolent God…that God has so designed it that forgiveness is ‘for our sake’. Forgiveness blesses the one who forgives…blesses us, in the freedom from resentment, and in the help in healing, and in the potential for strengthened relationships. Whereas unforgiveness can lead to bitterness and emotional distress, and inner conflicts.  

But again, and very important here: Forgiveness is not condoning sin or pretending it didn’t happen, but rather, it is a conscious choice to let go of the stressful emotions of the offense. Forgiveness is essentially moving the offender out of ‘our hands’ and ‘placing them in ‘God’s hands.’ And remember what God said about that! Rom 12:18-10- “If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,” says the Lord.” NASU

That’s powerful! You mean God promises to enact vengeance upon the offenders of God’s people, against the persecutors of God’s people, against those who do harm to God’s people? He certainly does! And what is this ‘vengeance’ of God’s? God’s vengeance is both a vindication of those who were wronged and a just consequence upon the wrongdoer. God is promising us that He is going to vindicate us from any wrong that was ever done to us and He is going to ensure that the just consequences for the wrongdoing will be meted out upon the wrong doer. Remember, our forgiveness for others does not remove God’s vengeance from them. The removal of God’s vengeance upon them is dependent upon their repentance toward God and toward those they have wronged. Where there is no repentance, the vengeance remains, and God will repay!

Just think about how much the Apostle Paul was wronged by both unbelievers and even other believers. Why, he could have carried around a boatload of bitterness toward them all. But instead, he carried two things in particular with him at all times. One, was this forgiveness toward his offenders, this release from doing the harm to them that they had done to him. Now, he still did justice as well. A great example of this was when the Romans had illegally condemned Paul to scourging Paul rebuked these governing authorities by saying: Acts 22:25- “When they tied Paul down to lash him, Paul said to the officer standing there, “Is it legal for you to whip a Roman citizen who hasn’t even been tried?” 22:29- “The soldiers who were about to interrogate Paul quickly withdrew when they heard he was a Roman citizen, and the commander was frightened because he had ordered him bound and whipped.” NLT Here’s a great example of Paul doing justice along with mercy.

The other thing Paul carried with him was this promise from God that God was going to see to it that each and every one of those who brought harm to him, if they did not repent toward God and him, God would repay them in doing justice according to whatever just consequence their sin required. Note Paul’s own words about this: 2 Tim 4:14- “Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds.” NASU Paul knew, and we are to know, that the Lord will repay anyone for any harm that they have done to you which they have not made right with God and with you. For our God is not only our Jehovah-Jireh…God our Provider, He is also our Jehovah-Roi…God our Protector and Defender. No one will ever get away with any wrong or harm ever done to one of God’s children without Him repaying them with the just consequences of their wrongs. That’s why they need to repent toward God and toward the children of God that they wronged.

We are to understand that Biblical forgiveness never cancels out justice. It’s worldly forgiveness that cancels out justice. And it is right here that we see much distortion in the handling of ‘forgiveness’. How often have those who have been offended been unjustly counseled to unjustly forgive the offender…as in to just excuse their offense or offenses, and just let that abusive relationship continue. This has been dishonoring to God’s Word, damaging to God’s people, and a distorted witness to the world. And even though every God-given logical sense within people recognizes the injustice of such ungodly counsel, since the counsel was from a ‘religious’ source, they push down their righteous longing for justice and then wrongly excuse the offender and the offence. But all that accomplishes is that it not only brings inner conflict and further harm to themselves, but it also allows the offender to continue their offensive ways…actually, their abusive ways we should say.

And it is right here that this worldly idea of forgiveness is so unjust and damaging, because Biblical forgiveness is protected by the boundary walls of Biblical Reconciliation. Or, think of it this way: Biblical forgiveness releases us from the harm of the offense done to us, and Biblical reconciliation protects us from any further harm that would be done by the offender. Biblical forgiveness is unconditional, as it is offering mercy from us by not repaying the wrong. And yet, Biblical reconciliation is conditional, as it is conditioned upon the offender’s repentance for their sin against us. Again, the key element in Biblical reconciliation is ‘Biblical repentance!’ For there can be no reconciliation without repentance. Be very clear about this fact!

Take Joseph for an example. Did he forgive his brothers for their sin of selling him into slavery? Yes, as he was not bitter and vengeful and just waiting to return the harm to them that they had done to him. However, remember, before he renewed his relationship with them, he first tested them, over a period of time, in order for them to demonstrate their repentance and to show that he could trust them…carefully…and then renew his relationship with them.

Remember something very important here. Relationships are not ‘rights’…relationships are ‘privileges.’ ‘Rights’ are things that cannot be taken away or lost. But ‘privileges’ are things that can be taken away or lost if misused or abused. Even as children of God, our rewards at the Judgment Seat of Christ are privileges that can be taken away or lost based upon our use of our faithful service to God or our abuse of the faithfulness that is required of us. We are secure in ‘our position’ as a saved child of God’s, by grace through faith, but through misuse or abuse of ‘our faithfulness’ as a child of God, we will forfeit privileges and lose rewards.

Which brings us to this ‘protectionary’ aspect of Biblical Reconciliation. The Apostle Paul was very clear about the need for believers to protect themselves from the abuses of either unbelievers or even believers. There were some in the church at Corinth that were treating one another badly…they were divisive and rude and abusive toward their fellow believers. Paul knew that this injustice in the church needed to be corrected, and that those who were divisive and abusive needed to know that their privileges of fellowship would be lost until they changed their behavior. So in his charge he had to cover many different sins going on…but we’ll focus on the one that is often neglected in seeing the seriousness of that sin. We’ll note in from two translations: 1 Cor 5:11-12- “I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is…a reviler — not even to eat with such a one.” NASU And from the NLT: 1 Cor 5:11- “I meant that you are not to associate with anyone who claims to be a believer yet…is abusive — Don’t even eat with such people.”

God is very serious about how believers treat one another and speak to one another. What the Apostle made clear was that to any believers who were rude or abusive in their treatment or their speech with other believers, that their behavior would call for dis-fellowship, and those believers who had been reviled or abused were not to associate with the abuser or abusers. And the purpose of this was twofold: One, was that justice would be done, in that the offended believer would be protected from further abuse. And second, that this loss of fellowship would help the offender to come to repentance toward God and their fellow believer and assist in the hope of reconciliation.

Mark it down: There is no imbalance in Biblical justice and mercy. God is as committed to protecting His children from the abuse of others, be it outside the church or inside the church, as He is committed to convicting offenders of their sin, so as to bring them to repentance and reconciliation. Note just some of God’s protective commands:

Rom 16:17- “Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them.”

Prov 6:16-19- “There are six things which the Lord hates, yes, seven which are an abomination to Him: Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that run rapidly to evil, a false witness who utters lies, and one who spreads strife among brothers.” NASU

Titus 3:10- “If people are causing divisions among you, give a first and second warning. After that, have nothing more to do with them.” NLT

Prov 22:24- “Don’t befriend angry people or associate with hot-tempered people…” NLT

2 Thess 3:14- “If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of that person and do not associate with him, so that he will be put to shame.” NASU

Fellowship and close relationships among believers are privileges, not rights. And the Bible makes it clear that reviling, causing dissension, slander, or abuse in any way, verbally, emotionally, or physically, sets the consequences of disfellowship and disassociation into motion. And it stays in motion until there is repentance toward God and repentance toward the offended one or ones by the offender. That is how God protects His children and how they can carry out this requirement upon them, to – “do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God.”

Remember, mercy and justice always travel together. And whenever mercy is spurned, justice steps up. As those who have been reconciled to God, we are ambassadors of reconciliation. But just like becoming reconciled to God was conditional upon our repentance toward God, reconciliation with others is also conditional upon their repentance toward us. This is God’s order for privileged and peaceful relationships.

So just do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God and others.

 

Motherhood: Reflections of Our Lord

Study Guide, May 11, 2025

Pastor Clay Olsen

It’s a privilege to spend some time together in honoring Mothers today, not only for their great significance, but also for their great sacrifice. Motherhood and sacrifice are kind of synonymous. We often reinforce the construct that Scriptures have a central interpretation, but then, it can have many applications. And there’s a remarkable application of Romans 12:1 in relation to Motherhood. Notice: “I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.” NASU

Of course, we are each called to offer up our soul and our bodies as a sacrifice unto the Lord in our worship and service. But in connection with Motherhood, along with the spiritual and mental, the sacrifice certainly involves the physical. And Mothers know all about how having a child changes everything. Let’s ponder that for a while.

Having a baby significantly alters a person’s life, impacting their body, their mind, relationships, daily routines, priorities, responsibilities, and so on. Even before baby arrives, the Mother enters into a whole new zone of life…not the Twilight Zone, but maybe close. Does any of the following sound familiar…What’s up with all the heartburn? Chemical changes are allowing acids to flow more than before, especially when little Johnny or Janie is pushing against your stomach! And you can’t do drugs like you used to…no, not the illegal ones, just the medications and antibiotics that use to help you to not have to suffer through colds, and flu, and headaches, and other pains. Now, you are called to just endure the suffering, since you can’t chance any of it harming the little one you are protecting. It’s also harder to sleep with a little gymnast doing tuck-and-rolls during the night, since, and get this…preborn babies seem to be more nocturnal. What’s up with that…those little possums?!

And how did your emotions get high-jacked all of a sudden…making you cry when you’re happy, or when you’re sad, or anything remotely in between. That’s confusing, right? The chemical wash going on inside of you is like the tides that roll in and roll out. Even your sense of balance is thrown off, since your center of gravity is changing as the new little family member grows. Oh yes, sacrificial changes are part of the identity that comes with Motherhood. And these changes simply become part of your new life as a Mom.

And how about it Moms…remember hot meals? Having a hot meal is a luxury, right? Usually, lukewarm, and not all at the same time…with bites in between feeding the child and picking up the dropped pieces and spilled liquids, and such. And remember clean clothes? When you do manage to put on some clean clothes, it’s pretty certain that they won’t stay that way for long, with babies sniffles and spittles and such. And why is it that shopping stores or grocery stores or restaurants seem to trigger the dark side in kids? It’s like there’s something lurking in a grocery aisle or a check-out line that sets off an emotional earthquake in the little rascal!

And how’s that energy level, Moms? You say, what energy is that? Right! Motherhood reaches a new kind of ‘tired’. Really! It’s a real thing, a real name…it’s called being in the state of ‘Super tired’, where you are multi-tasking and caring for baby’s needs and others needs and emotionally being on high-alert, all the while sleep-deprived. Yup…the state of ‘Super-tired.’

Even a Mother’s brain is changed. It’s like a new link is formed that connects with the child or children, and it is continually firing with thoughts up and down the length of that chainlink that are occupied with factors of their safety, health, well-being, and nearly everything else. Plus, your mental music playlist also gets kind of stuck on ‘repeat’ of tunes like ‘The wheels on the bus go round and round, and ‘You are my sunshine’ and Baby shark…doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo…’…and more. (Some gleanings from 30 sacrifices…by Kat de Naoum, motherandbaby.com)

But in all of these sacrifices, and more, Mothers are willing to give them, because of another amazing attribute…which is – a Mother’s sacrificial love. And in this, Mothers are a remarkable reflection of our Lord. Now, we know that children are a blessing and a gift from God, as well as a fundamental part of God’s creation. And the Psalms describe children as both a gift and also a reward from the Lord. Ps 127:3-4- “Behold, children are a gift of the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one’s youth.” NASU What great pictures from God to keep in mind about how both He and we see our children.

And then listen to how God speaks to His people, to us really, in the terms of a Mother and child: Isa 46:3-4- “Listen to Me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, You who have been borne by Me from birth and have been carried from the womb; Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you! I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will deliver you.” NASU

Again, Mothers reflect this sacrificial love of God in its profound selflessness and willingness to give of themselves for the sake of others. Mothers place their own needs and desires on the altar. In them we see virtues such as: Self-sacrifice. Mothers are willing to endure physical and emotional pain, to place other’s needs above their own. We see unconditional love…an unwavering love, regardless of circumstances or conflicts. We see discipline and guidance, as Mothers direct and counsel and correct their children. We see nurturing and compassion as they care for and seek ways to help their children grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior. We see service, as Mothers model what it is to be the servant of God and others. And not just being a servant, but having a servant’s heart, where the service is not done grudgingly or pitifully, but thankfully and willfully. (some devotional thoughts gleaned from The Christ-like Sacrifice of Motherhood, Dan Hart, frc.org)

Each of these virtues are powerful reflections of our Lord, as He willingly sacrificed His own life for us, for our eternal salvation and our eternal well-being. Our Lord’s unconditional love is on display in how our God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whosoever believed in Him would not perish, but have eternal life. We see our Lord’s discipline described in Heb 12:5-6- “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor faint when you are reproved by Him; for those whom the Lord loves He disciplines, and He chastens every son whom He receives.” NASB We see our God describing His compassion and His nurturing care even in terms as tender as this: Isa 49:15-16- “Can a woman forget her nursing child and have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, but I will not forget you. Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands.” NASU (Of course, this became literal for Jesus, as we are, in essence, inscribed on the palms of Jesus’ hands. His love took Him to the Cross, and His sacrifice covered the sins of us all that nailed Him to the Cross. We will forever see this ‘sacrificial love of God’ for us inscribed on the hands of our Savior and Lord.)

And we see ‘servanthood’ on display in Motherhood. We are reminded of Jesus’ own words about service in Mark 10:43-45- “…whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant; and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” NASU

How just like our God to embed this kind of impact and power into servanthood. Jesus reveals this further as both Mark and Matthew records two more instances of this teaching. Note: Mark 9:35 – “Sitting down, He called the twelve and said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.” NASU The Greek term for ‘first’ here is ‘proto’. And although it certainly applies to first as in a position or place, it also refers to first as in first in ‘importance and in impact!’ Hold onto that for a moment.

Matthew emphasizes it another way as he says: “It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant.” Matt 20:26 NASU

And the Greek term for ‘great’ here is ‘megas’, which also describes one not only as being great in importance, but also great as in being ‘mighty and powerful!’. Again, how like God to design life in such a way that those who make it their purpose, not to be served, but to serve, just like our Lord Jesus made that His purpose…that, built into this purpose to serve, would also be the power to impact and change others in deep and mighty ways.

Mark it down: The key to the power of impacting and changing others is ‘self-sacrifice and service!’ Jesus changed and is changing the world through His coming not to be served, but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for all. And that is the construct – ‘self-sacrifice and servanthood’ – that God built into the very fabric of human relationships…beginning with Parenthood. It is this self-sacrifice and servant heartedness in Mothers that is the key to their powerfully impacting and changing those God has placed into their care. Self-sacrifice is what makes Mothers great…great in significance and great in impact and great in importance. It is also what makes them mighty and powerful, just like those Greek terms describe.

And, again, it’s also how God changes the world…one person at a time. It begins with parents serving their child…their children, and thus setting into motion the most powerful instrument of change… ‘self-sacrifice’. Through self-sacrifice and service to others God works His works just like He did through His own Son, who came not to be served, but to serve…and through His service, through His self-sacrifice, one by one, others were changed forever.

What an amazing reflection of our Lord it is as Mothers give of themselves in sacrifice and service to their children, to their families, to others. To the world, that kind of sacrifice is often interpreted as ‘losing yourself’. But that’s just another example of how foolish and upside down the old human nature is, because in God’s design, the very path of ‘finding yourself’ is through ‘losing yourself’ in sacrifice and service unto God and unto others. Again, natural human reasoning is completely faulty here, because it is through being ‘self-serving’ and ‘self-focused’ and ‘self-centered’ that a person’s soul and spirit shrivels in size and diminishes in significance. There’s an old saying that says: ‘The person who is all wrapped up in himself is the smallest package in the world.’ To be sure, the person who focuses on their own self-fulfillment will find their soul and their life in waste…empty of fulfillment and joy. But the one, like Mothers, who pour themselves out in sacrifice and service, find themselves being filled and re-filled in their soul with the sense of their great significance and importance in the plans of God and in the lives of others.

Especially, Mothers who love their Maker, their Heavenly Father…those Mothers have found that the source of their sacrifice and service is the fountain of God’s love for them. It is the love of our Heavenly Parent for us, His children, that is the only source deep enough and wide enough and powerful enough to enable us to sacrifice and serve others in love and in truth. Yes, the power of impacting others is through self-sacrifice, but the source of the power is the love of God. And when we drink deeply at the fountain of God’s infinite love, then we have an endless supply to pour out on our family and others. Our love, mighty as it is, is still finite, like ourselves. But mixed with the infinite love of God, it makes a powerful impact on those on whom we pour it out upon. And, as we stated, the way you pour it out is through self-sacrifice and service…just like Jesus did.

Which, once more, is that reflection aspect of Mothers. Mothers are an amazing reflection of our Lord, and just another reason we honor them and thank God for them. God bless you, Mothers, as you are a blessing to us all.

 

Hallelujah!

Christ is Risen!

April 20, 2025

George Frideric Handel’s Messiah was

originally an Easter offering.

Even though Handel was from London, he introduced his composition as it burst onto the stage of Musick Hall in Dublin, Ireland on April 13, 1742.

The very first word of the oratorio is

‘Comfort’. “Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God…” (Isaiah 40, vv.1–3)

John 14:16-17- “And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, …but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.” KJV

We tend to overlook that one of the main ministries of God the Holy Spirit is ‘to comfort

His people.’

Isa 61:1-3- “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives and freedom to prisoners…

To comfort all who mourn, to grant those who mourn in Zion, giving them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise

instead of a spirit of fainting. …”

NASU

Hasn’t Jesus brought liberty and freedom to you, who were in bondage and held captive to sin and spiritual death? Hasn’t the Lord Jesus brought you gladness, knowing that you belong to Christ and His world and not to this world?

…at His Second Coming…every hurt, every wrong, every injustice ever done, God will make right by His people, and they will reign with Him over His new Kingdom.

The Shepherd of the Psalms is now the sacrifice of the Prophets. Isa 53:3-7- “…But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed.

All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; But the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him…like a lamb that is led to slaughter, and like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, so He did not open His mouth.” NASU

Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him. Acts 8:34-35

NASU

Jesus said: “…Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into

His glory?”

Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.” Luke 24:25-27 NASU All of the sacrifices over a thousand years made it clear that before the Lion of Judah would wear the Crown as King over all the Earth, He would first become the Lamb of God…and would wear a crown of thorns..

Who put Jesus on that Cross? Everyone did! We all did! But Jesus didn’t have to let it happen. There were 10,000 Angels ready to rescue Him! But He did let it happen, became that’s why Jesus came…He came to rescue the perishing and to save the lost.

“It….is…finished!” The penalty for your sin and mine was paid in full and the provision for our forgiveness was now complete.

Hallelujah! Indeed!

One of the many remarkable things about Handel’s Messiah is that when he introduces the Resurrection into it all, it’s a rather quiet introduction.

Mary thought He was the Gardener, until He said “Mary”, and she realized it was Jesus Himself. And when He entered the room where the Disciple’s were, He didn’t break down the door…He just appeared in the room.

Jesus is still quietly coming to people as He said in Rev 3:20 – “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.” NASU

Jesus doesn’t knock our door down…instead Jesus is standing at the door of every person’s heart, just knocking…waiting…and why…because He wants to be wanted. How astounding that Jesus wants to be wanted!

Jesus has come for everyone who wants Him to be their Lord and their Savior. And those who are wise will not keep Him waiting, for one day the time for waiting will over, and it will become the time for

‘Judging’…judging those who kept

Jesus waiting outside of their lives…

Be sure, that this Resurrection

Sunday, that you have opened that door of your heart and asked Jesus to come into your life, to forgive your sins, and raise your spirit from the dead to have new life with Jesus.

Even before Handel introduces the Hallelujah Chorus concerning the great resurrection of Jesus, he points to the glorious Second Coming of Jesus and the Judgment Day that follows. And with this, Handel paints

the entire picture of the Easter

story…

Rom 8:31-34- “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?

Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.” NASU

No wonder there had to be a

‘Hallelujah Chorus!’ The

Resurrection is our celebration! Our part is to be loud about our great Savior and His coming again to reign as King of kings and Lord of lords!

Calvary’s Mountain

Study Guide, April 13, 2025

Pastor Clay Olsen

One of the countless wonders of the Bible is how so many things are all tied together…linked together relationally and prophetically. Why, how remarkable that even the Mountains are linked together in wondrous ways. Many people are kind of surprised by how mountainous the land of Isreal really is. From the plains near the Mediterranean Sea the land starts rising up to the foothills, called ‘the Shephelah’, and on up to the mountain chain. In the North is Mount Hermon, the highest of the mountains…almost 10,000 feet above sea level.

And, although some traditions identify Mount Tabor as the Mount of Transfiguration, where the Church of the Transfiguration was built, still many believe it was on Mount Hermon where this took place. Matt 17:1-6- “Six days later Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John his brother, and led them up on a high mountain by themselves. And He was transfigured before them; and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, I will make three tabernacles here, one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice out of the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!” NASU

It’s been pointed out how common to many Peter’s response was of, basically, ‘when in doubt, say something!’ Whoops…More appropriate is ‘when in doubt…don’t’…just ‘don’t!’ And yet, how kind of the Father to essentially just say, “Peter, this is the time to listen to My Son…not to talk.”

But, also, this is where we get a glimpse into the fact that the recognition of others from Heaven, and in Heaven, is given to us, like a ‘gift of recognizing others’, as Peter had never seen Moses or Elijah, but he recognized who they were! We will recognize them, too, along with the recognition of all the family of Heaven! That’s exciting.

And Mount Hermon is also the headwaters of the Jordan River. And at the time of Jesus the Greeks had carved shrines into the mountainside of their god, Pan, the so-called god of nature and of the wild kingdom. There was even a cave or pit there that, ironically enough, was referred to as ‘the Gates of Hades’, where these ‘gods’ could come and go. And either directly or indirectly it was nearby that Jesus declared to His disciples: Matt 16:18- “I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” NKJV Of course we know that this declaration was against all the powers of the devil and evil.

About one hundred miles south of Mount Hermon is Mount Megiddo. This area was originally occupied by the Canaanites before the Israelites were granted those lands. It is also located near its famous valley, the valley of Jezreel, or the valley of Megiddo, or as we see it in the culmination of the battles at the end of the Great Tribulation that takes place in this Battle of Armageddon. This place had been the scene of many Old Testament battles, and it becomes the very battle place of demonic and rebellious human forces against the Second Coming of Jesus Christ…which, of course, is futile. Ironically enough, even Napoleon is to have said that this Valley of Jezreel was the finest place in the world for a great battle. It will be the last battle on Earth before the Millennial reign of Christ upon the Earth. Rev 16:13-16- “And I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs; for they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them together for the war of the great day of God, the Almighty…And they gathered them together to the place which in Hebrew is called Har-Magedon.” NASU

Less than twenty miles from Mount Megiddo is Mount Carmel. The whole area is now referred to as Mount Carmel National Park. How great is that?! Here in America so many are trying to discredit the reality of the Bible and its people and its places, while in Israel, Biblical places are the national parks of the country! Even Biblical people are their national heroes! America could learn something from them about that!

When we were traveling around Israel, we came upon this on the top of Mount Carmel: [show statue of Elijah] This is the site of the defeat of the prophets of Baal through God’s prophet of Elijah! Plus, what a spiritual rush to be in the same place where this and so many other real Biblical people once lived in real Biblical places.

Speaking of Old Testament heroes, this hero once stood upon this mountain and looked over the Promised Land. This is Mount Nebo. Mount Nebo is also near the Dead Sea, which is the lowest place on Earth, some 1400 feet below sea level. And, of course, the saltiest of the Seas. How salty? Well, the salt content of the Ocean is about 4%. But the salt content of the Dead Sea is 33%! I remember just floating in the Dead Sea, like a bobber on a fishing line…it was the strangest feeling. But you remember, nearing the end of their forty years of wandering, the Israelites came to the Desert of Zin. There was no water, and the community turned against Moses and Aaron. God told Moses and Aaron to gather the assembly and speak to the rock. Water would come forth. Moses took the staff and gathered the men. Then, seemingly in anger, Moses said to them, “Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?” Then Moses struck the rock twice with his staff (Numbers 20:10–11). Of course, water came from the rock, as God had promised, but God immediately told Moses and Aaron that, because they failed to glorify Him and to honor Him as holy, they would not bring the children of Israel into the Promised Land.

Notice again…here is another example of the sometimes-sad consequences of forgiven sin. Although we can receive forgiveness of sin, there may be consequences that follow. Also, whenever we take credit, or the glory that belongs to God alone, it sets harsh consequences into motion. Yet, also notice God’s goodness…for now, after all these years, here now is Moses, on the Mount of Transfiguration, talking with Jesus in the Promised Land.

Soon after that, Jesus was on another Mountain…called the Mount of Olives. The Mount of Olives is across from the temple mount. It’s about a half mile away, across the Kidron Valley. On the side of it is a Jewish Cemetery that is still used. The hillside is covered with stone tombs…many with small stones on them, as the stones are placed on them as signs of love, just like flowers here are placed on gravesites. We were told that those buried there are placed with their feet facing the Temple Mount, so when the resurrection comes, they will just stand up and enter Jerusalem. We pray that many there are those who had received Jesus, Yeshua, as their Messiah, and were spiritually resurrected before the final resurrection occurs.

Also, from that hillside came the most famous ride in all of history…a ride that was first foretold by Moses. Gen 49:10-11- “The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from his descendants, until the coming of the one to whom it belongs, the one whom all nations will honor. He ties his foal to a grapevine, the colt of his donkey to a choice vine. He washes his clothes in wine, his robes in the blood of grapes.” NLT This prophecy of the coming Messiah to rule, with even His ride on a colt of a donkey, was written some 1500 years before Christ came to Earth. And another Prophet, Zechariah, was written some 500 years before the event of this famous prophecy: Zech 9:9- “Rejoice, O people of Zion! Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem! Look, your King is coming to you. He is righteous and victorious, yet He is humble, riding on a donkey—riding on a donkey’s colt.” NLT

And exactly as Zechariah prophesied, on what we call ‘Palm Sunday’ Matthew records: Matt 21:4-5- “All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: “Tell the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your King is coming to you, lowly, and sitting on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey.'” 8-9- “And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road. Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: “Hosanna to the Son of David! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ Hosanna in the highest!” NKJV

But soon after the celebration of the King came the suffering of the Messiah. For on this Mount also was a garden, which we know of as ‘The Garden of Gethsemane.’ Matt 26:36-38- “Then Jesus went with them to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and he said, “Sit here while I go over there to pray.” He took Peter and Zebedee’s two sons, James and John, and he became anguished and distressed. He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with Me.” NLT And that soon led to another mountain. It was originally known as Mount Moriah.

This was the mountain where Abraham offered a symbolic sacrifice. And where God stayed Abraham’s hand from offering his son Isaac, God would later not stay His hand from offering up His Son, Jesus. For only through Jesus’ offering could any of us, anyone ever, have any hope of forgiveness and eternal life. And Mount Moriah also took on another name…a name we find over 100 times in the Bible…Zion, or Mount Zion, meaning ‘the holy place’. It was renamed after David captured the city of Jebus, of the Jebusites, which became ‘The City of David’, and also ‘Jerusalem.’ And while the whole Temple Mount is thought of as Mount Zion, just outside the city, part of the mountain took on another name. Luke 23:33- “And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.” KJV

Calvary is the Latin translation of the word ‘Golgotha’, which is from the word ‘calvaria’, meaning ‘place of the skull.’ They called it this due to the shape of the hill that apparently reminded people of a human skull. And, again, it was ‘outside the city.’ Why outside the city? Not only did the Romans use the high grounds for their public crucifixions, but even more, it was not only the practice of how the sacrificial animals were treated throughout the times of the Old Testament, but it was also to fulfill the prophecy of Jesus’ sacrifice. Lev 4:12- “…and carry it away to a place outside the camp that is ceremonially clean, the place where the ashes are dumped. There, on the ash heap, he will burn it on a wood fire.” NLT

That is what we find in the explanation of Jesus’ sacrifice for us as explained in Heb 13:10-14- “We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat. For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy place by the high priest as an offering for sin, are burned outside the camp. Therefore, Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood, suffered outside the gate. So, let us go out to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach. For here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the city which is to come.” NASU The writer to the Hebrews draws the parallel with the ritual where the bodies of sacrificed animals are taken outside the city, especially on the day of atonement.

When Jesus was taken outside the city, the Jewish leaders thought they were cleansing the city of blasphemous impurity. But the reality was just the opposite. As Jesus was taken out of the city to be crucified, He was taking their impurity on Himself, and so deflecting God’s judgment away from God’s people and on to Himself.

So think about it: In reality, not only among these mountains of Israel, but even among the mountains of all the world, the highest mountain on Earth, in spiritual significance, is Mount Calvary. It was here that the highest Prophet prophesied: John 12:32-33- “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself. But He was saying this to indicate the kind of death by which He was to die.” NASU Jesus fulfilled hundreds of prophecies about His life and about His sacrificial death…His undeserved sacrificial death, for His death was for the atonement of the sins of those made in the image of God, but who were deserving of judgment for their trespasses and sins against God.

It was here, on Mount Calvary, that the Highest Priest, provided the lamb sacrifice for our sins, and then became the sacrificial Lamb of God. As John the Baptist declared: John 1:29- “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! NASU As we have pointed out before, that was the first time that this was said of a sin sacrifice, for the ceremonial sacrifices could never take away sins…they could only temporarily cover them. But Jesus’ sacrifice took our sins away, in removing the penalty of our sins and providing for forgiveness of our sins.

And it was here on Mount Calvary that the Highest King humbled Himself: Phil 2:5-8- “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” NASU

On Calvary’s Mountain, our Creator sacrificed His life so that we could be spared an eternal spiritual death and be given eternal spiritual life. ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ Hosanna in the highest, indeed!

Come to Order, Pt. 9

Centrality of the Cross

Study Guide, April 6, 2025

Pastor Clay Olsen

It’s no accident that the image of the Cross is imprinted all over this world.

[pic of Dogwood]

[pic of nature’s cross]

[leaf cross]

[cactus cross]

Col 1:15-17- “He (Christ) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible… — all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.” NASU

 

All scientists acknowledge that there is a unifying force that is holding all things together. And of course, as children of God, we know that ‘force’ is actually a ‘Person’…it’s the Creator Himself, our Lord Jesus Christ.

[show Laminin 2]

It’s as though God stamped the image of the Cross throughout even the cells of our bodies as a testament to and a reminder of the fact that it is only through the mercy of the Cross and the grace of Christ that we are even alive at all.

 

Even when the Israelites were traveling through the wilderness, being led by the Shekinah glory of God…the Cloud by day and the Pillar of Fire by night, even then, as God looked upon His people there was this: God had the people set up their camp in a precise arrangement.

[pic of camp]

Heb 10:8-10- “… “Look, I have come to do Your will.” He cancels the first covenant in order to put the second into effect. For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time.” NLT

 

Our relationship with God is possible because of what God sees as He looks upon you and me. Again, God sees the Cross imprinted not only within us, throughout the very cells of our bodies, but also imprinted upon us, covering our very life, our very spirit within our soul.

 

… regardless of our failings, regardless of our faults, regardless of our sins, when we came to the Cross of Christ and asked Jesus to forgive them all and to let us follow Him, He not only forgave our sins, but He did something else with them when He was on that Cross.

Col 2:13-14- “When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions,

having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.” NASU

 

Included in this ‘certificate of debt’ are these ‘decrees of God, called ‘The Law’. It was not only the Ten Commandments, but a reference to all the commandments of God. Remember, Paul said that this perfect Law of God was good.

The purpose of The Law was not to make us righteous in ourselves before God, but to reveal and to help people understand that we are not righteous in ourselves, and thus, our need for Christ to make us righteous.

 

Rom 3:19-20- “… so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God; because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.” NASU

Gal 3:23-24- “But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.” KJV

Also included in this certificate of debt…is a register or record of our sins against the perfect Law of God. For as Paul also said, everyone is under the curse…or under the sentence of sins against the Law or laws of God.

Gal 3:10-13- “But those who depend on the law to make them right with God are under His curse, for the Scriptures say, “Cursed is everyone who does not observe and obey all the commands that are written in God’s Book of the Law.” …

…But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When He was hung on the cross, He took upon Himself the curse for our wrongdoing.” NLT

So the perfect Law convicts us of our need to be pardoned and forgiven by the Perfect Savior through His perfect life and death on the Cross on our behalf!

 

One, a person can repent…and receive Jesus into their life and thus receive His forgiveness. And upon their repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, that record of the Law and their sins against God’s Law is forever fastened to the Cross…

Upon Jesus’ finished work of paying the debt of our sins, His body was taken down from the Cross. But that certificate of our debt of sins will never be taken down or removed from where Jesus finished paying that debt for us.

Your record of sins, past, present, and future… is gone, as far as the East is from the West…God will never hold any of them against you as reason to remove you from a relationship with Him.

 

As we do sin in the present, we are expected to confess and forsake our sins in order to have a closer relationship with our God and closer fellowship with our God, and to be more useful and pleasing to God as God’s children and His servants in doing His will and His works…

If any person does not turn in repentance toward God and in faith, trust in Jesus… then that record of the Law and their sins against God’s Law shows up when they stand before God at the Great White Throne Judgment of the unsaved.

Based upon this record of their trespasses and sins against the Holiness of God and the perfect Law of God, they will receive the just sentence for their sins, because of their neglecting or rejecting Christ and His Cross and His great salvation…

Not only did God imprint the image of the Cross all over this world…God even imprinted the image of the Cross all over Himself.

John 20:24-29- “..Then He said to Thomas, “Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing.” Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”…

When God looks at us, He sees the image of the Cross imprinted upon us. And when we see God, we will always see the image of the Cross imprinted upon our Lord Jesus Christ.

Those scars should have been ours, but Jesus took them for us. And one day, when we see Jesus, face to face, we will forever see the scars of the Cross by which our Savior saved us.

Come to Order, Pt. 8

Study Guide, March 23, 2025

Pastor Clay Olsen

So, how would you like to have one of these guys helping you around your house? [Picture of Robot in home] These ‘domestic automations’…or ‘domestic assistants’ are becoming more and more popular.

But we now live in an AI world…a world that’s fast expanding in the practical use and possible uses of Artificial Intelligence, which encompasses the ability of machines to perform tasks that typically require human intelligence, such as learning, problem-solving, and decision-making. It involves creating systems that can perceive, understand, and react to their environment.

This growth in the knowledge and the use of AI is fantastic, but it is not surprising. The Prophet Daniel foretold of this expansion of ‘knowledge’ as one of the things that would characterize the ‘End Times’. Notice: Dan 12:4- “But as for you, Daniel, conceal these words and seal up the book until the end of time; many will go back and forth, and knowledge will increase.” NASU Actually, the primary interpretation of ‘knowledge will increase’ is a direct reference to the growing insights and understandings that God’s people will have about God’s revelation concerning prophecy and the prophetic times. But the application also implies the ever-expanding knowledge of mankind as well. However, in a spiritual sense, there is another Scriptural saying that also applies to so many people who worship the ‘creature’ more than the ‘Creator’… “…always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” 2 Tim 3:7 NASU Doesn’t that describe much of people’s problem the world over?! They learn and learn about this world, but they remain so foolish about God’s world…especially about the Creator and Redeemer of the world.

But, again, the potential for benefit from the use of AI to mankind is enormous. But some people are also concerned about AI, because the potential for harm is also enormous. Yeah, it’s that ‘decision-making’ part in AI that has people a little ‘Sus’…(I threw that in there for my Grand-kids…) How do AI developers ensure that AI machines don’t make some decisions that, instead of ‘Oh great’, will be more like ‘Oh No!’ for mankind? That is a genuine concern.

Of course, much of that is being determined not by the ‘A’, but by the ‘I’…as in; Behind every ‘A’ there is an ‘I’. Behind every artificial machine there is an intelligent being. And this intelligent being has been programming the artificial machine in such a way that it should then function according to how it was programmed to function, and to fulfill what it was programmed to fulfill. But, again, the concern is, what if this ‘AI being’ somehow becomes more like a ‘sentient being’ or a ‘self-aware being’, a ‘conscious being’, and begins making decisions that are contrary to the programmer’s instructions or intentions? What if it rebels against its ‘programmer’?

