My Redeemer Lives!

I woke up this morning with a killer migraine—wanted to go back to bed, but knew I’d slept enough, and it would only make it worse.  I had already woke up too late to get to church, so I figured I’d spend some “quality” time with God and then watch some church TV.

I opened my Bible, really just moving on faith, knowing the migraine was going to make things fuzzy, and there I found the words “I know my Redeemer lives.” 

It’s tough living in the world sin and Satan have corrupted.  We human beings suffer, along with all of creation.  Suffering and the things people do wrong—sin—hurt all of us.  But Job, who underwent some very painful sufferings, stood up in faith and said these words.  He said them in spite of the things he was facing—the death of his children, the betrayal of his wife, the alienation of his friends and family, and his own painful diseases. 

Maybe God was telling me something?  I decided to write the passage down:

Job 19:23-27

Oh, that my words were written!  Oh, that they were inscribed in a book!  That they were engraved on a rock with an iron pen and lead, forever!

For I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth.  And after my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. 

How my heart yearns within me!

Like Job, my heart yearns for redemption, especially when I’m sick and suffering.  Does it call to you as well?  We long for a better world, better environment.  How will it feel to live in bodies that don’t get sick, don’t feel the desire to sin, don’t have skewed emotions and negative feelings?  How will it feel to be able to enjoy the best of life, including eating and drinking, without the negative affects?  How will it be to live without fear of sickness, cancer, death?  How my heart years within me!!!

Job knew that God would redeem him one day, yet it wasn’t after the great declaration “I know my redeemer lives!” that Job was redeemed.

Job had already declared his loyalty to God: “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him!”  But God did not redeem his situation then. 

Twice Job has declared his trust and belief, but there is seemingly no response from God.

We must be patient with God.  Patience is difficult, but it bears fruit—the fruit of maturity in Christ. 

James 1:4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect (mature) and complete, lacking nothing.

Job was redeemed—although he would have expected it to occur “after his skin is destroyed.”  God redeemed his situation and blessed him more greatly than before, but not until after the day came when God confronted Job about his issues:

Job had been talking about God, but hadn’t known Him as well as he could have—yet he had spoken ‘out of turn,’ as it were, in a way that God objected to.  Some of God’s objections:

“Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?  Surely you know … who stretched the line over it?”

--Job, you don’t know everything.  You weren’t around when I created the world.  You’ve been talking about things you don’t understand.  Anything you try to say about it would only be guessing!

“Who has put wisdom in the mind?  Or who has given understanding to the heart?”

--Wasn’t you, Job. 

Then God said, “Shall the one who contends with the Almighty correct him?  He who rebukes God, let him answer it.”

--Do you have something to say, Job? 

Of course Job couldn’t answer God, he wisely just listened, and we know his “final answer.”

“I have uttered that I did not understand, things too wonderful for me

He said, “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You”

The end result?

“Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.”

I think we have to be careful what we say about God.  We have His word, and we are responsible for what we know.  But we don’t know everything.  The Bible says we now see “in a glass, dimly” but eventually we will be “face to face.”  “Now I know in part, but then I will know just as I am known”  (1 Corinthians 13:12.)  We need to be sure we use what we know cautiously and be circumspect in how we speak to others.

We have the benefit of having God’s word, but we have to know it in order to speak of it.

We have the benefit of having God’s spirit, but we have to spend time with God in order to have the blessing of knowing Him in an intimate way.

God further chides Job’s so-called “comforters” for misrepresenting Him.  He said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “My wrath is aroused against you and your two friends, for you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has.” They were instructed to bring sacrifices and have Job pray for them, and they did, and God “restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends.” 

Then God blessed him, redeemed him, gave him back his family and his wealth.  After he prayed and no doubt forgave them for speaking against God and against himself. 

I think about the power there is in forgiving, and the deliverance God gives when we pray for those who hurt us!

I have a hope of heaven, Jesus, my Redeemer, who is coming again

“And every eye shall see Him, even they which pierced Him” --Rev. 1:7

James talks about the last days, and how we must be patient.

“Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord.  See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain.  You also be patient; establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.”

He reminds us of Job:

“Indeed we count them blessed who endure.  You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.”

I must be patient, and establish my heart in Christ.  I must trust God!  The Lord is very compassionate--it's not that He doesn't care; and merciful--He will have mercy on me.  

