John 16:4b-11 - The Ministry of the Holy Spirit

John 16:4b-11

4b These things I did not say to you at the beginning, because I was with you. 5 “But now I am going to Him who sent Me; and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’ 6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. 7 But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. 8 And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment; 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father and you no longer see Me; 11 and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.

Message: The Ministry of the Holy Spirit

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."  

What the Lord is Saying: The farewell discourse that Jesus gives in John 14-17 continues and for me I feel like he is giving comfort to the disciples - assuring them in him going away that this is the better outcome for everyone and also assuring them that everything will be okay for them, namely because the Holy Spirit, the Helper, will remain with them. 

The Helper or Holy Spirit's ministry purpose Jesus states, "convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment." John 15:26 said the Spirit would testify of Jesus. John 14:26 says the Helper will teach you all things and bring remembrance all that Jesus said. The Spirit will work in the Christian's life teaching all things and bringing to the forefront of people's minds all that Jesus said. What an amazing and well needed attribute and benefit the Christian receives. 

And then the Spirit will convict the world in their sin, righteousness and judgment. I know in my conversations with people in other parts of the world, especially the African countries, even parts of the Middle East, and Indian countries that people are coming to faith and eyes are being opened and the so the Holy Spirit is at work in convicting. At times in America though I don't see this happening currently at a great rate. I think we have Christians recommitting lives, but it seems we have a lot of people leaving the church or young people not starting church after leaving the homes in which they have been raised. For the world, I wonder at times if many God has given over or allowed them to pursue their sinful ways since they seem to love those ways so much - as this is talked about in Romans 1:24-31. I say this because the Gospel does not seem to be penetrating. Now I also think the church has diminished their evangelism as well. Granted, it is hard to continue in these efforts when the audience continues to ridicule, ignore, or be indifferent to the message. 

I think verses 9, 10, and 11 are interesting:

concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; 

concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father and you no longer see Me; 

concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.

Conviction for sin as people are not believing in Jesus so their sin needs to be exposed. That seems clear to me. Even more specifically it is rejecting the Lord Jesus. This is the chief sin people are guilty. People refuse to submit to him and instead choose to reign their own lives. This is the big regret that people will have as voiced by Zechariah 7:10, "And they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and mourn." 

Second, the conviction concerning righteousness of Christ. The world would be convicted and convinced that He was indeed innocent for any crimes people have said he committed. And people will be amazed. His resurrection and ascension will show everyone that He is not an imposter. By Jesus being raised from the dead he would be shown to be innocent, and thus confirmed that He was sent by God. And Jesus will no longer be seen by them until he returns to judgment. 

Third, the conviction concerting the judgment or that God is just and He will execute judgment. By Jesus dying, Satan is judged or condemned. Jesus is victorious. Judgment will be executed on all of the foes of Jesus. 

And thus we have in these words the confirmation of the work of the Holy Spirit in converting man and woman. 

I am convinced of my sin and that Christ is perfect, not an imposter but the Son of God and Satan will be judged while Jesus will be victorious.  

Summary: Jesus confirms it is better for him to leave to the Father, as the Holy Spirit will be with us and convict the world of sin, Christ's innocence and Christ the victor over Satan. 

Promise: Great words from Tabletalk, "The Holy Spirit was active in the world before the ascension of Jesus, but the outpouring of the Spirit as the result of Jesus’ ministry has meant a mightier work of the Spirit among the nations. People around the world have been streaming into the kingdom of God as the Spirit has given them new hearts to believe in Christ. Because of the Spirit’s work, we can be confident that He will use our proclamation of the gospel to grow the kingdom of God."