Does this scenario sound kind of familiar? Gen 1:26- “Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” NASU Human beings were created in God’s own image…not as an ‘AI’, an ‘Artificial Intelligence’, but as a ‘UI’, or as a ‘Unique Intelligence’. We are each created in the image of God, but in God’s miraculous abilities, He has created each of us as a ‘Unique Being’. You are one-of-a-kind, and you will always be one-of-a- kind. We will each be one-of-a-kind individuals for eternity…yet living out our eternities and our destinies according to what we did in relation to our Creator after our rebellion, or after we went ‘rogue’. And even though God didn’t create us as ‘robots’, it’s like ‘AI’s’ that have gone rogue, we each have rebelled against our Creator. We each have sinned and gone our own way. Now, if we have repented, turned back to God, and placed our faith and trust in the saving Person and works of our Creator and Redeemer, then we have been spiritually reunited with our God and will live out our eternity and destiny with our God in His new world forever and ever. But whoever does not repent will be separated from their Creator for eternity.

But did you see it? As a ‘UI’, as a Unique Intelligent being, we were created by our Supreme Intelligent Being, our God, and purposed with…could we say, divinely programmed with certain instructions and intentions…in essence, to worship and serve our God only! Remember, as the Apostle Paul pointed out, even God’s law is imprinted on man’s heart. Our need for God and God’s will for us, to know Him and to follow Him, is written in our hearts. And even our minds are ‘hard-wired’ to yearn for God. And although we are ‘unique’, just like without an ‘I’ behind an ‘A’, an ‘artificial being has no power or ability in itself to function or to thrive…so too, with us, we neither have any power of life in and of ourselves, nor the ability to function and thrive in and of ourselves in carrying out the purposes for which we were created.

But now that we have been redeemed, spiritually resurrected, and given a new nature that is untied to God’s nature, we can now carry out those purposes and plans that our Creator, our Designer, created us for and created us to do. But even as redeemed people, we still have to be on guard against the programming pressures of this world. Or, as Paul put it in Rom 12:2- “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” NASU The Greek word for ‘conformed’ means to be shaped, molded, fashioned, patterned…and in relation to our theme here, we could also say ‘programmed’. Remember, since we are indeed ‘created beings’, we are indeed always being conformed, shaped, influenced…even programmed by ‘something or someone’. You would have to have created yourself to not be subject to the law of conformity. Everyone is being conformed to something or someone. The question for every created person is – “So, are you being conformed more and more to your Creator, or are you being conformed more and more to your Culture?” Or, for each of us human ‘UI’s’…us ‘Unique Intelligent beings’ we could ask it this way: “Who or what is programming you?” You are either being conformed, shaped, influenced, and programmed by the Creator and Holy Trinity of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, or, you are being conformed, shaped, influenced, and programmed by the unholy trinity of the World, the Flesh, and the Devil. And even as believers, we have to be careful, so as to not be deceived by the programming influences of the world, the flesh, and the devil. Be wise…choose each day to worship and serve the Lord your God only.

In fact, it is only when you add ‘Worship’ to ‘Intelligence’ that you then produce ‘Wisdom’. Our God intended us to worship Him only and to obey His instructions, His will, His program for our lives. And when we do, we then add the joys of godly wisdom to our intelligence. For without godly wisdom an unconverted person remains an ‘intelligent fool’, as well as already sentenced to separation from God. Actually, the highest evidence of intelligence is the worship of God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Any ‘intelligence’ that neglects or rejects the worship of God and placing faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is a sin-damaged intelligence…and worse…a condemned sin-damaged intelligence.

But, again, in connection with us ‘UI’s’ in relation to ‘AI’s’, a question that people really should be asking about ‘AI’ is: “But really, what is the end game of AI in relation to humanity?” “What is the final outcome of Artificial Intelligence in relation to the people of this world?” Wait a minute…You mean, there really is a way for us to know that? Oh yes…and how like our God, in His benevolence and His revelation, to clearly reveal that to us as well in His revelation of the End Times.

And to better understand that we need to better understand this. One of the important, and really helpful principles for us Disciples is learning that the Bible is God’s gift of ‘Progressive Revelation’ to us. Remember we recently pointed out how in the Old Testament the New Testament is concealed and in the New Testament the Old Testament is revealed. Even as the book of Hebrews begins, it reveals this ‘progression of revelation’: Heb 1:1-3- “In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom He made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being, sustaining all things by His powerful word. After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.” NIV

There is an entire series of studies in just those three verses. But did you also notice the answer to that question of – “Are we living in the ‘last days’?” We sure are! The ‘Last Days’ began with the Incarnation of Jesus Christ. When God came to Earth in the First Advent, He put the whole world on notice to get ready for His Second Advent! How can people ignore the visitation of God in becoming the Incarnate God and Man and just go on with their lives as though that never happened? And how can people just ignore what was spoken to the world by the Son of God when He came? Oh, it’s not that God has not revealed Himself to this world…it’s that this world has ignored, neglected, and rejected God’s revelation of Himself and of His words, all because they worship the ‘creature’ more than the ‘Creator’!

So, again, throughout the revelation of the Bible there is more and more revelation of God’s works in our salvation and in our sanctification and even in the culmination of the things of this Earth and the things to come in the New Earth. And, remarkably so, we even see the culmination of AI, that is, on this present Earth. For in the New Earth, we can only imagine what God’s redeemed children are going to be able to create and to achieve in arts and engineering and music and construction and technology in and throughout the New Earth and New Heavens. They will make any discoveries of AI on this Old Earth seem like ‘child’s play’.

But, again, the end game of AI on this Old Earth reveals exactly what the Old Enemy of God and Man has always wanted from humanity in the first place. For in the ‘End Times’ of these ‘Last Days’ something happens that changes human life on Earth from anything people have ever known. Let’s look: Rev 13:14-15- “And he deceives those who dwell on the earth because of the signs which it was given him to perform in the presence of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who had the wound of the sword and has come to life. And it was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast would even speak and cause as many as do not worship the image of the beast to be killed.” NASU

What’s this? These are the final days, the last period of time, the period of the Great Tribulation on Earth. And under the power and pressure of the Antichrist, the world will have reached the stage where there is one world government, one world religion, and with all of it operating within a one world economic system. We think, but with all of the different religions, how can there be a one world religion? Note, it becomes a one world religion out of great deception, and out of great tribulation, and especially out of great force. As for the deception, well, the deception has been going on ever since the Fall of Man into Sin. And as for tribulation, the end times of this present Earth are marked by catastrophic events, which result in the loss of life of over a third of people, over a third of destruction of the seas, and of great pestilence and disease throughout the world. Covid was just a weak preview of what it will be like in the Great Tribulation. Oh, the world will be ripe for the Great Counterfeiter, the Devil himself, to present himself as God in the flesh…it will be the ‘counterfeit incarnation’…of whom we know is the Antichrist. First, he offers his powers and his leadership for people’s problems. But soon he makes it very clear that it’s not just his leadership that he is offering, rather there becomes something from everyone that he is now demanding! Which brings us to this ‘abomination of desolation’ as both Daniel and Jesus warned the world about. The Antichrist then appoints his prophet, this second beast of Revelation, or the False Prophet, which, by the way, makes up the third person of the false trinity…Satan, the Antichrist, and the False Prophet…but the Antichrist instructs this False Prophet to have an ‘image’ made and set up in the reconstructed tribulation Temple. And what this image is, is that it is an ‘artificial image of the Antichrist’. But then, this ‘Artificial image’ is animated with ‘intelligence’ so that it becomes an ‘Artificial Intelligence’…an ‘AI’ agent for the Antichrist’. And it is then that this demonic AI gives this ultimatum to the world, and reveals what Satan has always wanted, for all people to ‘worship him’. And if they don’t, they will be killed.

Which also means, that from that point on, any worshippers of the Lord Jesus Christ will also become either martyrs or fugitives until the Lord Jesus comes to enforce His Kingdom over all the world. And until our Lord does, all other human activity and all artificial intelligent activity will be subjugated to being done in submission to the order of this Supreme Artificially Intelligent Image demanding worship of the Beast or death.

So again, what is the end game of AI on this old Earth? The end game is that one day one particular AI will call for all people of Earth to give their worship to it, as representing the Antichrist, or they will be killed.

And this points out the reality that everything in life, even this amazing development of AI, is not just about what it can do, but about…in ‘whose hands’ will it be done? And even with us, with us ‘UI’s’, in whatever you are doing, whatever you are planning to do, or whatever you are hoping to do…in ‘whose hands’ are you going to do it? Are you yielding yourself to the loving the hands of your Creator…the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, to lead and guide you in the plans your God has for you? Or will you allow yourself to be squeezed into it’s mold by the hands of the Culture…which is under the power of the world, the flesh, and the devil? Choose each day ‘whom’ you will serve. After all, you are a ‘Unique Intelligence’…so let your ‘Unique God and Savior’ guide you by His hands and His heart every day!

 

Come to Order, Pt. 7

Study Guide, March 16, 2025

Pastor Clay Olsen

When we think of things like determination and persistence and perseverance in the animal kingdom, we have some great examples…like these: take the magnificent monarch butterfly for one. These small, but mighty creatures travel up to 3,000 miles, as the Monarchs that breed east of the Rocky Mountains fly to Mexico, and those that breed west of the Rocky Mountains fly to California. And they can fly 50–100 miles per day.¹ Then we have this remarkable bird, which is a flightless bird, called the Adelie Penguin. And it’s a mammoth migrator, too, traveling…mostly trekking actually, up to 8,000 miles every year, from its breeding grounds to its winter grounds. And, of course, part of that journey includes swimming and eating lots and lots of ‘krill’. And ‘krill’ are little shrimp-like critters which just happen to be the most abundant life form in the seas. But most of the Penguins journey of 8,000 miles is simply walking in that funny little swagger they have.²

However, the most amazing migrator, and the world record holder as a ‘flyer’, is the Arctic Tern. This streamlined bird travels from pole to pole and back every year, from Greenland to the Weddell Sea, flying an estimated 55,000 miles a year! And when you factor in that they can live up to 30 years, that means that over a lifetime an Arctic Tern has flown the equivalent of going to the moon and back more than three times!³ Now, in April their Spring migration takes them near the Eastern Atlantic Coast. So if you’re ever out in the ocean, aways out, and think you see them…just give them standing ovation. They deserve it!

What we are getting at is a particular trait that is particularly important, crucial actually, in living out our discipleship. In fact, in order to understand God’s order for living in relationship with God and for living in faithfulness to God it is essential to pattern your thoughts and your behavior around this order. And that order is – Rejoicing in Christ’s performance…and reveling in your perseverance. It’s – Glorying in Christ’s performance…and delighting in your perseverance. It’s – Finding your peace in Christ’s performance…and finding your fulfillment in your perseverance. It’s – Praising Christ’s performance in His obedience and practicing perseverance in our obedience.

What the Scriptures call for us to understand is the difference between God’s part in our salvation and our part in our sanctification. And it’s when believers get these mixed up, or get them confused, that’s when this disorder in their misunderstanding throws a wrench into their thinking and thus their behavior, as well as a loss of peace in their spirit and a lack of fulfillment in their soul. Oh, to be sure, if you get mixed up on the separation between Christ’s performance and our perseverance it will surely mess with your mind and with your life experience.

So, let’s clarify: Remember, Christ’s performance of obedience was sinless perfection.

1 Peter 1:18-20- “For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom He paid was not mere gold or silver. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. God chose Him as your ransom long before the world began, but He has now revealed Him to you in these last days.” NLT

We were redeemed, purchased, ransomed, and made righteous through the perfect and sinless obedience and sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ. That is why we are called to rejoice in the Lord! We are to rejoice in Christ’s righteousness… to rejoice in His sinless obedience that He then credited to us for our salvation, for our right standing before God, for our eternal relationship with God. Jesus performed perfect righteousness, sinless obedience for us, and thereby ‘earned our salvation’ and then gave this salvation to us as His eternal gift to us!

All right, and now, having been justified in Christ’s righteousness, which was merited through Jesus’ sinless obedience, our part now is to both rejoice in Christ’s performance of sinless obedience, and to revel in our practice…revel in our attempts at obedience, imperfect as they are…knowing that there is forgiveness with our God, so that He may be feared and served.

Ps 130:3-4 – “If You, Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with You, that You may be feared (served).” NASU And in Ps 147:11 – “The Lord takes pleasure in those who reverently and worshipfully fear Him, in those who hope in His mercy and loving-kindness.” AMP

Essentially, we are to rejoice in the performance of Christ’s sinless obedience to God, for that was Christ’s part in accomplishing our salvation for us. And now, we are to revel in the perseverance of our attempts of obedience and service and righteous works for God, again, imperfect as they are. And this…this perseverance in obedience and service and righteous works…this is our part in the sanctification that the Holy Spirit is working to accomplish in and through our lives as we work with God in it.

So now, out of the certainty of our saved relationship with God, which was secured for us through the perfect performance of the sinless merits of Christ’s obedience and sacrifice, our focus can now be solely on our perseverance in offering our works of service and obedience and worship, knowing that this is all that our God is looking for from us! And this frees us from either self-pride or self-pity in our performance of obedience. Plus, it inspires us to persevere in our attempts to obey and serve and fear and worship our God, knowing that even though our works are still imperfect at best…we also know that there is forgiveness with God so that He can and does accept our imperfect works because He loves His children and is pleased with every effort they make in seeking to serve and please Him.

Now, when it comes to the performance of sinless obedience and perfect righteousness, our Heavenly Father looks to Jesus for that…on your behalf. And then, when it comes to what God is looking for from His children…from you and from me…all our Heavenly Father is looking for from us is – our perseverance for Him! That is liberating for our mind and spirit, and freeing for us in our service and satisfaction in our service. And yet, that is also a mandate from our God on what we are being called to do.

But, again, if you don’t know what God is looking for in you, as well as what God is not looking for from you, then there will be ‘disorder’ in your thinking, as well as disorder in your service and disorder relationship with God and others. What God is not looking for in His children is the performance of perfect obedience; for that could only be found in Jesus. And, thankfully, God has already found that in Jesus, as Jesus lived a substitutionary life in performing perfect and sinless obedience on our behalf. God has already credited Jesus’ performance of perfect righteousness to us, as we could never perform that, either before being saved or even after being saved.

This is one point the Psalmist is clearly making when he says: “If You, Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?” And that’s why the Apostle John calls for us saved children of God to practice the regular confession of our sins…not for our salvation, but for our sanctification, and for our close fellowship with God and for our usefulness to God. 1 John 1:8-9- “If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” NASU

And it’s as Charles Spurgeon reminded us all: “We are often like a glass of water which has been standing still for hours and looks very clear and bright. But there is a sediment, and a little stir soon discovers it and clouds the crystal. The sediment is our old nature.” He also put it this way: “The saints are sinners still. Our best tears need to be wept over, the strongest faith is mixed with unbelief, our most flaming love is cold compared with what Jesus deserves, and our intensest zeal still lacks the full fervor which the bleeding wounds and pierced heart of the crucified might claim at our hands. Our best things need a sin offering, or they would condemn us.” ⁴ Oh yes, thank you Lord for your cleansing forgiveness!

So again, as we pointed out before, neither flatter yourself, nor fool yourself, nor fall into futility about yourself…just rest in the perfect order of knowing that the Performance of perfect obedience for our salvation righteousness was Christ’s part. Only Christ could accomplish that anyway. And He did so on our behalf! Praise God! So now, Perseverance in practicing obedience and righteousness, out of our salvation, is our part. Again, perseverance is both what God calls us to live out in our lives, and perseverance is precisely what God is looking for in our lives. We are accountable to God for our perseverance in worshipping and serving Him. We are to commit ourselves to and to focus upon and to pursue perseverance day after day in our discipleship.

So, let’s put it as a Question: Did you know that this is what God is calling you to pursue? We know we are to pursue – holiness and godliness and faithfulness. But God calls us to also ‘pursue perseverance’? How does that work? Notice 1 Tim 6:11- “But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness.” NASU Now, the Apostle is not dealing with God’s perseverance of protecting and guarding and guiding our position as a saved son or daughter of His. No, this exhortation is about our perseverance of ‘pressing on’ in our continual efforts to do godly works and achieve godly goals…despite difficulties, failure, or opposition, either from others or even ourselves. And where does this ‘pursuit’ part come into play? ‘Pursuit’ means, ‘to follow tenaciously after something or striving with determination toward something’. Basically, it means that you and I commit to ordering our mind and our life around ‘persevering’ in our worship and obedience to God, because of Christ’s accomplishment of His performance of perfect obedience in our place and on our behalf. And although our performance of obedience and service and good works still fall short of all they could be, or all they should be, or all we wish or hoped they would be, still, our happiness can be found in the fact that God takes pleasure in all of our attempts of obedience, imperfect as they are…for there is forgiveness with God in order that He may be feared, and loved, and served…and is, thus, pleased with us!

Again, get a firm grasp on God’s revealed order: When God the Father wants to see the performance of perfect righteousness, He looks to Jesus and finds it…and finds us covered and clothed in this righteousness of Christ. When God the Father wants to see the perseverance of practicing righteousness, in character and conduct, He looks to us, His children…He looks to you and to me. And by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit we can persevere, we can press on, we can labor and strive to be as useful as we can in the hands of God, and as helpful as we can in doing the works that God given us to do.

So just let go of dwelling on your performance of your works of service and your deeds of faith…for it will either leave you puffed up in self-pride or pulled down in self-pity. Now, certainly, this is not about ‘not’ improving in your works and skills…for we are certainly called to grow in the use of our God-given talents and skills as servants for God, and to do so in our workmanship in all the different areas of our lives. What this is all about is to never think you have ever arrived in any or all of it…as Paul put it in: Phil 3:12-14- “Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” NASU

Paul is not talking about any performance for his salvation, but about his perseverance…persevering in his goal of becoming more and more useful to God and more and more of a blessing to others…and also being encourage by the great rewards promised to those who ‘persevere’ for God…who ‘press on for Christ’s sake.’ And since Paul focused not on his ‘performance’ as a Christian, but on his ‘perseverance’ in living out the Christian life…then so should we.