I am longing for the day I will see Him coming again.  Even though my flesh and heart may fail, I know my Redeemer lives and He will stand on the earth.  

Encouragement

Today I'm just gonna talk about something that has been dear to my heart for some time now--encouragement.  The Bible calls it "exhortation."  

I was certain that I knew all there is to know about being a Christian and living the life, at least while other Christians were watching, when I moved from Pearblossom, California to Bullhead City, Arizona.  But while I was in Bullhead City I learned soooo much about living for Christ that I can't add enough "o's" to the word "so." Chuck Kelly one day in church mentioned the importance of encouragement, or Lynda did; someone encouraged me and I got encouraged to be a bigger encourager of others.  (Wow!  That's a lot of encouraging going on!) 

I thought I would share with you some of the scriptures here that talk about exhortation *(encouragement) in the Bible.  Before I do, here’s what the Strong’s Concordance says about the word, exhort.  Greek: ‘parakaleo’ (that’s right, like the paraclete, the Holy Spirit!) 

It can be interpreted thusly:

1) to call to one's side, call for, summon

2) to address, speak to, (call to, call upon), which may be done in the way of exhortation, entreaty, comfort, instruction, etc.

a) to admonish, exhort

b) to beg, entreat, beseech

1) to strive to appease by entreaty

c) to console, to encourage and strengthen by consolation, to comfort

1) to receive consolation, be comforted

d) to encourage, strengthen

e) exhorting and comforting and encouraging

f) to instruct, teach

All of these meanings—you’re doing this when you encourage someone.  Look at the following verses with that in mind:

1 Thessalonians 4:5 Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and *urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more.

1 Thessalonians 5:14 And we *urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.

2 Thess. 3:11-12 We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. Such people we command and *urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat.

Titus 1:9 He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can *encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.

Hebrews 3:13 But *encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.

*(exhort/exhorted)

We talked about quite a few things last night at the Bible study, but one thing that came up was this topic of encouragement.  I was unaware of how many women I had affected with an excitement for fellowship, for church, for Bible study, while going to CCBHC.  

When I got ready to move to Washington, at the last TWIGS meeting (they’re having one tonight—without me!  Sniff) Tami got up and said that I had invited her to come to some fun thing we were doing in service to others, and that it made her a part in a special way. 

Other women went out of their way to tell me what a difference it had made that I had given them a word of encouragement-some at just the right time.  I was blown away by what simple obedience can do!  All I had done is looked for someone to be a blessing to, to speak a word of encouragement to, and God had done so much more.

I encouraged the women last night to look around them while at church for someone they could come alongside and lift up—encourage—in the Lord; someone to mentor, or befriend, or bless with just camaraderie. 

Today, I was taught, reminded, exhorted! and blessed by God in discovering another truth I had neglected to mention last night. 

When you serve God this way, YOU end up getting the most encouragement of all!

Today at work a lady called and said she could use a food box.  Because she is on crutches and isn’t supposed to drive, I told her I would bring her one.  I could sense she was someone about my age, who sounded lonely, lives alone most of the time, and was discouraged. 

I had fun putting together a box that would make sure she’d have a couple of meals she could make up, and some canned goods, some staples, eggs, and some fresh produce.  I put it all in the car and went over to her house.

She was blessed!  I helped her unpack everything and put it on the counter so she could see what she had.  She was so happy with the food, but I also had a few books someone had given me (I gave up my predilection for crime novels a while back) and since I saw she was a reader, I offered these to her as well.  Then I sat down and we chatted a few minutes.  She told me about her family and I told her about mine, and then I asked if I could pray for her. 

I could sense the joy building in my spirit as I spent time with her.   I walked out of that house on cloud nine!  It was amazing!  I totally get why Jesus would say, “I have food to eat that you don’t know about.”  It was that satisfying!  The challenge is, be an encourager.  In the end, the biggest winner is going to be yourself. 

Samaritan Harvest

John 4:39-42

Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, "He told me everything I ever did."  So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days.  And because of his words many more became believers.  They said to the woman, "We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world." 

Many of the Samaritans believed in Jesus because of the woman He had met at the well.  Her testimony caused them to look to Jesus.  This verse made me think about my own testimony.  Does what I say and do make others want to listen to Jesus?  She told her experience and they believed.  Do I tell others what Jesus is doing in my life?  The woman told what she’d seen and heard.  She wasn’t taught seven easy steps to evangelism, she just told her story.  She wasn’t eloquent, she wasn’t a seasoned speaker, but she gave her testimony—her witness—of Jesus. 