Prayer: O Lord God, you are iindeed the great one and have lived the perfect life to be the perfect substitute and save me forever. You are coming again. Satan is vanquished. You are indeed King. O Praise the Name of Jesus. O thank you Holy Spirit for your comfort and reminding me always of my condition, my need for a Savior. Lord, I pray you would continue to awaken souls, especially in this land of America. Help your servants like me to be faithful to preaching Jesus and His gospel truth and turn hearts around to you. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

John 8:41-47 - Children of the Devil

John 8:41-47

41 "You are doing the deeds of your Father." They said to Him, "We were not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God." 42 Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love Me; for I proceeded forth and have come from God, for I have not even come on my own initiative, but He sent Me. 43 Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot hear My word. 44 You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature; for he is a liar, and the father of lies. 45 But because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me. 46 Which one of you convicts Me of sin? If I speak truth, why do you not believe Me? 47 He who is of God hears the words of God, for this reason you do not hear them, because you are not of God." 

Message: Children of the Devil

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)." 

What the Lord is Saying: These are hard truths that Jesus is conveying in these verses I have been reading. He continues (from chapter 7, verse 14) to communicate the base teaching of:

• believing in Him, 
• he being the one sent from the Father, and 
• by believing we have eternal life and we will minister to people. 
• We will be a light to the world. 
• Your sins will be forgiven. 
• We are to abide in His word and we will be free. 
• Love Me. 

He is hammering theses truths home to them. Jesus only wants what is best for us. And yet the blinders of our being are being held up. We are accustomed to believe and think about life a certain way and in a way, throughout all of those moments, I think Jesus is communicating that we are missing the point. 

As I study scripture and these passages, I continually see these contrasts of thought. And today is one of those contrasts as Jesus compares His words and what He wants to the desires and ways of the devil. He makes it clear that if we are not of the Father and if we are not believing in Jesus, then that person is of the devil and abides by the devil's ways (verse 44). 

I also see in verse 47 how those who are not of God do not hear the words of God. This reminds me that I should not be so surprised when the world is not practicing spiritual truths. Because Scripture tells me that people who are not of God will not hear the words of God. 

I have been reading Bono's (from the musical group U2) biography of sorts called Surrender. And in the most recent chapter he remarks that he does not have much patience for people that preach towards him. He thinks rather that the preaching that we should do in our lives should be more about how we are living our lives. And in a way that is true, for people do have a hard time hearing God's words that are not of Him, and so yes, our lives should be lived in a Godly manner and those lives then will be a witness. But, I don't agree completely in this. I think in ways we need to find more palpable ways to communicate truth. And yet there are many that are zealous in their proclamation and have success. So maybe what is important is that we need to communicate repeatedly, in many different ways and forms. 

Coming back to this text, it is on the heels of the Jews commenting in verse 33 that they are Abraham's offspring and so being made free is something that they don't think they need. And so it is important to communicate to them, and that is what Jesus does, to help them see that they can't simply defend their lineage as the means to gain God's acceptance. The reality is they are sinners. And in Jesus they are made free (verse 36). And like Abraham, we need to align ourselves with God and Jesus is from God so we need to accept Him. 

Summary: If we are not of the Father and if we are not believing in Jesus, then that person is of the devil and abides by the devil's ways.

Promise: For those that reject Christ, our response should be not to hate them but to pray and plead with him to believe. 

Prayer: Thank you Father for the understand I have of You being the Father of all and for sending Your Son to be my Savior and Lord. I believe in You Jesus. And I am confident of the salvation I have in Christ and the peace that this brings. Make me humble and help me to always be a light to those that are in the darkness. Give me patience and understanding. Help me to never condemn. Help me to look down upon, but to simply live my life and plead for people to come to know You. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's. 

John 4:1-45 - Jesus Meets A Samaritan Woman

John 4:1-45

Therefore when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John (although Jesus Himself was not baptizing, but His disciples were), He left Judea and went away again into Galilee. And He had to pass through Samaria. So He came to a city of Samaria called Sychar, near the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph; and Jacob’s well was there. So Jesus, being wearied from His journey, was sitting thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour. 

There came a woman of Samaria to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink.” For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food. Therefore the Samaritan woman said to Him, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask me for a drink since I am a Samaritan woman?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.” She said to Him, “Sir, You have nothing to draw with and the well is deep; where then do You get that living water? You are not greater than our father Jacob, are You, who gave us the well, and drank of it himself and his sons and his cattle?” Jesus answered and said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again; but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.”