Therefore, focus on your perseverance of pressing on in giving your utmost for God’s highest in your works of service and your deeds of faith. Forget about trying to impress anybody, and just focus on blessing somebody, especially your Savior, who lived a perfect life in your place and died a perfect sacrificial death in your place. Rejoice in Christ’s performance, and revel in your perseverance for Christ’s sake! Pursue ‘perseverance’…and also realize that nothing can stop the blessings that develop out of a saint who sets his or her mind and heart on pressing on in the worship and the service of the Savior, even in spite of anything that comes our way. Note the Apostle Paul’s words on that: Rom 5:3-5- “And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” NASB

God will even force the troubles of this life that have been forced upon us to deepen our perseverance. And the deeper that perseverance becomes embedded in us, the more it develops the fruit of every good thing that can come from us…like more and more of the character and image of Christ that we talked about in our last study. It will produce a powerful hope that grows into greater and greater determination rather than into disappointment. And it will enable us to enjoy a deeper, and wider, and higher experience the love of God, that God has poured into our hearts, but is only tapped by a faith that is focused on persevering, for the sake of our Savior and the glory of our God.

Remember, a performance-based faith is a worldly kind of faith, that will distort your thinking, distract your efforts, and diminish your works. But a perseverance-based faith will delight your mind, direct your efforts, and will determine the outcome of your works…which will then be pronounced: “Well done, thou good and faithful servant!”

1. Birdlife.org
2. Nps.gov

3. Birdlife.org

4. Charles H. Spurgeon, Spurgeon at His Best, p.131

Come to Order, Pt. 6

Study Guide, March 9, 2025

Pastor Clay Olsen

We marvel over God’s created wonders across this beautiful Earth. Some examples are: Yellowstone National Park, the Grand Canyon, the Matterhorn in Switzerland, Halong Bay in Vietnam, Victoria Falls in Africa. But God’s greatest created masterpiece, and even more wonderous than the physical wonders of the Earth, are the physical and especially spiritual components of those made in the image of God.

So now notice: Part of the Redemption of bringing souls back into relationship with God includes restoring more and more of the original order of the image of God in those who have been created in the image of God. For what was lost in the Fall of Man was both a spiritual relationship with God and also the holy moral image of God. Not the image itself, but the holy moral image. Remember, the image of God is what is found in the soul of man…mind, will, and emotions. Every person has an eternal soul. That’s why it’s important to know that in the Fall of Man, as in the words of Dr. Norman Geisler, ‘the soul of Man was effaced, but not erased.’ All people are still created in the image of God, but only those who have been Born-Again have had their spirit raised to life and reunited to God…united to God’s Spirit. And with their spirit united to God’s Spirit, it is thus united to God’s life, or ‘eternal life’. The unconverted soul, too, will live forever, but their existence is called ‘the second death’ or an existence of eternal separation from God.

But now, for the converted, for each person who has turned to God in repentance and faith and had their spirit eternally united to God’s spirit, the goal of their soul is to, more and more, restore what was lost in their image, and that is; the holy moral image of God. And the path to restoring the order of the holy moral image of God in their life…restoring the holy character and conduct of God in their life, restoring the ‘likeness of God’ in their life, is through relating and responding to God according to the order of God’s commandments. That’s why we pointed out how crucial it is to love God with all of our mind, for our mind is a component of our soul that was not only made in the image of God, but is to also function according to the holy moral image of God. Remember, you will become more and more like that which you love, or who you love.

And that requires us to connect the rest of the components of our soul that will enable us to then restore more of the holy moral character of God. Again, this is the essence of the first commandment: Mark 12:30- “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment.” NKJV As we pointed out in our last study, the mind was designed to know God. And now…the heart was designed to delight in God. One remarkable thing about the Born-Again person is that the Holy Spirit has given us the ability to choose that in which we will delight. However, the unconverted, due to their fallen nature, are pulled about, drug around, and driven to delight in whatever seems good to the senses, a delight to the eyes, and whatever they think has the power to make then wise…sound familiar? Yeah, it’s the same fallen formula that was part of the Fall of Man into sin. But God has a holy formula for God’s people to follow, which includes restoring the order of our heart to delight in the Person and things of our Holy God. And by the power of the Holy Spirit, the converted have the power to choose those things in which they will delight. Like these kind of things:

Ps 37:4- “Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart.”

Ps 40:8- “I delight to do Your will, O my God; Your Law is within my heart.”

Ps 119:16- “I shall delight in Your statutes; I shall not forget Your word.”

Prov 23:26- “Give me your heart, my son, and let your eyes delight in my ways.”

Jer 15:16- “Your words were found and I ate them, and Your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart; for I have been called by Your name, O Lord God of hosts.” NASU

We once put it this way: Everyone needs something that they can only get from God…spiritual life. And God wants something that He can only get from you…your heart. How caring and kind of God to call out to us: “Give me your heart…and let your eyes delight in my ways.” We trust that you have given your heart to God. When you do, God gives you a new heart…which is a way of describing your new nature that is now and forever united to God’s nature. And now, in this restored relationship, God calls us, commands us, to now restore the order for our soul, to love our Lord with all of our heart…to choose to delight in the Person of our God, to delight in the Words of our God, and to delight in the will of our God. In that Messianic Psalm of Psalm 40 it prophesied Jesus’ own words of how His delight was to do the will of His Father! And as we, too, choose to delight in the Person, and the Words, and the Will of our Heavenly Father, we will find our heart being more and more transformed into God’s own character and likeness…into the holy moral image of our God.

The commandment goes on… “…and with all of your soul…” And here the Greek word for ‘soul’, ‘psuche’, in context with the heart and mind, refers to our sentient being, or our conscious being. We could include our ‘volition’, our ‘will’…the seat of our conscious decisions. You see, there is a created order for the ‘will’ of humans as well. Our ‘will’ was designed to choose to follow God. Remember…not following our God is the central problem to our sin problem. The Prophet Isaiah clearly revealed this. Isa 53:6- “All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; But the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him.” NASU Choosing to ‘follow our own way’ is a description of our ‘Sin problem’. That’s why repentance is pictured as turning from following our own way to the intention of following God’s way. Of course, until we are thus reunited to God’s Spirit through our faith in the merits of Christ’s sinless works, and our faith in the sacrifice of His death for our sins, we do not have the power to follow Christ. But through repentance and faith we are given new spiritual life and the Holy Spirit, who then gives us the power to follow through in our repentance, to follow through with our intention to follow Christ!

But again, by our very created order, we were created to choose to follow our God. We were created to live by the order of – ‘Not my will, but Thy will be done!’ That’s what Jesus meant by His words, “If anyone wishes, chooses, to follow Me, he must deny himself…” Deny himself what? Or, deny what in his or her life? Deny their self-will and choose God’s will. Note very carefully here…it’s not the elimination of our will, or, as in Eastern religious teachings…the extinguishing of our will…no, it is the re-ordering of our will to be in its proper order – the order of becoming more and more willing to do the will of God.

This calls for a question at this point? Do you ever struggle with being willing to do God’s will? That’s a rhetorical question…you don’t have to raise your hand. Actually, probably all of our hands could go up on that one from time to time. Well, let’s add some sweet relief to your heart and mind here, for we are in good company on this one. For even the Psalmist said: Ps 51:12- “Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you.” NLT It was like David saying, ‘Lord, would You just make whatever adjustments are needed in me so that I will want to obey You more and choose to do Your will more and more?’ How about that? Don’t you feel better now? I know I do. Friends, neither flatter yourself nor fool yourself nor give in to futility about yourself…just accept the reality that the adequacy and the power even to choose and to do the will of God is from the Spirit of God within you. Why do you think we are to ascribe all the power and the glory and the honor to our God anyway? Because it’s all from our God in the first place and the last place!

However, because our Heavenly Father is so gracious, and so loving, and so generous with His children, whenever we do choose to love Him back with our emotions, with our will, and with our mind, our God loves whenever we do that and whatever we do in showing that…and, thus, He promises to reward us for whatever efforts and good works we do in showing Him that! Remember…God is a ‘rewarder’ of those who seek Him, serve Him, please Him.’

And speaking of ‘how about that’… ‘how about this?’ For now we see how the “…love the Lord with all of our ‘strength’ part fits in. This is now the ‘action’ parts to the loving God with all of our heart, soul, and mind. This is the ‘diligence’ part of our ‘Discipleship’…or, the ‘extreme efforts’ that God is looking for from us. This is the ‘good works’ parts of ‘a faith that works’. This is the ‘bearing fruit’ part of the ‘good tree’. This is the ‘striving and laboring’…this is the ‘blood, sweat, and tears’ parts of what we believe about our God and what we trust our God to do in and through our lives.

How did the Apostle James say it? James 1:26- “But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.” NASU And how did the Apostle John say it? 1 John 3:18- “Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.” NASU We are to use whatever strengths, whatever talents, whatever treasures, and whatever time we have to show God through both our worship and our service that we are making God’s first commandment our highest priority of our lives, for the sake of our God and Savior.

And speaking of ‘commandments’…It is also very important for us to carry a right concept and understanding about God’s commandments, like this greatest commandment and the second which is like it. So many people have such a skewed and distorted understanding and attitude towards the ‘commandments of God’. God’s commandments simply reveal ‘God’s order’ for our lives. Many view God’s commandments as restrictions upon their lives, as though they interfere with their personal freedoms and such. But how insidious and how foolish is that! God’s commandments are actually steps of freedom from our otherwise slavery to the world, the flesh, and the devil. Moses even had to explain the good purposes of God’s commandments to the Israelites: Deut 10:12-13- Now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require from you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the Lord’s commandments and His statutes which I am commanding you today for your good?” NASU God’s commandments are for our good, they are for our blessing, they are for our very happiness. God’s commandments are not our restrictions, they are God’s rescue and our freedom from slavery to the world, the flesh, and the devil.

But even more, for did you catch the connection with God’s commandments and God’s calling to His people, then, as well as to His people today…to us? “…what does the Lord your God require from you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul…” Oh yeah, they are just like Jesus’ words in the Gospels. Which reveal to us that the purpose of God’s commandments is to restore the order for which we were created. We were created to love our God with all of our heart. We were created to love God with all of our soul…our will. We were created to love God with all of our mind. And we were created to love God with all of our strength. But because of the Fall of all mankind in sin, that order was damaged. Praise God, in our Redemption, the reclamation of that order was restored. And the ‘effaced’ or the ‘damaged’ image of God in His redeemed children was rebirthed. But now after this reclamation of God’s image in our life, we are now instructed to follow these commandments so that the transformation into the holy moral image of God can be restored in us. For that is the highest goal of our life. How so? Let’s look!

One of the most consoling statements in the Bible is found in Rom 8:28- “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” How often and how deeply that has consoled and encouraged God’s people when things are not going well at all, when they are facing trials and tragedies and problems of all sorts. No, those things in themselves are not good at all, but none of those things will stop the victory and the reward and the compensation that will be worked together and worked out for the good of God’s child, in spite of those things.

But there’s something even more in this message because of what else is being worked out. For this ‘highest good’ of Romans 8:28 is what in revealed to us in Romans 8:29: “For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren…” To become more and more transformed into the image and character of Jesus Christ is the ultimate good of our life…the ultimate goal of our Christian life. It is to be our daily pursuit and our highest purpose. When we were ‘reborn’ in our spirit, we were united to Christ in our soul and spirit. After that the goal of our life is to then be ‘transformed’ more and more into the image and character of Christ, thus restoring more and more of the ‘holy moral image’ of God in us…His children. Again, this is the ‘highest good’ toward which we are to be pursuing. And when it is, nothing in this world…even the trials or the sufferings or the daily problems of life can stop that transformation. Even more so, anything that the world or the devil means for evil will be conquered by God and turned for good for God’s children, as we make ‘Christlikeness’ the passion of our life.

Remember, we are more than conquerors in Christ. Therefore, we can rest in that. But we are called to restore the whole image of Christ in our life. Therefore, we are to work on that. And the more that we do work on that, the more that we seek to love the Lord our God with all of our mind…seeking to know God better, and with all of our heart and emotions…delighting in God’s words and God’s will and in God’s fellowship, and with all of our soul…our will, choosing to follow our God, and in using all of the strength which God supplies toward being transformed more and more into the likeness of our God, into the likeness of Christ…the more we restore God’s designed order in our life, along with all the blessings of that, both now and in the rewards of that to come.

Come to Order, Pt. 5

March 2, 2025

Pastor Clay Olsen

We have been examining some Biblical principles based upon the understanding that all of life is about ‘Order’. And thus, whenever or wherever there is disorder in the purposes or uses for anything or anyone, then there is also conflict. Now, some things are obvious that they are not going to work. Other things, although they ought to be obvious, due to our natural human reasoning…they are not. And this takes us to back to the most fundamental principle of human life, which, strangely enough, is not obvious to human reasoning. And that is; that the highest purpose of every created human being is to have a personal relationship with our Creator. Everything else in life follows that reality and flows out of the reality of that relationship. And wherever there is an absence of that relationship, or even disorder in that relationship, there is an accompanying discord and a diminishing of the life experience as well.

In fact, because we were created to have a relationship with our Creator God, each part of us has been created to ‘relate to God’! You remember the encounter of Jesus with the religious leaders who came to Him with this: Mark 12:28-31- “Then one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, perceiving that He had answered them well, asked Him, “Which is the first commandment of all?” Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” NKJV

We examined this in an earlier study, but we need to look at it again in a different light. Let’s start with the part that is often most surprising to many in Jesus’ answer. ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your mind.’ Let’s think a moment about our mind. How wondrous is God’s creation of the human mind. Now here is an image of the human brain. [show pic of brain] There isn’t a picture of the human mind, because the mind is not a physical thing, but a metaphysical reality, like beliefs and ideas and memories and such. You can touch the ‘brain’, but you can’t touch the ‘mind’. One helpful description of the difference between the ‘mind’ and the ‘brain’ is that the brain is a physical organ in the head, composed of neurons, while the mind is a conceptual reality representing our thoughts, feelings, and consciousness, which is considered to be the product of the brain’s activity. Essentially, the brain is the hardware and the mind is the software that runs on it. And this is interesting, as brain research showed that the brain is like a ‘random thought generator’, generating up to 50,000 unique thoughts each day. While you may not be consciously aware of all of these thoughts, your brain is certainly working in overdrive most of the time. No wonder we feel a bit ‘brain tired’ from time to time. And, just another reason the Scriptures call for us to ‘take our thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ.’ Our thoughts tend to run wild, without discipline and direction and order.

But again, the mind is the seat of consciousness and the essence of our being, encompassing our thoughts, feelings, memories, and experiences. The mind encompasses many phenomena, including perception, memory, thought, imagination, motivation, emotion, attention, learning, and consciousness. It also influences a person’s morality, reasoning, and understanding.* Again, how marvelous are God’s works and ways and created wonders…like our ‘mind’.

So think again about our created order. Your mind was designed by God with this in mind – that is, for you and for me to love our God with all our mind! Therefore, since our mind was designed to love God most, to love God first, to love God above all the other things that occupy our minds, that fascinate our thoughts, that capture our interests…it basically means that when this order is not actual and activated, then basically our mind is ‘out of order’! It’s not that our mind is not functioning…it’s simply that there is ‘disorder’ in our mind. And wherever there is disorder in your mind there will be distortion in your thinking. There will be distortion in how you think about God, distortion in how you think about yourself, distortion in how you think about others, distortion in how you think about basically everything in life…all because the basic order for life is for you and for me to first and foremost ‘love God with all of our Mind! Without loving God most with your mind, you will not foremost seek to know the mind of God in your life. And without loving God foremost in our mind and in our life, we inflict ourselves with unnecessary mental and emotional afflictions.

Mark it down: This is a basic order for our life…to love our God with all our mind, which will then lead us to living a life of loving the Mind of our God! For – to love God with your mind is to love the mind of God! It’s only when you love the mind of God that you seek to better know and better understand the mind of God, the character of God, the personality of God, the will of God, and the Word of God.

Yes, it’s wonderful to seek to better understand the things of this world, but it is of utmost importance to foremost seek to understand the God of this world. Listen to what God told us about that: Jer 9:23-24- “Thus says the Lord, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the Lord.” NASU

How fascinating to understand that what God wants most from us is for us to better understand Him. And the better that we do come to understand our God, better understand His lovingkindness, better understand His justice, better understand His righteousness, and better understand that God finds His delight in each and all of these things…well, the better we will then understand how each of these things relate to us, and to others as we live out our lives, here and in the hereafter, with our God. Nothing in this world, from our wisdom to our might to our possessions come close to the value and the blessings of understanding and knowing God more and more.

All right, but in coming back to ‘order’, we understand then that the highest use of our mind, the greatest quest of our mind, the very created order for your mind and my mind is to love the Mind of your Creator and Redeemer. Again, loving God with all of your mind leads to loving the Mind of God will all of your mind. And in order for us to do that God has given these two things to us: His Spirit within us and His Word around us. Notice: 1 Cor 2:13-16- “These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.” NKJV

What a marvelous revelation this is! In receiving Christ’s Spirit into our lives, we receive the indwelling Holy Spirit as well. And as Jesus said, the Holy Spirit will teach us and lead us into all truth…and God’s Word is truth. It is also the influence of the Holy Spirit in our lives that enables us to better understand God’s will…God’s plans and God’s purposes, as well as better understand His desire to restore people to a personal relationship with Him through saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. The indwelling Holy Spirit enables us to see and to evaluate things from God’s perspective, and to adopt God’s values, and to love what God loves and to hate what God hates…sin! The Holy Spirit enables us to better understand God’s holiness and justice and grace and mercy. And He enables us to adopt the attitude in our mind that Jesus had in His mind…Phil 2:5-8 – “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” NASU

By the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit we can choose each day to adopt the attitude of Jesus and empty ourselves of ruling ourselves and instead, and by our created order…we bow to the rightful rule of our God. We take our rightful place as the Steward of our life, and we give God His rightful place as the Master of our lives…the King of our lives…the Lord of our lives. And with this RMA…this Right Mental Attitude, we then conduct ourselves like Jesus in being humble and obedient to our Heavenly Father.