Part of the meaning of the word believed is ‘persuaded.’  They were persuaded that what she said was the truth, which made them listen to His words. 

Warren Wiersbe said of her testimony “she was a fruitful believer.  “Many believed” and then “many more believed.”  She continues to bear fruit today—no one knows how many have come to faith because of her witness recorded in John 4.”

Then they asked Him to stay with them, and He did.  Jesus always accepts our hospitality!  He delights in spending time with us, in fellowship with us.  That’s what we were created to do.  In the garden, Adam walked with God in the cool of the evening, but that fellowship was broken by his sin against God.  Jesus made a new path for relationship with God through Himself.  Have you ever invited Jesus to fellowship with you?  Apparently few of us do—even in the church!  Jesus calls out at the door. 

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. 

-- Revelation 3:20

Have you answered the door?  The Samaritans did, and now they believed for themselves.  What a joyful proclamation!  They became excited about their new faith in Jesus. 

When we’re raising our children we give them rules and discipline them.  We want them to learn how to obey without being told; the disciplines that we are teaching them will benefit them.  The ultimate goal is to teach them how to obey the rules or disciplines on their own—to use the things they’ve learned so they will live productive and contented lives.  In the same way we bring our children to church and teach them about God, so they can become disciplined to live a life of faith.  We want them to have their own belief in God.  We want them to become excited about their faith, just as these Samaritans did.

Jesus doesn’t have any grandchildren!  Everyone needs to believe for themselves.  It’s not easy to discipline children, especially as they become teens.  It can become downright unpleasant (I speak from experience!) but we cling to the promises in God’s word:

No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.  -- Hebrews 12:11

Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.  – Proverbs 22:6

The Samaritans had heard the words of Jesus, and now believed Him because they’d heard for themselves.  We want our own children to hear for themselves too. 

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.  --Romans 10:17

Am I making sure my family hears God’s word?  Do I give them opportunities to hear about God?  They need their own faith!  Jesus told the Pharisees, “My sheep hear My voice;” we want our progeny to hear His voice and gain understanding on their own.   We need to be faithful, then, to present Jesus to our children and grandchildren, sharing what He is doing in our lives.  I don’t pray often enough for my kids and grandkids, my niece and nephew, and the kids I know.  This challenges me to tell about the faith I have learned over years, and share Who Jesus is in my life today.  It challenges me to pray fervently for their hearts to know Him, to recognize Him and hear His voice. 

Rather than become discouraged about what I’ve not been doing, I’m focusing on changing what I can do now—praying and believing God will work.  How about you?  Maybe you didn’t know Christ when you were raising children.  Maybe you’ve made mistakes in parenting, and left out the things which might have made for faith in your children’s lives.  God knows and forgives!  Begin now to pray for your kids and the other children in your life.  Don’t let the fact of past lapses make you stagnant in your mission now. 

Dear Abba,

Forgive me!  I forget to pray for my niece, nephew, kids and grand kids.  I forget to pray for the children I know.  Help me to be a faithful pray-er and to lay that foundation for future faith in their lives.

Help me to be a good witness of You to everyone I meet, especially the kids in my life.  Help me to remember to pray for them often, and to talk to them about the faith You’ve given me, and what You’ve done for me.  Let me be a witness of Your love and grace to them through my words and actions.

Your Child,

Donna

True Worshippers

Mt. Gerazim, Isael

John 4:13-26

Jesus answered and said to her, "Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst--but the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life." 

The last blog post on John ended with these verses—Jesus telling the woman at the Samaritan well that He could give her “living water.”  He meant that He could fill her up to overflowing with a living stream of life-giving Spirit that would supernaturally bless her life.  She didn’t understand this.   

The woman said to Him, "Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw." 

She was at the well later in the day, which indicates that she was avoiding the company of the women who usually drew water earlier.  If I were in her position, I would have done the same.  She didn’t need to hear the whispers, the tittering behind the hands, see the sly glances and feel their snubs.  But it must have been hard, not having any real friends among the women of the town.  Was she lonely?  Did she miss female companionship?   

Jesus 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 well said, 'I have no husband, for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you have now is not your husband, in that you spoke truly."