The woman said to Him, “Sir, give me this water, so I will not be thirsty nor come all the way here to draw.” He said to her, “Go, call your husband and come here.” The woman answered and said, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You have correctly said, ‘I have no husband’; for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; this you have said truly.”  The woman said to Him, “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped in this mountain, and you people say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.” Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, an hour is coming when neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming (He who is called Christ); when that One comes, He will declare all things to us.” Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.”

At this point His disciples came, and they were amazed that He had been speaking with a woman, yet no one said, “What do You seek?” or, “Why do You speak with her?” So the woman left her waterpot, and went into the city and said to the men, “Come, see a man who told me all the things that I have done; this is not the Christ, is it?” They went out of the city, and were coming to Him.

Meanwhile the disciples were urging Him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.” But He said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.” So the disciples were saying to one another, “No one brought Him anything to eat, did he?” Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work. Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest. Already he who reaps is receiving wages and is gathering fruit for life eternal; so that he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. For in this case the saying is true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored and you have entered into their labor.”

From that city many of the Samaritans believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, “He told me all the things that I have done.” So when the Samaritans came to Jesus, they were asking Him to stay with them; and He stayed there two days. Many more believed because of His word; and they were saying to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves and know that this One is indeed the Savior of the world.”

After the two days He went forth from there into Galilee. For Jesus Himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country. So when He came to Galilee, the Galileans received Him, having seen all the things that He did in Jerusalem at the feast; for they themselves also went to the feast.

Message: Jesus Meets a Samaritan Woman

Time: John is not recorded as the author, but unanimous testimony of early Christians, like Iraneus in the 2nd century declare him the author. Plus, the eyewitness account give rise that he was one of the close knit disciples and Peter already penned through Mark (the Gospel of Mark), and James died soon after the resurrection, which leaves John. It is thought this book was written between 85 and 95 AD. The Deity of Christ is a striking quality of John's gospel.

What the Lord is Saying: 

Well, I made this entry long by referencing the entire text from this lesson and yet, it is good to see the complete story of Jesus meeting the Samaritan woman. When Jesus greeted her she knew that it was unusual, him being a Jew, her a Samaritan. It seems like Jesus' first response to her about 'a drink' is that the differences between Samaritans and Jews does not matter when Jesus is offering living water or eternal life. Too much of life right now is us/them and taking sides. It is election time so those sides are more prevalent. Yet, at the same time is a message of 'together' as we walk through this pandemic. So that is one point that I see in this lesson - no divisions when talking about receiving Jesus. 

I also see Jesus saying that drinking of the water from the well will always mean that we remain thirsty and need to drink again. But, when we drink the Living Water, provided by Jesus, we are complete and have everything we need. It reminds me of the prevalence of vices like alcohol, smoking pot, or popping a pill or even eating, drinking, or taking prescription drugs -- all are a reminder of things we never stop needing or feeling like we need, some give us temporary highs and some are needed to sustain life, but no matter what they are fleeting, but Jesus and His love is full and complete. 

I have been studying through Genesis a little with BSF and noticed that God always drew out people's recognition of their sin in their life by asking questions. Jesus does this here when speaking about the many husbands that this woman has had after she has stated she has no husband. It is a reminder that Jesus knows our sins and the Holy Spirit draws that sin out in our lives with our conscience speaking to us. 

I also see Jesus talking about doing the Will of the Father and how it provides to us nourishment like nothing else. 

And once we encounter Jesus, like this woman does, we cannot help but tell others about Him. 

Promise: Jesus changes everything. In this lesson is many lessons, but notable to me is we are all the same in our need for God as Jesus provides us eternal life, water that is complete. And Jesus knows our sin and yet Loves us still. 

Prayer: Thank you Jesus for seeing me and knowing me, forgiving me and loving me. There is abundant life in You. Life is complete with you and I praise You for this. Thank you for changing the way we think and helping us see that You Lord penetrate our lives like nothing else. Thank you for the peace that you bring and for saving me. Thank you for this day in which I have the honor of baptizing my oldest son Tyson. Thank you for loving him and choosing him as Yours and the joy that he is in our lives and the lives of others. 