So, to have the mind of Christ is to have the indwelling mind of Christ’s Spirit, the Holy Spirit within us, Who then, note this: Who then leads us into all truth, of which all truth is, God’s Word, the Holy Scriptures!

How about this…in our hands we are blessed to have the Book of Life, the Bible, the Letters of God to us, the Owner’s Manual for Life, and also…the Mind of Christ! Have you ever thought of your Bible as ‘the Mind of Christ’? The Bible was recorded by over 40 different writers, but the Bible actually has only one Author…God! In it, God has revealed His thoughts to us…His mind…the very mind of God. Thus, to love God with all of your mind is to love God’s Word with all of your mind…to love the Scriptures above every other revelation, above every other information, above every other communication in your life. Yes, certainly, be lovers of learning about all the good things in this remarkable world, but be a lover foremost of God’s infinite Word that He has revealed to the world…especially to us, His children.

Develop a growing love of God’s Word like the Psalmist…like this:

Ps 119:47-48 – “I shall delight in Your commandments, which I love. And I shall lift up my hands to Your commandments, which I love; and I will meditate on Your statutes.”

Ps 119:97- “O how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day.”

Ps 119:127-128- “Therefore I love Your commandments above gold, yes, above fine gold. Therefore I esteem right all Your precepts concerning everything, I hate every false way.”

Ps 119:165-168- “Those who love Your law have great peace, and nothing causes them to stumble. I hope for Your salvation, O Lord, and do Your commandments. My soul keeps Your testimonies, and I love them exceedingly. I keep Your precepts and Your testimonies, for all my ways are before You.” NASU

And the more we grow to love the Words of God, which reveal the mind of God, the more we will also experience the blessing of having a mind that is both functioning and thriving according to the order in which it was created by its Creator. Remember, even the book of Proverbs counsels us and cautions us about the proper development of our mind. Prov 1:1-3- “These are the proverbs of Solomon, the son of David and king of Israel. They will help you learn to be wise, to accept correction, and to understand wise sayings. They will teach you to develop your mind in the right way.” ERV

In our Life Groups we have been practicing reading the Scriptures by using the PCQ and NCQ principles. The PCQ is the question that asks, “What are the ‘positive consequences’ of obeying or acting upon this counsel or commandments?” And the NCQ is the question that asks, “What are the ‘negative consequences’ of not obeying or not acting upon this counsel or commandments?” I encourage you to add that exercise to your own Bible readings and then discover what all you can discover by asking and answering these questions.

In using this with this passage in Proverbs we find some positive consequences are the blessings of gaining godly wisdom…learning truths that are obscured to others because of worldly wisdom, learning Biblical maxims and principles for life, receiving God’s instructions and developing godly discernment, being able to comprehend more about our world and finding insights about ourselves. We also then grow in the discipline of wise thoughtfulness, knowledge, and discretion. Again, in following the order of loving God’s words with our mind we discover the joys of developing our mind in the right way.

Whereas some negative consequences of neglecting or rejecting acting upon God’s counsel and commandments are…if the great salvation explained in the Gospel of God’s Word is neglected or rejected, the consequences of that are an existence of eternal separation from God in a land called ‘Gehenna’. But even for the converted child of God, a neglect of loving and learning and acting upon God’s truths leads to the opposite of the good…a lack of discernment, which leads to being vulnerable to false teachings and practices that are contrary to the Scriptures. It leads to being unstable not only in your thinking, but also in your emotions…being tossed about by the shifting circumstances of life rather than being grounded on the rock of God’s Word. It will lead to being resistant to teaching and counsel, leaving you more and more open to compromising your beliefs and morals, and more and more calloused toward others and damaged in a hardened heart. Essentially, the rightful development of your mind will not be developed because of this self-inflicted rejection or neglect of loving God with all of your mind, along with God’s revealed words by which you were created to order your life!

So, what is his is highest purpose of the human mind…of your mind and my mind? The highest purpose of our mind is to love the Lord our God with all of our mind. This is the created order for our mind. This is the blessed order for our mind to both function and flourish, for the glory of God and the gain of His children. Praise God!

 

*(Mind/Brain information from AI and Wikipedia and Neurosurgical.com)

 

Come to Order, Pt. 4

Study Guide, February 16, 2025

Pastor Clay Olsen

So, doesn’t it seem that many things that come with instructions just really aren’t all that necessary? But then, when it comes to daily life itself, especially in knowing who we are, why we are here, what we were created for, and so on, oh yeah, we really do need instructions for all of that.

As we began this short series, we stated that life is about order. Order is created into the very fabric of the heavens and the earth, and into the very fabric of our lives, both physically and spiritually. And in order for any of us to achieve and experience what our Creator planned for us, as well as to then also experience fulfillment and wellness in life, especially spiritually, it all depends upon our both discovering God’s order and then disciplining our lives according to God’s order for our lives. And a central part of that discovery is to heed God’s instructions for our lives. For life comes with order, and life comes with instructions. This is one of the great reasons God has given us His counsel for our lives, His Word, the Scriptures…God’s Owner’s Manual for our lives.

Over and over, Jesus said to the crowds, “Anyone who has an ear must listen to the Spirit and understand what He is saying.” And to the churches Jesus said, “Anyone who has an ear must listen to the Spirit and understand what He is saying to the churches.” And what we have heard is that the truths about life and living which God has revealed do not come naturally for us. It’s just like we pointed out how Jesus said if anyone wanted to become His follower, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Jesus. A willingness to turn from following your own way in order to follow Jesus’ way for your life is what ‘repentance’ is all about. We also learned that the way to be right with God also doesn’t come naturally to us, for to be right with God means we must have the righteousness of God, for we cannot attain salvation righteousness on our own. And Christ’s righteousness is given to us through our trusting in the atoning work of Christ on the Cross and asking for forgiveness and the righteous merits of Christ to make us right with God, which is what ‘faith’ is all about.

And then Jesus revealed another ‘instruction’ about living as His follower, which is completely unnatural to human reasoning, for in a world that is full of finding themselves, focused on finding themselves, and seeking personal fulfillment of the self-life, Jesus revealed that this kind of reasoning and seeking is the complete opposite of the way a person finds what their soul really wants and really needs. He put it like this, remember… “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.” Matt 16:25 NASU

The fascinating thing about this is that Jesus reveals this turning from self to Him as our Savior is not only the way to become saved, it is also the way to then live as a saved follower of Christ. Until you find Christ as your Lord and Savior you are still lost…separated from a relationship with Christ. And then, once you find your new life in Christ, you need to continue to lose who you were in order to find who you are to be. Or, you have to lose who you were, in and of your old self…apart from Christ, in order to find who you are meant to be in and of your new self in relationship with Christ. How strange that people who have been saved from ‘who and what they were’, in and of themselves, so often still try to then live the Christian life from the mindset of who and what they are ‘in and of themselves’. How foolish? How natural it seems to try it…how humanistic in thinking that is, but still, how foolish? That is the same pit that the Galatian believers were falling back into, remember? Gal 3:1-5- “You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified? This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? Did you suffer so many things in vain — if indeed it was in vain? So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? NASU

You see it? Paul’s admonition to them, and to all ‘Galatian type thinkers’, was: “Going your own way, trying to be right with God through your own religious works, relying on your own human reasoning about it all was not how you received new life in Christ in the first place. That was not how you became saved. Now, you think you can grow in your faith, become sanctified, become more and more like Christ by still thinking that same way? How foolish! When you were in charge of you, you were always going astray. Do you think you can still be in charge of you and not continue to go astray?”

The divine instructions for life, for both the unsaved and even the saved, begin with: “You were not created to be nor ever are intended to be in charge of you. You were not created to by your own god, ruling yourself…you were created to be a child of God in relationship with your God, following God, who is to be in charge of your life!

Somehow, although Christians understand that their need was to turn from going their own way and their own thoughts as they turned in repentance to follow God, and they then trusted in Jesus forgiveness and His gift for their salvation, then, many don’t seem to understand that their need is to continue to turn from their own ways and their own thoughts in order for them to actually follow God and to then be transformed by God into the person God created them to be. They keep tripping over God’s instructions for them about ‘putting off the old self and putting on the new self’. We’ll come back to that.

No, mark it down: Any quest to find yourself apart from Christ when you are not saved is simply a guarantee of further destruction in your life. And any quest of finding yourself apart from Christ even after you have become saved by Christ is also a guarantee of further confusion in your life. It’s also a guarantee of diminishing your life…of limiting your transformation and forfeiting Kingdom rewards and losing out on becoming the person you were meant to be in a ‘shared relationship’ in union with your Savior.

Remember: The path of finding yourself is a dead-end road…always has been…always will be. That path neither leads to salvation nor does it lead to sanctification. The path of losing yourself in Christ is the way to discover both who you were created to be and to experience it all in a shared relationship with your Creator and Savior. For the Biblical way to find yourself is by losing your ‘self-life’ and finding the ‘shared-life’. The key to finding who you were created to be is by losing who you are in and of yourself, and instead, finding who you are in union with Christ. Remember, the Apostle Paul pointed out that even ‘marriage’ is meant to illustrate this relationship between Christ and His church. Eph 5:31-32- “As the Scriptures say, “A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.” This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one.” NLT

Just like the key to a great marriage is to no longer think in terms of ‘Me’, but to think in terms of ‘We’, so it is, and even more so in our relationship with Christ. We are to no longer think in terms of our ‘self-life’, but in terms of our ‘shared-life’…for when we were ‘Born again’ we were united to the very life of Christ. We now and will for eternity ‘share’ in the life and Spirit of Christ. Our identity is now a shared identity, no longer ‘me, myself, and I’, but ‘We, Ourselves, and Us’! (sounds a little unusual, but you get the idea…)

Even the ‘New self’ that the Apostle instructs us about is a ‘shared self’. Col 3:9-10-

“…since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him.” NASU This practice is to be a daily habit, of course. Like putting on the armor of God, day by day, so we are to daily ‘put off’ our old independent, self-focused, self-serving, self-esteeming, self-centered mindset, and put on our Christ-dependent, Christ-focused, Christ-serving, Christ-esteeming, and Christ-centered mindset. Remember, even the ‘Vine and the Branch’ teaching of Jesus revealed this ‘shared life’ that we now have with our Savior. As ‘branches’ of the ‘Vine’ of Christ, we are now ‘Carriers’, not ‘Controllers’. Christ, as the Vine, is to be the sole ‘Controller’, and we, as His branches, are to be His ‘Carriers’ of all that God has in mind for you and for me to ‘carry’ to our world around us…to carry to our family, to carry to our church family, to carry to our culture, and to carry to our world. Lay aside the old ‘controlling self’. Lose the old ‘controlling-self-centered’ mindset, and put on the new ‘carrying-Christ-centered’ mindset. Find yourself sharing your hopes and your dreams, sharing your plans and your purposes, sharing your goals and your accomplishments with your Savior and God who is the sole source of everything good and godly in your life!

Again, this ‘New Self’ that we are to put on is a ‘shared self’. We now order our life around sharing everything in our life with Christ. Our plans, our pursuits, our pleasures, and our paths are all to be in relation to this ‘shared life’ we now live with our Savior and our Shepherd, as He leads us in paths of righteousness. Remember, Christ is our Vine…we are His branches. Christ is the ‘Source’…we are the ‘resource’. Christ produces…and we pass along what Christ produces. We bear the fruit, but Christ’s Spirit grows the fruit in our lives. And all that Christ is producing and growing in us, is for us to pass along through us to others around us…not only the fruit of the Spirit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control…but also the truths of the Gospel, and the teachings of Christ through His prophets and apostles.

And that leads us to another crucial concept for today in understanding God’s order for our lives. And it is once again connected to our crucial need in understanding our position and practice in our Christian life. And when you get a grasp of it, it not only enlightens your thinking, it also inspires your living out this amazing ‘shared life’ that you have with your Savior. It’s one of those amazing teachings of Paul’s, where he reveals to us that there is something in which we are already ‘complete’, and yet there is also something in which we are supposed to ‘complete’ in our lives. Oh yeah, it is amazing for sure. Let’s look.

Col 2:9-10- “For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete.” NASU How wonderful is that? In Christ, we have been made complete. What is has been completed? Our salvation of course! Through the perfect sacrifice of Jesus’ death for us, we have been pardoned from our sin and have provision for the forgiveness of our sins. Through the perfect obedience of Jesus’ life for us we have the righteousness of Christ that makes us right with God. That is now and forever our ‘position’ with God…forgiven and righteous in this new shared life that we have with Jesus Christ!

We can also describe our being complete in Christ this way… “Being ‘complete’ in my relationship with Christ means that I am deeply loved, fully forgiven, completely accepted, and forever secure as an adopted child of God’s, based upon Christ’s complete pardon of my sins and His complete righteousness as His gift to me.”

But then the Apostle also reveals this: Col 1:28- “We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ.” NASU What’s this? Since we are already ‘complete’ in Christ, what then is yet to be ‘completed’? Let’s let the ERV help us with that: Col 1:28- “So we continue to tell people about Christ. We use all wisdom to counsel every person and teach every person. We are trying to bring everyone before God as people who have grown to be spiritually mature in Christ.”

So here, Paul reveals more about God’s order for our lives. When we become ‘Born again’ we are fully complete in our salvation. And we are forever secure in this ‘Position’ as a saved son or daughter of God’s. But then there is something that is to be ‘completed’ in our lives, or completed throughout our lives, and that is, our sanctification, or our transformation. Since we share our new life in Christ, we are now to share in the image and character of Christ more and more throughout our life. And that is to be the ‘Practice’ of our lives day by day as we seek to follow our Savior, losing more and more of our old selves, and finding more and more of our new selves in becoming more like Christ, our Creator and Redeemer. Forget the ‘self-life’, there is no gain or reward in that. Focus on the ‘shared-life’, the eternal life that you now and forever will ‘share with Christ’, for in that, there is both glory for Christ and gain for others and you, as well as great reward!

“The Way of the Righteous”

Pastor Robert Kornegay

Feb 9, 2025

Come to Order, Pt. 3

Study Guide, February 2, 2025

Pastor Clay Olsen

We’ve begun a study on the order of life. And as we have seen, all of life is about order. Our Creator not only created our physical world with precision and order, but also the spiritual world with precision and order. Plus, we have seen that just like disorder in the physical world causes chaos and damage, so disorder in the spiritual world causes chaos and damage. That is why it is imperative for people to discover God’s order for our spiritual lives and thus, then, order our lives according to God’s order for our lives. So, let’s continue our discovery of God’s points of order for our lives.

In my recent saga of wrestling with my wrist issue, I learned from Nate that in the human body healthy nerves need three things: blood flow, space, and movement to function properly; blood flow delivers oxygen and nutrients, space allows for flexibility, and movement prevents atrophy by keeping nerves mobile within their surrounding tissues. As with us in the Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Club, when you have compression in that ligament in your wrist, the nerves get damaged from the lack of those three things. Thus, the need to have that order restored in order to restore health to those nerves.

In a similar way, in the human soul a healthy spirit needs three things as well. We find it in the Apostle Paul’s revelation to the Roman believers in Rom 14:17- “…for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” NASU In a commentary by Dr. Donald Barnhouse, he said this: “It is important to note the sequence of these characteristics of the Kingdom of God in the heart. Righteousness comes first, peace second, and joy third. This is amplification of Christ’s own words, “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well” (Matt 6:33). One reason for the terrible frustration of mankind is that peace and joy are sought without righteousness. But without the righteousness of God there can be no peace, and without the peace of God there can be no joy.”¹

The Kingdom of God is all about order…righteousness, peace, and joy. And from the Apostle we learn that these three things not only characterize the Kingdom of God…they are also to characterize our lives as we seek first God’s kingdom. Now, another thing to note before we notice some key things about these three things, is that God continually works through a constant pattern of ‘Position and Practice.’ The clearest example of this is seen in our need to first establish a relationship with God before we are able to then fellowship with and serve God. That was the realization that Nicodemus had to come to, as he had it backwards. His focus was on religious behavior first, until Jesus revealed to him that spiritual birth comes first. Each person must be born again in their spirit before they can then fellowship with and serve God in their life. This is the truth that false religion neglects or rejects.

Actually, all religions that ignore the New Birth Gospel have this same ‘backwards’ practice in their religious teachings and works. Their focus is on religious behavior without first becoming spiritually reborn. Or, they ignore Jesus’ revelation of their need to first become born again. Unbiblical world religions, and many unbiblical groups under the title of ‘Christianity’, also often called ‘Social Gospel Churches’, teach a ‘Behavior based gospel’ based upon human reasoning instead of the Biblical ‘New Birth Gospel’ of Jesus based upon Biblical revelation. And we need to clearly understand that this is the central problem in our religious world around us, because without a new birth of their spirit, their behavior is still falling short of the righteousness of God because their spirit is still dead in trespasses and sin.

The effect that sin had on the human spirit is that sin killed it! Sin separated each person’s spirit from God! As has so aptly been stated: “Jesus did not come to make bad people good; He came to make dead people live!” The Gospel of Salvation is not about religious behavior, it’s about spiritual birth. Christian behavior, or Sanctification, is to follow our New Birth in a saved relationship with Christ. The Gospel of Salvation is not about better behavior…it’s about new spiritual life! Until a person receives new spiritual life from Jesus Christ, they are still spiritually dead in their trespasses and sin. That’s the central message that the world needs to learn because they naturally think mankind is naturally good, and that they already have spiritual life, and that all they need is to just add some religious behavior to their habits and they will then be ‘righteous’, or ‘right with God’.

But that is a false gospel, as well as false religious thinking and unbiblical teaching. For as the Bible loudly states: Rom 3:10- “No one is righteous—not even one.” NLT And then the Apostle goes on: “But now God has shown us a way to be made right with Him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when He freed us from the penalty for our sins.” Rom 3:21-24 NLT

And, as the Apostle also pointed out, if people could be made right with God through their religious behaviors, then Christ died needlessly. But what an insult that is to God! Rather, it is only through Jesus’ sacrificial death that we can have our sin penalty removed from us and have forgiveness granted to us, and it is only through Jesus’ sinless obedient life that we can be given Christ’s gift of righteousness, or, be given ‘right standing’ with God. The gift of Salvation includes two gifts: ‘Pardon’ from God of our sins and ‘Righteousness’ from Jesus Christ in our relationship with God.