The conversation took a downward turn here.  Now Jesus is touching the heart of her problems.  He forces the issue, and she admits her sin.  Wiersbe notes that this is the shortest statement the woman makes, “I have no husband” (4:17) and notes that before she could come to be converted she had to be convicted of her sin.  I notice a new tone to the conversation now—before she seemed almost flirtatious with Jesus; now she is more honest.      

The woman said to Him, "Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet.  "Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship."

Have you ever tried to talk to someone about the gospel, and have had them throw out this kind of ‘red herring’?  She’s changing the subject, isn’t she?  Maybe you’ve been there—rather than talk about the real issue, have you been avoiding the topic altogether by bringing up less important ones?

The Samaritans were regarded as half-breeds, and they had been worshipping false gods.  A famine in the land forced them to look to the Jews for help.  They were introduced to the God of Jacob, but merely incorporated Him into their false religion.  Wikipedia explains-

The mountain is sacred to the Samaritans who regard it, rather than Jerusalem's Temple Mount, as having been the location chosen by Yahweh for a holy temple. The mountain continues to be the centre of Samaritan religion to this day, and over 90% of the worldwide populations of Samaritans live in very close proximity to Gerizim, mostly in Kiryat Luza, the main village. The Passover is celebrated by the Samaritans on Mount Gerizim, and it is additionally considered by them as the location of the near-sacrifice of Isaac (the Masoretic and Septuagint versions of Genesis state that this happened on Mount Moriah which Jews traditionally identify as the Temple Mount).  According to classical rabbinical sources, in order to convert to Judaism, a Samaritan must first and foremost renounce any belief in the sanctity of Mount Gerizim.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Gerizim

Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. 

"You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews.  "But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.  "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." 

Jesus explained that the significance of one mountain or another was nothing compared to the importance of personal worship.

I love how Jesus steps past our personal boundaries, our trite arguments and our petty bureaucracies, right into the seat of the issue we avoid.  The woman was not likely interested in how Jews worship.  She probably had little to do with Sabbath in the first place, for the same reason she avoided the well in the morning.  But Jesus told her “God is looking for people who will worship Him truly.” 

God wants us to worship Him.  He wants to be worshipped in a specific way.  He outlines the ways He wants to be worshipped in His word.  We sometimes ignore His word so that we can stay in our comfort zones and do worship our own way.

He wants to be worshipped in the Spirit. 

If you don’t have the Spirit of God, you can’t properly worship God.

The Spirit of God works like a lamp in our souls (Proverbs 20:27) allowing God to search our hearts. 

When you have the Holy Spirit in you God is able to communicate with you, and you are able to communicate with Him.  Without His Spirit, you wouldn’t be able to reach Him. 

Have you ever left church and said to yourself, “I didn’t get much out of worship today.”  I’ve done that.  I’m coming to realize that worship is not about me at all.  It’s about honoring God.  When was the last time you went to church with this in mind? 

I can guess the woman here didn’t much really care about religion, but if she could get Jesus into a debate about the Mt. Moriah (the temple mount) vs. Mt. Gerazim, she could avoid talking about her real problems.

But Jesus doesn’t make it easy.  He doesn’t let us off the hook, either.  If there are issues in your life that need to be addressed, let Him deal with them.  Offer them up as a matter of worship, and let Him take them. 

The woman said to Him, "I know that Messiah is coming" (who is called Christ). "When He comes, He will tell us all things."  Jesus said to her, "I who speak to you am He."   

There are only a few times in scripture when Jesus overtly claims to be the Messiah.  This is one of them.  Others are found in Mark 8 (when Jesus asked the disciples, “Who do you say that I am?”) and when He proclaims Himself to the high priest in Mark 16:62; Martha professes Him to be the Messiah in Luke chapter eleven, and He answers Pilate in the affirmative when asked, “Are you the King of the Jews?” (Mark 15:2.)

We are all so lost without Him, but God made a way for us to be able to worship Him.  He stooped down to us, because He loved us.  How amazing is our God!  Are you a true worshipper?

Dear Abba,

Thank You for making it possible that I might have a relationship with You.  You went waaaay out of Your way to save me, and I have never given You anywhere near the reciprocal amount of attention.  Lord, I’m sorry.  Help me to love and worship You the way You deserve.  Make me able to worship You in Spirit and in truth.

Your Child,

Donna