My Utmost for His Highest - December 1 - The Law and the Gospel

For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. JAMES 2:10

The moral law does not consider us as weak human beings at all, it takes no account of our heredity and infirmities, it demands that we be absolutely moral. The moral law never alters, either for the noblest or for the weakest, it is eternally and abidingly the same. The moral law ordained by God does not make itself weak to the weak, it does not palliate our shortcomings, it remains absolute for all time and eternity. If we do not realize this, it is because we are less than alive; immediately we are alive, life becomes a tragedy. “I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.” When we realize this, then the Spirit of God convicts us of sin. Until a man gets there and sees that there is no hope, the Cross of Jesus Christ is a farce to him. Conviction of sin always brings a fearful binding sense of the law, it makes a man hopeless — “sold under sin.” I, a guilty sinner, can never get right with God, it is impossible. There is only one way in which I can get right with God, and that is by the Death of Jesus Christ. I must get rid of the lurking idea that I can ever be right with God because of my obedience — which of us could ever obey God to absolute perfection!

We only realize the power of the moral law when it comes with an “if.” God never coerces us. In one mood we wish He would make us do the thing, and in another mood we wish He would leave us alone. Whenever God’s will is in the ascendant, all compulsion is gone. When we choose deliberately to obey Him, then He will tax the remotest star and the last grain of sand to assist us. 

From My Utmost for His Highest Classic Edition

Highlights and underlines by my mom. 

My Thoughts

• There are no excuses related to the moral law. 
• What makes me 'not right' with God is my sin and the only answer is the Death of Jesus Christ, the cross. It is never the result of obedience. 

Mark 14:66-72 - The Rooster Crow

Mark 14:66-72
66 As Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant-girls of the high priest *came, 67 and seeing Peter warming himself, she looked at him and *said, “You also were with Jesus the Nazarene.” 68 But he denied it, saying, “I neither know nor understand what you are talking about.” And he went out onto the porch. 69 The servant-girl saw him, and began once more to say to the bystanders, “This is one of them!” 70 But again he denied it. And after a little while the bystanders were again saying to Peter, “Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean too.”71 But he began to curse and swear, “I do not know this man you are talking about!” 72 Immediately a rooster crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had made the remark to him, “Before a rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.” And he began to weep.

Message: The Rooster Crow

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

Preface - Jesus has just been convicted and sentenced to death by the high priest and the people began to spit on and fist pump Jesus. The reason for his conviction is a culmination of events of how the priests have been threatened by Jesus since he has come on the scene. And now Jesus himself has confessed that He is the Messiah, the Son of God and that He will be at the right hand of God. The charge to Jesus is blasphemy. It is Thursday, in the middle of the night, about 3 am. Peter and John are nearby having followed the assembly of people to the court area to see what would happen.

As Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant-girls of the high priest *came, and seeing Peter warming himself, she looked at him and *said, “You also were with Jesus the Nazarene.” Jesus has already had made bold predictions about future events - his death and resurrection and then also the scattering of the sheep and how they would reject him. And now in this moment Jesus was not only being arrested but now spit on and beaten. The disciples initially fled when Jesus was arrested, but then curiosity led them to where the courts were accusing him. But, they are reverting back to their previous position now of innocence. What makes this denial more significance was how the accusation was insignificant. It wan't the high priest making the church, but a servant and a servant girl of the high priest. Peter took this as possible future danger.

How often has this occurred in life when I have shrugged off my affiliation with God or things spiritual simply out of a fear of being associated with Jesus. I have a danger in life of blending in, not going against the flow. Peter's response is:

1. But he denied it, saying, “I neither know nor understand what you are talking about.”

And he went out onto the porch. The servant-girl saw him, and began once more to say to the bystanders, “This is one of them!” The first time was alone and now she says the same thing but with an audience.

2. But again he denied it. 

And after a little while the bystanders were again saying to Peter, “Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean too.” Now it has gone from the servant-girl to the bystanders. So, there is no trial at all, no association at all with a high priest, just harmless people who possible were involved in the spitting on. But, the result is the same.