And it is right here that we see that our ‘Position’ in Christ comes first in our New Spiritual Birth, and then our ‘Practice’ as a Christian is to follow, as we ‘follow Christ’ in our spiritual behavior. In fact, and mark it down: The goal of our life then is to make our ‘Practice’ as a Christian reflect our ‘Position’ in Christ! Let this ‘perfect righteousness’ that we received from Christ become what we then ‘practice’ in our lives, day by day.

Another very clear verse about our ‘Position’ in relation to ‘righteousness’ can be seen in how Paul spoke about himself having Jesus’ righteousness instead of his own. Look: “…and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith. “Phil 3:9 NASU

That would also be a very helpful way to state the issue of salvation, as in a question: “Whose ‘righteousness’ are trusting in, or depending upon, to save you…Christ’s or your own?” Or, “Whose righteousness do you need to have in order to go to Heaven? Christ’s righteousness or your own?” It can only be one, and it is not ‘ours’, it’s Christ’s righteousness! Even Paul was at one time confused about this when he was a Pharisee. And it’s exactly the false teaching he then said that his countrymen were caught up in. Notice: Rom 10:1-3- “Brethren, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation. For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge. For not knowing about God’s righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God.” NASU

There it is! Again, the issue is: Whose ‘righteousness’ do you need to have in order to go to Heaven? The Bible’s answer is: ‘Christ’s righteousness!’

And why are we spending so much time on this? Because this is also the central problem of the false religions of the world and the false gospel teaching in pseudo-Christianity. They are not subjecting themselves, or submitting themselves to God’s righteousness, or to God’s way of becoming righteous, but instead, they are seeking to establish their own. They are trusting in their own righteousness, or their own religious works and behavior, of which, that is already condemned in sin. That’s why the false gospel is often referred to as a ‘works righteousness’ gospel…people are trusting in, or, they are depending upon their behavior to be considered ‘righteous’. But that is the same thing as ‘not submitting to or not trusting in Jesus’ righteousness’ for their salvation.

All right, so we are to be ‘clothed in Christ’s righteousness’. That is our position: God declares us ‘righteous’ in His sight. Then we are to behave righteously…we are to live and act according to righteousness, or we are to ‘practice’ righteousness. In our Position – we are in right standing with God because we stand before Him in Christ’s righteousness. In our Practice – we are to be living a life that is pleasing to God as we practice our righteousness in our character and in our conduct. Position and Practice…Salvation and Sanctification. This ‘Biblical order’ should be forefront in our thinking and living, as well as in our communication of the Gospel of Christ and then following Christ. Our Salvation is based upon the gift of Christ’s righteousness to us. Our Sanctification and our Kingdom rewards – privileges and service assignments, are based upon our practice of righteousness as we seek to follow Christ throughout our lives.

Now then, this ‘Position and Practice’ is also related to ‘Peace’, as in the Kingdom of God is righteousness (in Position and Practice), peace (in Position and Practice), and joy (in Position and Practice). And that takes us back to our memory verse: Rom 5:1- “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” NASU Remember, there is no real peace apart from a relationship with God. What may masquerade as peace is merely a temporary lull in conflict. True peace is found only in a restored relationship with God. This is one thing you should know about every unsaved person: “‘There is no peace,’ says the LORD, ‘for the wicked (the guilty sinner).’” Isaiah 48:22

And, again, to be ‘justified’ is to be ‘declared righteous’… ‘right with God’ in our ‘Position’ in Christ. Similarly, we need to have ‘peace with God’ in our position as reconciled to God before we can have the ‘peace of God’ in our practice of peace. And what is our practice of peace? Remember, as we seek first the Kingdom of God…in our character and in our conduct, the Spirit of God then does things in us. Or, we should say, the Spirit of God ‘grows things’ in us, like…grows the fruit of ‘love, joy, peace…and so on’.

One interesting thing about ‘peace’ is that it is both a ministry of God the Holy Spirit in us and a ministry of God the Holy Spirit through us. This ‘peace’ that God grows in us is a sense of ‘it is well with my soul’. It is a sense of “Come to Me all who are weary, and I will give you rest.” It is a sense of trusting in God’s control when your world seems out of control. It’s an assurance that even in the worst of times you know that the best is yet to come. It’s a Holy Spirit grown fruit for you to enjoy!

Then, this ‘practice of peace’ is also a ministry of the Holy Spirit through us, as in:

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” Matt 5:9 NASU We are called to be ‘peacemakers. One of the easiest ways to think about what it is to be a ‘peacemaker’ is to think about what it means to be a ‘troublemaker’. It’s the opposite of that! And realize this: troublemaking comes naturally to human nature. To be a troublemaker, ‘all you gotta do is, act naturally’…like the song says. But to be a ‘peacemaker’, what you gotta do is, act supernaturally. Or, you make it your goal to seek to promote understanding, and to encourage reconciliation, and to often act as a mediator to resolve disagreements peacefully. A peacemaker doesn’t just avoid conflict, rather, a peacemaker actively steps in to try to resolve it. A peacemaker tries to understand different perspectives and listens to all sides of an issue before trying to find a solution. And a peacemaker especially tries to help others find peace with God.

But although peacemaking is possible, it is not always probable. I so appreciate what Paul both experienced and then reminded us about in connection with peacemaking. Do you remember what he said? Rom 12:18- “If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.” NASU Many times it no longer depends on you…it’s out of your control. This verse is our spiritual ‘relief factor’, in relation to our ministry of ‘peacemaker’. For making peace, or the Biblical term, reconciliation, is not just one sided. Reconciliation is a two-way street. And if there is no repentance on the part of the troublemaker, then the peacemaker is released from their ministry to them. Unrepentant troublemakers are not only rejecting the way of peace, they are rejecting the Prince of Peace, who calls for troublemakers to repent and turn to the way of peace instead of giving in to their own preference of causing trouble. Their unrepentance will set their own destruction into motion. But the peacemaker will be rewarded for their attempts either way. Which, in just knowing that, brings even more peace into the peacemaker’s mind and heart and spirit.

And so, what about Joy? What about we explore that next time? But remember the goal, our goal, your goal…Seek to make your Practice reflect your Position. Seek to be as consistent as you can in reflecting your Position in Christ throughout your Practice as a Christian…in your practice of righteousness, in your practice of peace, and in your practice of joy, which we will unpack further next time.

1. Romans: Expositions of Bible Doctrines © 1966 by Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

 

Come to Order, Pt. 2

Study Guide, January 26, 2025

Pastor Clay Olsen

We see them everywhere. They are really impressive. We usually don’t think about how they work, we just take for granted that they will work, because we depend upon what they do for us and our families and communities every day. We’re talking about…‘Water Towers’. These beauties are on average about 130 feet high, and they hold about…any guesses in gallons? Right, about one million gallons of water! And the really big ones can hold up to 2 ½ million gallons of water! What is also impressive is how they work. Water is pumped up into the giant tank and then by the power of gravity the water flows down and through the water systems to those whom it serves. Of course, some larger communities/cities just use pumps all along their water system. But, water towers are pretty cool!

And have you noticed how some water towers also have huge rods reaching up from the top of them? Because of their height, some telecom companies rent space on top of water towers for their cell towers. That’s just great business cooperation right there!

But we point this out as just another example of how wonderfully orderly our world around us really is. Like we pointed out in our study last time that, essentially, all of life is about ‘order’. Why, even when God was affirming His eternal plans for the national identity and future ministry of Israel, He used His ‘fixed order’ of creation as a confirmation of that. Notice: Jer 31:35-36- “Thus says the Lord, Who gives the sun for light by day and the fixed order of the moon and the stars for light by night, Who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar; The Lord of hosts is His name: “If this fixed order departs from before Me,” declares the Lord, “Then the offspring of Israel also will cease from being a nation before Me forever.” NASU

Oh yes, life is all about God’s ‘fixed order’. We’ve talked about that in how even the orbits of the planets follow a fixed order. Every planet follows a fixed order in their journey around the Sun. We never have to worry about Mars veering from its orbit and cutting in front of the Earth. Like the Earth going, “Whoa…Mars…stay in your lane Bro!” “Oh yeah…Sorry about that!” That never happens. All the planets always stay in their lanes. Why? Because our Awesome God created them to follow His ‘fixed order’…in order for them to always orbit around the Sun. And you know where we are going with this, right?

Yes…for in the same way, and even much more, God created human life with a ‘fixed order’ for our lives as well. Even more than the planets were created to orbit around the Sun, you and I were created to orbit around the SON…the Son of God, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We were created to live a ‘Son-centered’ life. We were certainly not created to live a ‘self-centered’ life. We were created to live a ‘Son-centered’ life, a ‘Savior-centered’ life…a ‘Christ-centered’ life. And everything else in our life, both in this temporal world and in the world that is coming, is completely dependent upon our living out our daily lives in a consistent and continual orbit around the Son of God. For if we do not follow this ‘fixed order’ of ordering our life, orbiting our life, centering our life around the ‘SON’, we naturally set ourselves upon a course of destructive consequences…actions, decisions, and even destinies that are at cross purposes with God’s created order for our lives!

How remarkable it is to realize that the essential problem with most people’s lives is that their life is simply ‘out of order’. They are trying to live a significant, fulfilling, and rewarding life, all the while their soul is completely out of order…they are ‘out of orbit.’ Again, every person in this world was created to live a life that orbits around the Son of God, around the Savior of the world, around the Peron of Jesus Christ. They were created to live their life ‘centered around the Son’. And to the degree that their life is ‘off-center’ from the Son, to that degree destructive consequences are set into motion, in their life now, and on into their after-life.

Notice the place that Jesus is to have and to hold in each of our lives. In our last study we looked at the passage in Colossians that proclaims that Jesus Christ is both Savior and Creator. He is not only the Savior of our lives, He is also the ‘Sustainer’ of all life, of all that exists in life, physically and spiritually. And now, as this revelation continues, we see this: “He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.” Col 1:18-20 NASU

You see it? Christ is not just to have ‘a place’ in a person’s life. He is to have ‘first place’ in a person’s life…and first place in everything! If Christ does not have ‘first place in everything’ in a person’s life…then not only is that person’s life ‘out of place’, but ‘everything’ in that person’s life is out of place…mentally, emotionally, volitionally…physically and spiritually. God is to have a very precise place in each of our lives, for all of life was created to follow a ‘precise order’, in order for our life to both function and to flourish. We saw last time that if the Earth’s position was not in the precise place that it is in relation to the Sun, it would cause turmoil and destruction for life on Earth. Similarly, if a person’s position in relation to the Son of God is not in its precise place, it also causes turmoil and destruction in their life upon Earth…and afterwards, as well. Again, there is only one place that Jesus Christ is to have in anyone’s life…in your life and in mine…and that’s ‘First Place!’ And Christ is to have first place ‘in everything’ in our life.

A way that we can expand upon this ‘precise order’ for us to follow in life is through examining some ‘points of order.’ Like what? Like this: When Jesus was speaking to the curious crowds around Him, wondering what His message for their life was, Jesus said this: (And we’ll use two versions in order to unpack Jesus’ words) Mark 8:34-36- “And He summoned the crowd with His disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?” NASU And in the NLT: Mark 8:34-36- “Then, calling the crowd to join His disciples, He said, “If any of you wants to be My follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?”

Notice that Jesus is revealing an ‘order for their life’ here in order for them to not forfeit their soul. And what was that ‘order’? Also notice what Jesus began with here: “If anyone wishes to come after Me”, or, “If any of you wants to be My follower.” What Jesus is referring to here is the very thing that makes up part of ‘Biblical repentance’, which is ‘an intention to follow Jesus’. Note this carefully: It is your ‘intention’ that reveals what you are ‘willing to do’ about something. And, mark it down, the ‘will’ is the part that is often left out of a person’s response to the Gospel. What we mean is that ‘repentance’ involves not only the mind and emotions, but also, and particularly, the ‘will’. As in, do you intend to follow Jesus, as opposed to continuing to follow yourself? What did the Prophet Isaiah reveal is the basic problem of mankind and their sin? Isa 53:6- “All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on Him the sins of us all.” NLT

Remember, the essence of ‘sin’ is ‘going our own way’ as opposed to ‘going God’s way’. The central problem of sin is following our own way as opposed to following God’s way. That’s one reason ‘repentance’ is often illustrated by the ‘U turn’ sign. Actually, an even more accurate sign than the ‘U turn’ sign is an ‘Upwards turn’ sign. We need to turn our mind and heart ‘upwards’ with the intention to follow God instead of ourselves.

Now, sometimes people have misled unbelievers in their witnessing by leaving out the repentant part of Biblical belief, or Biblical faith. Or, in sharing about a person’s need to trust in Jesus they leave out their connected need to turn to Jesus as they then trust in Him. For just as Isaiah revealed man’s sin problem was ‘going their own way, following their own way’, he then revealed the solution was to…well, let’s notice: Isa 55:6-7- “Seek the Lord while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; And let him return to the Lord, and He will have compassion on him, and to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.” NASU And in the NLT version: Isa 55:6-7- “Seek the Lord while you can find Him. Call on Him now while He is near. Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong. Let them turn to the Lord that He may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for He will forgive generously.”

You see it? An essential part of ‘trusting’ in Jesus in faith is ‘turning to Jesus’ in repentance. What makes up saving faith is both ‘turning and trusting’. Remember, Isaiah pointed out that ‘going our own way’ is the essence of sin…it is our central ‘sin problem’. We were created to ‘go God’s way’…to follow God’s way and will for our lives. There should be spiritual message signs all around the world something like the ‘Wrong Way’ road signs. People start out on the journey of their lives spiritually going the ‘Wrong Way’. At some point in their lives, the earlier the better, they need to ‘Turn Back, or Turn Around’ and ‘follow Jesus Christ’, who is both their Creator and Redeemer. The Apostle Paul described the conversion of the Thessalonian believers like this: 1 Thess 1:9- “For they themselves report about us what kind of a reception we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God.” NASU

Mark it down: Saving faith is both repenting and believing. Remember, Jesus first words about the Gospel were these: Mark 1:14-15- “Now after John had been taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” NASU When it comes to saving faith, repentance and belief are part of one another. Or, we should say, when it comes to saving faith, repentance and believing are inseparable.

Charles Spurgeon described ‘Repentance’ like this: He said, “If you are asked which comes first, repentance or faith, you may answer by another question: “Which spoke of a wheel moves first when the wheel begins to move?” Great way to put it, right? They move together. And, again, as Isaiah pointed out, turning from following our way with the intention of turning to God to follow God’s way is ‘repentance’, and ‘repentance’ is necessary in order to receive God’s pardon and salvation.

As followers of Christ, we need to dispel a common notion…an inaccurate presumption really, about repentance and belief, thinking about them or speaking about them as though they are two separate things in the Bible. They are not. They have become two separate things in much religious jargon and many aberrant teachings, but they are never separate from one another in the Bible, nor in relation to salvation, and even on into the workings of sanctification. We must never separate repentance and belief in our thinking because the only kind of ‘belief’ that Jesus spoke about was a ‘repentant-belief’…or a ‘belief of repentance’. And the only kind of ‘repentance’ Jesus spoke about was a ‘believing-repentance’…or a ‘repentance of belief’. When the Apostle Paul spoke about his sharing of the Gospel, he said this: Acts 20:20-21- “…I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly and from house to house, solemnly testifying to both Jews and Greeks of repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.” NASU Repentance and faith…turning and trusting…these always go together in order for there to be a faith that saves, or in order for one to have ‘saving faith’.

There has always been a danger in the church of an ‘imbalance’ in its teachings and in its message. In some church arenas the caution of not mixing works with grace has gone so far as nearly eliminating repentance from their message of the Gospel. Yes, it is of utmost importance that we make it clear that salvation is a gift from God, and that it cannot be merited or earned by man’s works. We must protect the Gospel of Grace, of the fact that: Eph 2:8-9- “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.” NASU We are saved by Christ’s works and not ours. But, as Spurgeon also reminded the Church: “Repentance is part of salvation, and when Christ saves us, He saves us by making us repent.” In describing the salvation of Cornelius and his family in the Book of Acts it states it like this: Acts 11:18- “When they heard this, they quieted down and glorified God, saying, “Well then, God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life.” NASU God provides the gifts of repentance and faith for those who respond to the Gospel by believing in their mind and heart, or – trusting in Jesus Christ to forgive their sins, and by repenting in their mind and heart, or – turning from going their own way to going God’s way. They respond to Jesus’ call with an intention to follow Him, which is ‘repentance’, and with their invitation of receiving Him into their life, which is believing in Jesus as their Savior and Lord.

To sum it up: We were created to have a relationship with our Creator. Therefore, God has created everything in life with a ‘fixed order’ in order to fulfill that purpose of God’s. And as we follow God’s fixed order, we will not only find that fulfillment in our relationship with our God and Savior, but we will also then flourish in it, both now and in the Kingdom that is coming soon.

Next time, we’ll explore more of God’s fixed order for our lives.

 “Sanctity of Human Life Sunday”

Sanctity of Human Life

January 19, 2025

Come to Order

Study Guide, January 12, 2025

Pastor Clay Olsen

So, do you feel like you are tilting just a bit to the right? Well, you aren’t, but our planet is! In fact, the Earth is tilted on its axis 23.44 degrees. And why is that important? How about, because a planet with no axial tilt would not support human life as we know it. Yup, it’s that important! And how did the Earth come to be tilted at that precise order of 23.44 degrees? And how would a Big Bang explosion create a planet that was not only a precise 93.4 million miles from the Sun, so as to be…yes, Goldilocks, ‘not too hot or not too cold, but just right’ to support life, but also leave it tilted at that precise angle of 23.44 degrees so as to not only support life, but to also, as the Earth orbits the Sun…to allow for the seasons of the Earth to exist? How about this…How can anyone have enough blind faith to believe such precise design could occur from blind chance?