3. But he began to curse and swear, “I do not know this man you are talking about!”

It is a sad affair as Peter has clearly denied His affiliation with Jesus. He denies being a part of the group of people following Jesus and then he makes it clear that he doesn't even know Jesus. He clearly shows that he has nothing to do with Jesus whatsoever.

Immediately a rooster crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had made the remark to him, “Before a rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.” And he began to weep. In the moment of it occurring we are concerned about the audience, but then afterward, we are convicted and see first hand that what we have done is what we have said we do not want to do and that is deny our association with Jesus.

Summary - Jesus has been accused of a crime and Peter has been a witness to this. The crime is being the Messiah, the Son of God. The high priests servant girl asks him by herself, then in the company of bystanders and then the bystanders themselves ask - Peter denies being part of the group of followers and then denies even knowing Jesus. But, apart from the group, Jesus is embarrassed by His actions and weeps over his sin of denial.

Promise: It is good to think of our sin for then the Holy Spirit will remind us of our sin. This is the mark of a Christian.

Prayer: Lord, I need to be aware of my sin more. Remind me of my wrongdoing. I too quickly justify My behavior. I too quickly spend time protecting myself from any accusation. I gather with Christians and proclaim Your name but before men I go along with the crowd. Forgive me Lord. Forgive me Lord. I am embarrassed before You My God. Lord, if I can help others see this, show me the Way. 

Mark 1:7-8 - The Forerunner's Message

Mark 1:7-8
7 And he was preaching, and saying, “After me One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to stoop down and untie the thong of His sandals. 8 I baptized you with water; but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

Message: The Forerunner's Message

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word immediately used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

Mark's Gospel begins with the address that this is the gospel of Jesus Christ. John the Baptist will prepare the way for the Lord. John was dressed as a prophet and started with the subject of water baptism, confessing sin, and forgiveness. His purpose in speaking was not to elevate himself, but instead to elevate the One who is coming. 

The One Coming
He begins to describe the One who is coming after him. He says he is mightier - in nature, in his office, in mission, in works, in deeds and in words. Mark speaks of the magnitude of this man by stating how unworthy he is to even untie his sandals. To stoop down and loosen the sandals was commonly the act of the servant who afterwards carried them. In essence, John is saying that he is not even worthy to be this man's servant. Mark I believe wants us to understand the greatness of this One coming. He has been baptizing people, but this One will baptize with the Holy Spirit. Again, he is so much more. 

The Holy Spirit
I picked up a book recently by Francis Chan called Forgotten God. It is about the Holy Spirit and his concern that the church today and Christians today, at least in the circles he is involved in, don't have a strong emphasis on the Holy Spirit. And as I look at this verse from Mark, I wonder the same thing as he points out the baptism or the picture of renewal is brought forth by the Holy Spirit. 

These verses speak of the significance of the pouring out of the Spirit: 

• Isaiah 44:3 - I will pour out My Spirit on your offspring and My blessing on your descendants; 

• Joel 2:28 - It will come about after this that I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind; 

• Acts 1:5 - for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now; 

• Acts 2:4 - And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit;  

• Acts 2:17 - ‘And it shall be in the last days,’ God says, ‘That I will pour forth of My Spirit on all mankind;  

• Acts 10:45  - All the circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also;  

• I Corinthians 12:13 - For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit

1. The Spirit of God is promised by the Savior to convict the world of sin: John 16:8 - And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment. 
2. The Spirit of God will enlighten or teach: John 14:26 - But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. John 16:13 - But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.
3. He will comfort in the absence of the Savior: John 14:18: I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. John 16:7 - But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.
4. He will change hearts: Titus 3:5 - He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,

Promise: That John in the wilderness foresaw the Spirit coming again also points to Jesus as the leader of a new exodus, one that will accomplish an even greater work of salvation on behalf of His chosen servants. 

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for the way in which you orchestrated the coming of Your Son and the sending forth of Your Spirit. Help me Lord to further embrace and understand the work of the Spirit in my life. Thank you that the Spirit works continually, convicting the world of sin, enlightening and teaching, comforting, and changing hearts, my heart. Thank you for being active and that you aren't waiting on me to be receptive. But, help me to acknowledge and praise You in the way you are meant to be praised. Keep me humble and deeply in Love with you each day. 

Study Question: Do you think your understanding of the Spirit of God or the Holy Spirit has changed over the years since you trusted in Christ as Savior? That he comes to convict the world of sin, enlighten or teach, comfort us, and change hearts. Have you thought about the fact that right now, today, the Holy Spirit is speaking to you and teaching you in your life?

Romans 15:14-16 - Paul's Priestly Service

Romans 15:14-16 - ¹⁴ I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another. ¹⁵ But on some points I have written to you very boldly by way of reminder, because of the grace given me by God ¹⁶ to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

Message: You are mature in Christ, now keep on ministering and offering the Gentiles as acceptable to God

Time: Written in AD 57 from Greece, to the Christians, both Gentile and Jewish in Rome

What the Lord is Saying:

Background
Paul has been speaking to the strong ones, primarily, the strong in faith, and reminding them of the importance of being sensitive to people at different levels of faith. And to be sensitive to them regarding their beliefs or convictions. I am to build other people up, to live in harmony with others, to welcome others. Christ has welcomed me. The Jews and the Gentiles have both been grafted into the family of God. I am not to pass judgment on another person because of a conviction they have, though this is in the context of what that person believes regarding a religious conviction. This doesn't mean I can never judge nor does it mean that I am to accept everything a person does. Sometimes what people do is outright sin. I am not to be accepting towards everything a person does. 

You are mature in Christ
Paul then in verse 14 says some things to the Jewish Christians here, which is who he is primarily speaking to in this book of Romans. Verse 14 kind of reminds me of the letter to seven churches that is recorded in Revelation 2 and 3 and the words John says to each of those seven churches, praising them first for something they are doing right. "You yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another." 

There may be a tendency to think that because of all that Paul has said in this fine book that these Christians were therefore deficient in their understanding but this verse is a bold proclamation that these Jewish Christians were in fact living out their faith in a doctrinally sound manner and were passing on what they learned to others. And this was all based upon what he had heard concerning them because he had never visited them personally.  

These were Christians that came along the side of other Christians and counseled them. They were there for each other, providing encouragement and instruction. 

Reminder
Paul makes a transition in verse 15 to state why he has stated what he has. All of us need to be reminded. And Paul has not held back in his explanations. He has been bold in those explanations, comprehensively describing the explanation of thought and deed. 

Ray C. Stedman makes this remark:

"I saw a man the other day with a string around his finger. The string was to remind him of something. The fact that we so easily forget things is somehow built into our humanity and I think one of the greatest proofs of the fall of man is that we have such a hard time remembering what we want to remember, yet we so easily remember what we want to forget!... Living out in the world, as many of you are, working every day among non-Christians, it is so easy to be sucked into the attitudes of the world around. It is so easy to get the idea that life is designed to be a pleasant picnic, that we can work toward the day when we can retire and enjoy ourselves. I find that attitude prevalent among people everywhere, but that is not what the Bible says. The Bible says we are in the midst of a battle, a battle to the death, against a keen and crafty foe. He wants to discourage us and defeat us, and to make us feel angry and hostile. He knows how to do it, and he never lets up. This life is not designed to be a time of relaxing. There are times when we need recreation and vacations, when we can slow down a bit. But you never see the Apostle Paul talking about quitting the battle. You cannot quit, as long as life is there. So Paul tells us that we need to be reminded, day by day and week by week, that we are in a battle and that we have a crafty foe. This life is not all there is, by any means. This is school time, a training ground, where we are to learn our lessons. This life is getting us ready for the real thing that is yet to come."

I agree with this statement. We believe so often that life is about us and about our enjoyment. In Christ, however, I am on mission. 

Be a minister
Throughout these past 2 chapters, the overriding message in these chapters is to be a minister to our brothers and sisters in Christ. It is to think of others as more important than myself. It is to want the best for others. I think we all just have this tendency over and over to make ourselves happy and please ourselves. Yet, Paul uses a different word here for minister to emphasize something. He uses  leitourgos because he saw his missionary work like that of a priest offering sacred worship to God.