As we have pointed out before, the Bible does not state the order of creation of the Universe in terms of a ‘Big Bang’. The Bible states it in terms of the ‘Big Breath!’ Ps 33:6- “By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, And by the breath of His mouth all their host.” NASU The Lord ‘spoke’ His creation into existence! God not only ‘spoke’ our Earth into existence, He even created fixed laws that would order our world in such a way as to not only support life, but to also permit life to ‘flourish’ on Earth. He also created an order for our own personal world that would not only support spiritual life for us, but to also permit our spiritual life to flourish. And we’ll come back to that.

Then, there is this…how did the Planet Earth know how to spin at a speed of 1,000 miles per hour? What if the Earth didn’t spin at all? If this Earth did not spin, there would be no night and day for the people and the places of Earth. If the Earth did not spin, it would be the opposite of the Goldilocks finding, for one side of the Earth would always be too hot and the other side too cold to support life!

And what if the Earth’s spin was erratic…not constant at 1,000 miles per hour? What if it sped up or slowed down, or even stopped once in a while? If the Earth were to stop spinning for even one minute, everything on the surface of the Earth would be destroyed! For everything that was spinning would still be in motion, the atmosphere, the oceans, and such would sweep across the face of the Earth with the force of a thousand hurricanes, along with worldwide earthquakes and tsunamis!¹

But that doesn’t happen. The Earth doesn’t stop and start, nor does it speed up and slow down. We never have to worry that the Earth is going to slam on its breaks or veer off from its track in its orbit around the Sun, or ever stop rotating every 24 hours. Why, it’s just like Someone made it with such astronomically amazing order that the Earth does exactly what it’s supposed to do and does it exactly when it’s supposed to do it. And, it’s just like Someone is watching over it, too, holding all things together and holding them in place in order for the Earth to not only have life, but to have that life abundantly!

Again, how could random chances ever create such precise order and maintain this precise order? How could ‘chance’ be so powerful as to ‘Lord’ its ways and its will over an entire planet, let alone an entire Universe, like a ‘god’? Would you call it the ‘God of Chance’? Would you give thanks to ‘Chance’, and worship ‘Chance’, as the maker and God of our Earth? Strangely enough, many do! And how utterly foolish, of course! It is so clear to see, for any who have eyes to see, that our Earth and the entire Universe was designed and created by our benevolent and gracious God, who is the Lord Jesus Christ!

It is exactly as the Apostle Paul reveals it in Col 1:15-17 “Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, for through Him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see—such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through Him and for Him. He existed before anything else, and He holds all creation together.” NLT Scientists repeatedly state that there is some force, unnamed, as yet, that is holding all things together. Oh, the ‘force’ does have a name. It’s the name above all names, the Lord Jesus Christ! Oh Yes, absolutely, our Lord Jesus Christ is our God and our Creator. And it is by His power and through His constant working that all creation continues and is held together.

Now then, since God created the Earth and the Stars and the Galaxies with such precision and order, can you imagine that He would create His masterpiece, Human beings, who are made in the very image of God…that He would create them without a precise design for their lives, without any order for their lives? Could there be any reasonable postulate that God would not have designed any created order for His ultimate creation, human beings, for them to follow, in order for them to not only to have life, but to have that life abundantly? Would the God of precision and design leave those created in His image to just live out their lives by chance, or as though life was a self-guided tour? Again, how foolish could anyone be to think that God does not have an even more precise plan and an even more precise order for His created masterpieces to follow in living out their lives on this planet Earth, and then on into His New Earth and New Heavens, which are in His plans to next create?

What did Jesus say about why He came to our Earth and why He became Human…why He became one of His own ‘creation’? Col 1:13-14- “For He has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of His dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.” NLT We just celebrated the wonder of the Incarnation of Christ. Christmas is our annual festival of Jesus’ becoming one of us so that He could save any of us who would come to Him in repentance and faith for our salvation and new life in union with our God and Messiah. Through Jesus’ death, we have forgiveness of our sins…we are declared ‘pardoned’ through Jesus’ payment of our debt of sin. And through Jesus’ sinless life, we have right standing with God…we are declared ‘righteous’ through Christ’s gift of His ‘righteousness’.

But Jesus also said this about why He came: John 10:10- “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” NASU And the Amplified Version unpacks it further like this: “I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).” Now think about it: Jesus said to people who were already living, that He came that they might have ‘life’. How about that? Well, again, how about this? Jesus said to people who were already ‘physically’ living, but were already ‘spiritually’ dead, that He came to give them ‘spiritual life’, and to have that new spiritual life in abundance…to have it in full…to have it flourishing in their lives!

First, this ‘life’ that Jesus came to give is referring to the ‘New Birth’ that He told Nicodemus about…that each person needs to be reborn in their spirit due to the fact that all have sinned and that, without the new birth, each person remains spiritually dead in trespasses and sin. Jesus came to give us this gift of His own spiritual life, His own eternal life! But this ‘new birth’ of our spirit is not automatic, of course. In order to have new life in Christ, this ‘new life’ must be individually and personally received. Then, Jesus also said that He came to enable everyone who had received this new spiritual life in union with Him to also then make their new life to be an abundant life…to have it flourish, be fruitful, be impactful, be rewarding, both in this life and especially throughout their eternal life in His eternal Kingdom!

Again, and do you think Jesus had a plan…had in mind some ‘order’ for you and for me to follow in order to experience this ‘abundant, flourishing, fruitful, and rewarding’ life that He revealed here? Of course He did! And we are to know that, even more than the precise order throughout creation in the physical realms, there is a ‘precise order’ throughout the spiritual realms which we are to follow as we follow Jesus as our Lord and Savior! Again, all of life is about ‘order’…it’s about God’s order in both creation itself and in people themselves! And as we start another year, what better resolution to make than to resolve to live our own lives according to this precise order…according to God’s order for our lives! So let’s explore…

First, how about some more ‘how abouts’ here…How about we start at the beginning…as in: Why are we even here? Not ‘here’, as in here…but as in “Why are we here, in this world, at all?” Why did God create human beings in the first place? Think long and hard about that. And we first need to start with God Himself! At the very heart of God is a Parent’s Heart! Why does God want us to call Him our ‘Heavenly Father?’ Mark it down: The deepest reason we exist at all is because God wanted a family…wanted children He could call ‘His own children’…wanted ‘sons’ and ‘daughters’ to live with Him forever in His eternal world…in a physical world that He created to be the ‘home’ of His physical and spiritual family! The Earth, the Planets, the Stars, and the Galaxies are essentially God’s gifts that He created for His children…for us! When you look at the Stars you need to think: “God made these for me…and for all His children!” That fact, alone, will make you think differently about all creation!

But, again, as to the ‘Parent heart of God’, do you remember what God said to the children of Israel? Listen to how God speaks to the Israelites in a time of their rebellion and unbelief. It’s one of the most remarkable statements in the Scriptures that reveals the emotions and intentions of our Creator God. God said: “I thought to Myself, ‘I would love to treat you as My own children!’ I wanted nothing more than to give you this beautiful land—the finest possession in the world. I looked forward to your calling Me ‘Father’, and I wanted you never to turn from Me.” Jer 3:19 NLT

If you ever wonder “why do I even exist?” Foremost, it’s because God created you to have a personal relationship with Him, as Him being your benevolent Heavenly Father, and you as being His beloved son or daughter. In fact, God had His apostle write this to us: “And because we are His children, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are His child, God has made you, His heir. Gal 4:6-7 NLT

Have you ever thought about what God thought about you before you were even born? This is what He thought about you… “I looked forward to your calling Me ‘Father’!” The Creator of planets and stars and galaxies delights most in having you and me calling Him – ‘Father!’ And when, through the New Birth…when you were ‘Born Again’, or when you gave your life to Christ and received Jesus’ forgiveness and His life into yours, God becomes our Father, and we become His child. So then God the Holy Spirit reveals that He also wants you and me to call Him “Abba, Father.” ‘Abba’ is an Arabic word. Do you know what the English equivalent of Abba is? It’s ‘Papa’, as in ‘Papa Father’. And, once again, how about that? It seems almost too intimate, too personal to think of the Sovereign, the All-Mighty Lord, and the Creator of the Universe and Redeemer of the world in terms of also being our ‘Abba Father…our Papa Father’. But that’s exactly what God said He wants us to call Him…to call out to Him as our ‘Abba Father’.

Are you looking for a new resolution to this New Year? J.I. Packer once said that what comes into your mind when you think of God as your Father is the most important thing about you. So, what do you think about when you think of God as your Father? Do you think of God as God wants you to think of Him? Do you know God as God wants you to know Him? Do you need to adjust your thinking in any way here, or ways…from maybe projecting your own image upon what your Heavenly Father is like, either in terms of, maybe being too harsh…or maybe being too lenient…or maybe not really understanding what God is really like, character-wise or emotional-wise?

No doubt, we each need to adjust our understanding of our God…to get to better know what our Abba Father is really like…what His heart is really like, and what His character is really like, and what His plans really are for us, in how to think and how to act and what to do and what not to do, and so on. How fascinating, that what God really wants most from us is for us to really understand Him…to really understand ‘Who’ our Heavenly Father really is…what He is really like…and what He really wants in our relationship with Him. Jer 9:23-24- Thus says the Lord, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the Lord.” NASU

Our God wants us to better know Him, to better understand Him, so that we can better relate to Him in fellowship and in the services that He designed for our lives. But remember, we only find that out by spending time with our Abba Father in learning more about what He has revealed to us about Himself in His Word…and then put His Word into our practice, as we walk closer in fellowship and prayer…and as we then seek to ‘order’ our lives according to ‘His precise order’ that He has for us to follow as we follow Him. It’s pretty much a continual adjustment in better understanding our God and in better worshipping our God and in better serving our God…or as God wants us to call Him…our ‘Abba Father’.

In our next study we’re going to further explore some essential steps and principles in this ‘precise order’ that God has for lives. For, again, life is all about ‘order’, and the more that we follow God’s order for our lives, the more our lives will then ‘flourish’, just as our Heavenly Father intends for His children.

1. Space.com, What would happen if the Earth stopped spinning?

“Something Different”

Pastor Josiah Mitchener

Jan 5, 2025

 “Crown the Year”

Pastor Robert Kornegay

Gifts For a Lifetime: Eternally

Study Guide, December 22, 2024

Pastor Clay Olsen

Each year during our Christmas Family service we get to open presents and then talk about what we find inside. And we imagine that our setting here is like a big living room, and a little more interactive and festive. So if yaou are ready to open presents…and who isn’t…let’s go.

First…

Comfort and Joy! That comes right out of a familiar Christmas Carol. You know the one that’s entitled: ‘Divine Naps for Festive Fellows’! What’s that? That’s the alternate title for what Carol? God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.

Speaking of Alternative Titles: How about we guess the actual names to the alternate titles of some other Christmas Carols?

• Eight P.M. until Six A.M. without Noise! – Silent Night!
• Listen, Aerial Spirits are Announcing! – Hark the Herald Angels Sing!
• Befell During the Transparent Bewitching Hour! – It Came Upon a Midnight Clear!
• Hollowed Post Twilight! – O Holy Night!
• Exuberance Directed Toward the Planet! – Joy to the World!
• Homosapien of Crystallized Vapor – Frosty the Snowman!
• Adorn the Vestibule! – Deck the Halls!
• Cherubim Audited from Aloft! – Angels We Have Heard on High!
• Awesome Hibernal Acreage! – Winter Wonderland!
• Senior Flattened by a Cloven Aviator! – Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer!
• Enquiry about Mutual Auditory Perception! – Do You Hear What I Hear?!
• Yonder In a Hayrack! – Away In a Manger!
• Spritely Venerable Benefactor! – Jolly Old St. Nicolas!
• Royal Eastern Trio! – We Three Kings of Orient Are!
• Commencement of Yuletide Complexion! – It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas!
• Perambulating Through a December Solstice Fantasy! – Walking in a Winter Wonderland!

That’s some kind of fun! And just another reminder that Christians have more reason to rejoice than anything else! That was even part of the Angel’s announcement to the Shepherds:

Luke 2:10-11- “But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” NASU Even in the midst of their hardships and trials, something else had come into their midst…Someone else had come into their midst – Jesus, the Messiah, Lord of all, and Savior to everyone who would receive His gift of life, forgiveness, and…joy!

And what about ‘comfort’? We know that Hope is really a Person. We know that Truth is really a Person. We know that Peace is really a Person. But did you know that Comfort is also really a Person? Do you remember what Jesus said when He was about to ascend to Heaven? John 14:26- “But the Comforter, (even) the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I said unto you.” ASV How wonderful to know that even one of the names of our God the Holy Spirit is ‘The Comforter!’ The Holy Spirit is our Comforter. Just think: Comforting you and me is one of the Holy Spirit’s ministries to us. And the Holy Spirit indwells God’s children as well. So not only is God the Holy Spirit seeking to teach us, and guide us, and empower us…He is also seeking to calm us, and quiet us, and assure us, and bring peace to us…to comfort us. We just need to let Him. Let God do what He wants to do in your heart and mind and life. Comfort and Joy…yes, Thank you Lord!

Second…

Grace and Peace! Talk about great gifts! Did you notice in your Bible readings that nearly every letter that Paul wrote he always started it by saying, “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!” He said it over and over! And one reason he started his letters with grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ is because everything good in our life starts with grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Everything good in our life is because of God’s grace. Paul also put that this way: 1 Cor 15:10- “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me.” NASU

And guess what? By the grace of God you are what you are, as well! You see, even our ability to labor, to do good works and such, are because of God’s grace to us. The talents that we have and the gifts we use – mentally and physically, all of our abilities to do good, to seek good, to make good…it’s all because of the grace of God given to us and working within us. Yes, we put forth the efforts, we choose to toil, we put our diligence into motion…but the talents, gifts, and abilities that we have are all from God and His grace in giving them to us!

And grace has been described as ‘God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense!” Even in our salvation we need to remember that although our salvation is free to us, it cost Jesus everything. Even though we are not saved by our works, we are saved by Christ’s works. As has been put: The Christian faith rests upon the twin pillars of the Person and the Works of Christ. Jesus earned our salvation for us with His own sinless obedience and His own sacrificial death. God’s Riches to us at Christ’s Expense…exactly!

Even the ‘peace’ that we have is born out of the ‘grace’ of God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Rom 5:1- “Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.” NLT

We have both ‘peace with God’ and we have the ‘peace of God’ because we have found favor…grace, in the sight of God through Jesus our Lord and Savior!

Third…

Light and Life! Praise God for the light and the life He has brought into our lives. You know, the Christmas Story has been told many ways, but it’s never been told quite like this…from these kid’s special telling of it…and we thought you’d enjoy it today. So let’s take a look: (‘Christmas According to Kids’…on You tube)

…never heard it quite like that, but kids have a great way of saying most things! But there we have it…in a different light…but anyway, again, we find that Light, too, is a Person, and Life…life is a Person. Jesus is the Light of the World and the Source of all life! Which means, without Jesus, this world is dark and life-less. Note how the Apostle Paul identifies this world: Col 1:11-14- “May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to His people, who live in the light. For He has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of His dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.” NLT

So, yes, our world basically is – ‘a kingdom of darkness’. And the only thing that changes that…the only One who changes that is Jesus. And Jesus did that on His mission, His ‘rescue’ mission. That’s the essence of Christmas, remember…Christmas is Christ’s ‘rescue mission’. A Christian then is one who has been rescued from the kingdom of darkness and transferred into the Kingdom of light…the Kingdom of Jesus Christ. So even though you and I live in this world, this kingdom of darkness, we belong to another Kingdom…we belong to the Kingdom of light and the life that we now have is a life that is shared with the very source of life, Jesus Christ.

Plus, not only do you belong to the Kingdom of Christ, but you are also even a royal son or a royal daughter of the King of the Kingdom of Light. That makes you an actual Prince or an actual Princess of the King and His Kingdom. And we’re not talking about being a Prince or a Princess from like the story of King Arthur, or something like that, because every born-again son of God is a Prince, and every born-again daughter of God is a Princess of the King of kings and Lord of lords. And you will always be so in Christ’s Kingdom that is coming! How’s your sense of significance feeling now?!

And now we come to the Fourth present…

Love and Lord!

So here we go again…we know Hope is a Person, Truth is a Person, Peace is a Person, Comfort, too…a Person, Light is a Person…and now, Love is a Person. As the Apostle John said: 1 John 4:15-16- “Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. NASU God is the source of true ‘love’.

Just think: The reason that God came to Earth…the reason Christ became Jesus Christ…the reason Jesus was on this ‘rescue mission’, was because of this: John 3:16- “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” NASU

“For God so loved…(Your name)…that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” NASU

Christmas is not only Christ coming into our world. It’s Christ coming into this world for you…He was coming for you and for me…and for all who would in return come to Him and be saved by Him. God has always known that He would come into this world for you, long before you even came into this world. He even loved you long before He even came for you, because He knew you even before the foundation of the world. So remember – you don’t have to convince God to love you, for God loved you even before there ‘was a you!’(that has kind of a Dr. Suess sound to it… ‘was a you’). God has both known you and loved you from eternity past. Now, that’s a love story! All you have to do is to let Him…let God love you. And the way that you let God love you is by loving Him in return. Love Him as He is…He is your Lord and your God, for your Savior is also your Creator. And as your Creator, God knows what is best for you…just like these gifts that God has for you. And these gifts are not just for Christmas, they are new every morning, like His lovingkindness and mercies…they are new every morning. And we are to use them every day in our worship and service of our great God and Savior who came to give us the ‘gift of Himself’…for Jesus is the greatest gift of all!

 

Christmas: A ‘H/U’ Celebration

Study Guide, December 15, 2024

Pastor Clay Olsen

So how about this? Christmas is a H/U celebration! How so? Well, before we get to that, think about this: Recently we were reminded of a particular identity that our God has given to His children, even though we don’t quite feel deserving of it. But that’s just the way our God is. And it is actually just the way our God has worked in our lives. He has worked it so that ‘who’ He has remade us into, in our relationship with Christ, is so much more than ‘what’ we have made of ourselves. And ‘what’ God has remade of us is that He has remade us into being His ‘Saints’… ‘Saints in Christ’… God’s ‘Set Apart Ones’. In our relationship with Christ, God remade us ‘Sinners’ into His ‘Saints’.

Again, that’s kind of a surprise to us, for we know that were are Sinners by nature and by practice, yet, now that we have been reborn in our spirit and united to Christ’s spirit and life, we are in fact, Saints…Saints, who unfortunately still tend to sin and need God’s forgiveness for our daily fellowship with God and our usefulness to God, but we truly are now children of God and ‘Saints’ by calling and conversion.

Well, here’s another surprising and additional title for your identity. Have you ever thought of yourself as a ‘Theologian’? You may be thinking, ‘Oh, that only applies to those who specialize in the study of Theology and have become proficient and accomplished in the understanding and the communication of Systematic Theology.” Well, yes, it certainly does, at that. However, Theology is simply the study of religious faith, practice, and experience…especially (and note this) the study of God and of God’s Word and of the relation God and His Word to this world.

Therefore, since you do study the Word of God, you do spend time in prayer with God, and in devotional reading of God’s Word…or, the study of Theology, in that sense, you really are a ‘Theologian!’ And as you do study the Word of God more and more, the more equipped you become at doing what God has instructed His children, His Theologians, to do: 2 Tim 2:15- “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” KJV

So add that to your ‘Resume’. Actually, the more that you think of your identity or identities in Biblical terms, the more those identities will then influence both your perception of yourself and the practices of your life. Remember, ‘who’ you are is even more important than ‘what’ you do, because ‘who’ you are will often determine ‘what’ you do.

Well, that was fun, right? But what does being a ‘Theologian’ have to do with Christmas? It has a whole lot to do with Christmas, because Christmas is all about ‘Theology!’ And Christmas is all about Theology because Christmas is all about the study of God! In fact, Christmas is a ‘H/U’ celebration. Oh yeah! It is the celebration of the Hypostatic Union of God! Hypostatic is from a Greek term that means ‘person’ or ‘subsistence’. So in connection with ‘union’ it means the ‘union of persons’. Christmas is all about the ‘union of Persons!’ That was the message of our Responsive Reading. John 1:1-4- “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 things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men….14- “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.” NASU

Christmas in unique in the heavens and the earth because this Hypostatic Union…this Union of Persons, is unique in the heavens and the earth because the divine Person of God/Christ united Himself with the human Person of Jesus, and forever became the one Person of Jesus Christ, who is both fully God and fully human. Christmas is the ‘Incarnation’ of God. It is just as the Apostle John said, ‘God became flesh.’ The Creator of the human body created a human body in which He would unite His Spirit and forever after be both, God and Man. Oh yes, wonder of wonders indeed! There is no greater wonder than the Hypostatic Union of Jesus Christ…the Incarnation of the Perfect God and Perfect Man. And since y’all are Theologians…southern Theologians…this area of study is also called Christology, the study of the Person and the works of Jesus Christ. And this is what you and I are all about – the worship and study and celebration of the Word who became flesh, full of grace and truth.

And that, of course, leads us to the ‘why’… ‘why’ did the Creator become one of His creations?! That’s what the writer of Hebrews explains in Heb 2:14-15- “Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.” NASU And now, fellow Theologians, we are talking about ‘Soteriology’, or the study of the doctrine of Salvation. The only way for God to save any of us from this slavery of sin and death was to, in fact, become ‘one of us’ and become a ‘substitute’ for us…become someone who could take upon Himself the sentence of our sin, which was both physical and spiritual death, and thus fully satisfy the justice required to pay the penalty for our sins. That is why it is called ‘the Substitutionary Atonement’ of Jesus Christ.

The sinless life of Jesus qualified Him to be able to stand in for us…to take our place in our stead, or instead of us! No other human could ever do that, since every human has already been sentenced to physical death and spiritual separation from God because of their own sins. Only a ‘sinless human’ can redeem or purchase the freedom of another human who is guilty of sins. Think about it: What if a person is standing before a Judge, and he is guilty of a long list of crimes, which will call for the death penalty. And then, another person, who is also guilty of a long list of crimes, which also calls for the death penalty, says, “I’ll take his sentence for him.” “What?” The Judge would say, “You cannot take the place of another guilty person, since you have your own crimes to pay for, which will include your death.” All right…so that is clear. You can’t pay for someone else’s crimes until your own crimes are paid for. And since sins against God require an eternal sentence of spiritual death, eternal spiritual separation from God, that means the sentence has no end date.

But now, if a Person was not guilty of those crimes, then offered to take the guilt of another person upon themselves, and then if the Judge so approved, the guilty one would be set free from the sentencing of that guilt. They would be declared ‘not guilty’ and set free…or ‘Justified’…also ‘Redeemed’. Their freedom was purchased by the person who took their guilt and sentencing in their place as their ‘Substitute’…ie. ‘Savior’. And that is just what the Apostle Peter is explaining to us in 1 Peter 1:17-21- “If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth; knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.” NASU

Plus, because of the divinity of Christ, or since Christ is also the source of all life and is Himself eternal, Jesus could then pay this eternal penalty of sins! He could ‘redeem’ everyone who would come to Christ in repentance and faith, because, as the God of all human spirits, Jesus Christ could share His spirit with every repentant sinner. Again, no human being can give his or her spirit to another. Only God, as the Eternal One, can do that!

So for you and me to better understand our salvation we need to picture ourselves, see ourselves, standing before God, the Judge of all the world, knowing that we are guilty of a long list of sins, which will include the death penalty of our spirit…eternal separation from God. But up steps Jesus Christ, and He says, I’ll take his or her sins and their eternal death penalty upon Myself and pay it all in full, so that they can be set free and be declared ‘Righteous’…right with God and be freed from the sentence of their sin…and also then live eternally.” That’s what Jesus did for you and for me. That’s why Jesus was born in a manger in a rock formation, in a Tower of the Flock near Bethlehem. That’s why there is a ‘Christmas’ for us to celebrate in the first place.

And when we do turn our life over to God in repentance and place our faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior, God gives His life to our spirit, which was dead because of sin, and God unites our resurrected spirit to His Spirit, His eternal life, and we become eternal children of God’s. And now we are talking about the theological work called ‘Pneumatology’. Oh yes, Christmas is all about Pneumatology as well. It’s part of the Christmas story, remember? Luke 1:34-35- “Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” The angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God.” NASU The virgin birth of Jesus is a centerpiece of the Christmas story. Again, the Incarnation required the union of Divinity and Humanity, and that was accomplished through the work of the Holy Spirit and the miracle of the virgin birth.

Pneumatology is a combination of two Greek words, ‘spirit’ and ‘word’. It is the study of the Person and works of God the Holy Spirit. It is God the Holy Spirit that convicts us of our need for Jesus, Savior of the world. The Apostle John reveals this in John 16:8-11- “And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment; concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father and you no longer see Me; and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.” NASU And how liberating is that to know, as we are reminded that in our sharing God’s truths and God’s gospel with others, that we don’t have to worry about doing the convicting or pressuring for conviction because God the Holy Spirit is the One and only One who can convict a soul of their sins and of their need for God. We are only ‘carriers’ not ‘convictors’! (…kind of made that word up…but you get what we mean…)

And it is the work of the Holy Spirit that then spiritually births the one who turns to Christ and asks Jesus to be their personal Lord and Savior. John 3:5-6- “Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life.” NLT

It is the work of the Holy Spirit to guide us, to counsel us, to comfort us, and to grow fruit in us. Gal 5:22-23- “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” NLT You talk about “All I want for Christmas”, right? These are nine of the best presents in life! And God the Holy Spirit is willing and able to grow these in and through your life, day by day, as you yield to the Lordship of Christ and let the Spirit of Christ be in charge of your mind, and body, and soul.

But then, there is something else that we celebrate at Christmas. For as we celebrate Jesus’ first advent, of His First Coming of Christmas, it calls for us to look forward to the celebration of Jesus’ second advent, His Second Coming. And now, us theologians here, are talking about Eschatology. And especially here at the Chapel, we love the study of what the Bible says is going to happen in the end times, and especially about the return of the Christ of Christmas…the Christ of our conversion…the Christ of all creation! We are all about what the Apostle Paul says we are to be all about in Titus 2:11-14- “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.

NASU

Christmas is not only looking back at the manger, but also looking ahead to the Throne! The One who was born a king is also coming again to rule as the King of kings and Lord of lords. We are people of Eschatology. We are ‘eschatological’ people! (And that really is a word…so go for it.)

And next Sunday we are going to unwrap some other special presents and look into them, but we wanted to also give you these special presents as well, these ‘Theological presents’ for God’s Theologians…Christology, Soteriology, Pneumatology, and Eschatology. Plus, that’s just a whole lot of Christian and Christmas fun right there!

Back to Bethlehem

Study Guide, December 8, 2024

Pastor Clay Olsen

How many have been to Bethlehem? Today, Bethlehem is the home to over 27,000 residents. Those who live in Bethlehem are considered citizens of Palestine. Two million tourists provide 65% of the town’s income. Christians from all over the world travel to Bethlehem to see and experience the birthplace of Jesus Christ. When we visited Bethlehem, we were able to go into the Church of the Nativity, which was built by Constantine around 330 AD. The door to the Church is much smaller than it was originally, as we were told that marauders on horseback used to ride into the Church and damage things. That’s the same reason the doors on the Chapel are smaller than they used to be…there’s always a few that ruin things, you know? Tradition states that a cave under the church is the place of Jesus’ birth. And there is a Latin inscription over it that says, “Hic De Virgine Maria Jesus Christus Natus Est”…‘Here Jesus Christ was born of the virgin Mary.’

But Bethlehem is amazing in many ways. The most amazing, of course, is that it’s the birthplace of our Lord Jesus. But also, Bethlehem has a fascinating history. And since I knew that you would want to know…here we go.

One of the other fascinating things when you are touring around Bethlehem is while you are filled with the wonder of Jesus’ birth occurring right there, the tour guide then points out a different tomb near the entrance of the city and says something like, “And here is the traditional burial site of Jacob’s wife Rachel, who died in childbirth with Benjamin.” Really?! Think about it: You are already back in time 2,000 years thinking about the birth of Jesus, and now you’re transported back another 1,400 years to Genesis with Jacob and Rachel! And we think the town of Jamestown, Virginia, is an old town!

But just before Jacob’s own death, as he was blessing his children, he recounts to them this burial of Rachel in Ephrath. Gen 48:7- “Long ago, as I was returning from Paddan-aram, Rachel died in the land of Canaan. We were still on the way, some distance from Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem). So with great sorrow I buried her there beside the road to Ephrath.” NLT Throughout much of the Bible, Ephrath, also Ephrathah, is a description for members of the Israelite tribe of Judah, as well as for the possible founders of Bethlehem. But again, we’re talking about a 3,400-year-old city!

But then, Bethlehem is also known for another famous group of people. Look at this. “In the days when the judges ruled in Israel, a severe famine came upon the land. So a man from Bethlehem in Judah left his home and went to live in the country of Moab, taking his wife and two sons with him. The man’s name was Elimelech, and his wife was Naomi. Their two sons were Mahlon and Kilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in the land of Judah. And when they reached Moab, they settled there.” Ruth 1:1-2 NLT Plus, we know the rest of the story… For when Naomi returns to Bethlehem, her daughter in law, Ruth, just happens…providentially that is…just happens to glean from the fields of a landowner named Boaz, who soon becomes Ruth’s Kinsman-Redeemer and Husband.

Now, do you happen to remember the name of Boaz and Ruth’s son? His name was Obed. And although you may not remember Obed’s name, you remember Obed’s grandson’s name…for his name was ‘David’…as in ‘King David!’ So now we’re up to around 1,000 B.C., as David’s family’s hometown was Bethlehem. Note this: 1 Sam 16:1- “Now the Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have selected a king for Myself among his sons.” NASU Also in1 Sam 17:12- “Now David was the son of a man named Jesse, an Ephrathite from Bethlehem in the land of Judah.” NLT

And as time goes by, even the town of Bethlehem itself, along with the name of ‘Ephrathah’, acquires an additional name. Remember what that was? ‘The City of David.’ What? When did Bethlehem become the “city of David”? That title had always been given to Jerusalem. Remember, after King David conquered the Jebusites, Jerusalem became the capitol city of Israel, and especially the holy site of the Temple under King Solomon. And around forty times in the Old Testament, Jerusalem is referred to as the city of David, and no other city in the Bible is ever called by that name…until Luke’s gospel, that is.

Luke 2:4-6- “Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child.” NASU We also see it in Luke 2:8-11- “In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” NASU

So now we have two cities, Jerusalem and Bethlehem, both called ‘The City of David!’ How remarkable that two Kings, King David and King Jesus, were both born in…well, you know how the song goes: “O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie! Above thy deep and dreamless sleep, the silent stars go by…” Again, how remarkable that God planned it so that both the King of Israel and the King of all kings would begin in such humble beginnings. They were both from ‘O little town of Bethlehem’…a humble town…a Shepherd’s town. Remember how caught up the proud religious leaders were about ‘where someone was from’? Like even with Jesus’ in Nazareth…when Philip told Nathanel about Jesus, Nathanel repeated the common saying of the time… “What? Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Oh yes, even then the problems of bias and status and power and worldly wealth infected both the power-hungry religious leaders and the people who followed them.

But just like the last verse of the song says… “O holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray, cast out our sin, and enter in, be ‘born’ in us today.” Now we’re talking about a ‘second birth!’ The first birth is the birth from below, from this earth, and the second birth is the birth from above, from Heaven…from the Holy Spirit…from the Spirit of the Holy Child of Bethlehem. Life is not about where you are from…it’s about where you are going. Where you are from is important, yes, but where you are going is everything!

We pray each one here and with us today has been born twice…once from below, on earth, and once from above, from the Lord of Heaven and Earth. If you are not sure, make sure, while it’s still called ‘Today’.

But now, on the other hand, when it comes to a prophecy about where you are going to be from…now it becomes something else altogether. For now it becomes ‘proof’…proof that not only are you from where the prophecy said you would be from, but since you exactly fulfilled the prophecy of where you would be from, it means that you are also ‘Who’ the prophecy said you would be. Remember Herod’s question to the religious leaders? Matt 2:3-6- “When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.'” NKJV It’s interesting that these leaders actually left out part of the whole prophecy, because the Prophet Micah revealed even more about ‘Who’ it was that was being prophesied about! Notice: Mic 5:2- “But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah, From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity.” NASU

Oh my! So not only would this child be from Bethlehem, He would actually be ‘from the days of eternity past.’ And that could only mean the He was the Eternal One! And since He was the Eternal One, not only would He be the King of Israel, and not only would He be a King on Earth, He was in fact, the King of Heaven and all Creation! Herod should have been even more troubled, even more disturbed, even more afraid than he was, and should have bowed his head and heart before God to be saved! God had just come to Earth embodied in the child that was prophesied to be born in Bethlehem!

It’s like that Christmas song of ‘Sweet Little Jesus Boy’, that says: “Sweet little Jesus boy, They made you be born in a manger. Sweet little holy child, We didn’t know who you were. Didn’t know you’d come to save us Lord, To take our sins away. Our eyes were blind, we could not see…We didn’t know who you were.” But that’s another reason for the prophesies, or as we like to say, ‘The Proofs, you see!’

How spiritually blind could these religious leaders be, to not see that the very One they were talking about was fulfilling a 500-year-old prophecy right before their very eyes! Again, we’re talking about a Prophet giving a specific prophecy about where the Christ child would be born over 500 years before it happened. That prophecy is even twice as old as the existence of the United States of America…as from 1776 to 2024 is 248 years!

Remember, fulfilled prophecies are all over Christmas. One scholar, J. Barton Payne, has found as many as 574 verses in the Old Testament that somehow point to or describe or reference the coming Messiah. Alfred Edersheim found 456 Old Testament verses referring to the Messiah or His times. Conservatively, Jesus fulfilled at least 300 prophecies in His earthly ministry. The whole ancient world should have expectantly been looking for the Messiah’s coming! Just like the whole present world should expectantly be looking for the Messiah’s second coming!

But there’s another fascinating thing about Bethlehem that we have spoken about before, but it is so fascinating that it will fascinate us again. And here it is…Bethlehem was also significant because the area around it was not only a place where shepherds watched over their flocks by night…it was where ‘Temple Shepherds watched over their temple lambs by day and by night! So now, back to Jacob again: Gen 35:19-21- “So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem). Jacob set up a stone monument over Rachel’s grave, and it can be seen there to this day. Then Jacob traveled on and camped beyond Migdal-eder.” NLT

And what and where was this ‘Migdal-eder’? The name of this place means ‘herding tower’. It was a rock formation that shepherds used to protect their animals from predators and to care for them. Again, we’re talking about a place for shepherds and a practice by shepherds that goes back some 3,500 years! Not continuously, of course, but this is still the same location. Or, it had been going on for 1,500 years even before the final ‘Lamb of God’ came to be cared for in a manger near Bethlehem. In fact, near Bethlehem you can see more of these shepherd’s towers than anywhere else in the world.

And why so many towers? Because, again, these shepherds were not raising your average sheep. These sheep were being groomed as unblemished lambs for sacrifice at the Temple in Jerusalem. Bethlehem was about five miles from Jerusalem. The Prophet Micah even uses these towers of the flocks in another prophecy of the Messiah’s coming rule over Jerusalem, that is the Kingdom rule over Jerusalem. Note what he says: Mic 4:8- “As for you, tower of the flock, Hill of the daughter of Zion, to you it will come —Even the former dominion will come, the kingdom of the daughter of Jerusalem.” NASU

So again, these towers in that area were well known, along with their special use for caring for the sacrificial lambs. The priests would come from Jerusalem to Migdal-Eder to inspect the lambs and choose those identified as ‘kosher’, or ‘proper and fit’ according to the laws of the Torah, or the five books of Moses…the first five books of the Old Testament. And, get this, after inspection they would wrap the lamb in swaddling clothes and place it in a manger until taking it to Jerusalem.

And now, do you hear what I hear? Luke 2:12- “And this will be a sign for you [by which you will recognize Him]: you will find a Baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.” AMP What was the sign? The sign was that they would find the Messiah, the Lamb of God, wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger, looking just like how a sacrificial lamb that was being prepared for temple sacrifice would look.

Oh yes, our God is a God of wonders…even in the wondrous ways that He prepared the world for the Messiah to come, and for all who would come to the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ to be their Lamb of God, who takes away their sins.