Paul desires to present Gentiles before God. A person makes a sacrifice or presentation before God to show God that I am denying myself and bringing something before you, hoping that you find it pleasing. So Paul wants to encourage these Christians to not just accept the Gentile but to present these Gentiles to God as a sacrifice like a priest would do. It is one thing to accept others that are different from us, but it is quite another thing to present them before God. It is to come alongside them and really desire their best.

Offering of the Gentiles
Transformation of thoughts are possible. Paul is a testament to this. Prior to being in Christ he hated the Gentile believers and now he is bringing them before God as a sacrifice, desiring them to be pleasing to God. The Lord will reward us as we offer up these sacrifices.


Promise: We labor, not only for the saving of men, but for the satisfying of the heart of God. This is the most powerful motive.

 

Romans 14:22b - Passing Judgment on Ourselves

Romans 14:22b - Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves.

Message: Passing Judgment on Ourselves

Time: Written in AD 57 from Greece, to the Christians, both Gentile and Jewish in Rome

What the Lord is Saying:  

The Christian has a freedom in Christ. I am free from sin. I am free from the consequences of sin. I am free from judgment. This freedom means that, before God, I am completely accepted. I do not have to fear other Christians. I can be confident that the faith God has given me is true. Even in the context here of this passage, there is freedom because in matters of moral indifference, I do not need to make sure people here my conviction, because it is possible my conviction could hurt my immature believer friend. So, Paul says, "Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves."

The immature believer will often pass judgment on themselves and sometimes call too many things as sinful. I think I've struggled with this possible. In the Tabletalk lesson for the day, the writer mentions watching movies and that watching movies in and of themselves is not sinful. I wonder about this. It seems like the immature Christian at times thinks they can continue doing things in life and those things will have no effect on them. So, its possible the immature Christian continues going to R rated movies, not realizing that these are filled with profanity and he shouldn't see them. He can see movies, but needs to be careful. But, Tabletalk just mentions it a little differently. I am not sure I agree with the statement or maybe I don't understand. When I was a new Christian one of the first things I did was get rid of all of the secular music I had. I thought it was glorifying Satan and so I destroyed it and then started getting Christian music instead. I bought a lot of that secular music, but my mom bought me the Christian music. I think that was the right thing to do, but I do think today, as a more mature Christian, I can listen to secular music and not be affected by it. So, maybe that is the same thought with movies. Maybe the immature believer does need to abstain from certain inputs into their lives because of their state of immaturity.

One of the things that I am seeing in my children right now is there playing of computer games and the volume of time they waste doing that. It seems to be a lot of immaturity. As we get older, time gets more valuable and the things we want to do with it are often more important. It seems frivolous to spend that time playing video games. I am amazed at older people that continue to spend lots of time at casino's. And yet, there is a lot of immaturity in their habits. As a Christian, it is important to me to preach the gospel and call people to faith and repentance. This is what I need to do. This is why I think it is so important to continue to speak of sin in a worship service and I'm thrilled the church I attend now does this. I need to be reminded of sin in my life. It is in many dark crevices of my life and it needs to be revealed.

John Calvin mentions that what Paul is speaking of here is the person that understands the Word of God and allows the Word of God to form His conscience. Many people do as they please in life and have no guide for right and wrong.

I saw this on PreceptAustin.org, "Charles Spurgeon, at the height of his fame, was one day walking down the street and saw a sign which read, “We sell the cigar that Charles Spurgeon smokes.”  Upon seeing this sign Spurgeon gave up the habit. He came to see that what was for him a freedom might cause others to stumble. 

And yet through all of this I am seeing the differences. People may have a difference opinion at various levels of maturity about listening to movies and listening to music. I have a couple of Christian friends that continue to speak in ways that just don't seem right. They continue to have filthy mouths. I don't comprehend that. I remember Ephesians 4:29 being an important verse for me as a kid to curb how I speak. But, is this something that I need to not call out in people? Do I leave this alone and realize that people have different convictions. I am not sure. This is a passage that I can document understanding, but its application is still difficult.

Promise: Preach the gospel and call people to faith and repentance.