Faithful on Fridays Blog

Episode Eleven: Not Yet

As God’s story moves forward in time the world will be put right once again: Judgment Day arrives and believers are back in Eden. The promised salvation, redemption, healing, deliverance, and victory we experience now, as a foretaste, will be fulfilled for eternity. The Kingdom of God is before, already, and not yet being completed when the victorious King reigns on His throne with believers reigning alongside Him, and death, our last enemy, is abolished. The dragon called Satan (Rev. 20:2) is thrown into his final destination: the lake of fire as God’s final act of judgment. 

The Son of Man will send His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear. Matthew 13:41-43 ESV

In this ‘not yet’ aspect of the Kingdom of God Paul wrote assuring us that we’ll have a new heavenly house and an eternal, new body that’s guaranteed by the Holy Spirit to live forever with Him (2 Cor. 5:1-10). 

For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:11 

For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in that which I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem to be a joy, and her people to be a gladness. Isaiah 65:17-18 

For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.
Habakkuk 2:14 

We look around at the world today and wonder why God doesn’t rescue those suffering injustices, punish evil perpetrators, and finish the job so we can enjoy all those promises. He will … just not yet. The timing of God is perfect, He doesn’t make mistakes, act too quickly, or wait too long. He’s our God who has a plan that will reach its fulfillment at the precise, kairos moment. That time is divinely appointed when He intersects with our time and things happen. 

Jesus said, “The time (kairos) is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” Mark 1:15

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:15-16

Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with Him. 1 Thessalonians 5:1, 9-10 

Fruit of the Spirit: Part Four

In the movie, Miss Congeniality, the beauty contestants were asked this laughingly provocative question, “What is the most important thing society needs?” Obviously, they all answered world peace. It’s a funny scene but also, even though a stereotype, it’s true: Our world needs peace. 

God knew that truth at creation, but His desire was inner peace. Shalom, a word that all languages understand, doesn’t mean free of war or conflict; God’s peace is being restored to Him. It’s being reconciled through His Son, consequently, being joined and completed in our inner man: true peace is wholeness. The only way to receive that peace is by receiving His forgiveness, the sacrifice of His life in place of ours.

But He was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. Isaiah 53:5 

That word whole is shalom: peace. God’s covenant with us is the promise that He’ll make us new and restore our relationship with Him that was lost in the Garden. 

Peace is the fruit of the Spirit that grows out of our inner man because we are one with God.

For He Himself is our peace … Ephesians 2:14a 

When this piece of fruit grows in our life it’s displayed as confidence and an attitude that our life is complete even when circumstances are hard or painful. Our inner life remains complete in the midst of trials.

So you also are complete through your union with Christ … Colossians 2:10a 

Since Jesus died for our wholeness, spirit, soul, and body, we can’t forget that truth.

I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. John 14:27

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

Spending quality time with God is the best way to grow this fruit of peace. The indwelling Spirit fills you with all you need for the day and you’ll notice a difference, His peace, when things begin to go wrong. Jesus said,

Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in Me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. John 15:4-5

Allow the Holy Spirit to empower you today to defeat the enemy in your life; his end is drawing to a close:

The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. Romans 16:20a

Episode Ten: Not Yet

In Matthew 19 Jesus responded to Peter’s question about who can be saved saying all things are possible with God. In fact, there’s a ‘new world’ coming when He’ll be on the throne along with the 24 elders on thrones: the 12 patriarchs of Israel and 12 Christian apostles. 

Twenty-four thrones surrounded Him, and twenty-four elders sat on them. They were all clothed in white and had gold crowns on their heads. Revelation 4:4

This new world means creation will be restored back to the Garden of Eden as well as mankind being restored back to our state of holiness with new bodies to live in the Kingdom of God … but it’s not yet. 

For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who His children really are. Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay. For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as His adopted children, including the new bodies He has promised us. Romans 8:19-23 

It’s called ‘glorification’ when Jesus returns with both creation and believers in Christ delivered from bondage to death to live in freedom for eternity. 

The place is prepared and the table is set, ready for our arrival.

And people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God. And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last. Luke 13:29

Ahhhh … the great reversal. 

Remember Bethlehem when there was ‘no place for them at the inn’? It’s fascinating that the word ‘kataluma’ (guest room) means a place to abolish or overthrow; it wasn’t the time or place for Satan to try to overthrow God’s kingdom, even though he tried. Luke 22:14-18 tells us that the hour came when Jesus and the Twelve had their last Passover meal; the time and place, kataluma (upper room) was prepared (John 14). 

For I tell you now that I won’t eat this meal again until its meaning is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God. For I will not drink wine again until the Kingdom of God has come. Luke 22:16, 18

Jesus sat at a table teaching that in the fulfillment of all promises, the not yet aspect of the Kingdom of God, there’s also a meal at a table for the Marriage Supper of the Lamb (Rev. 19:6-9) where we’ll join together in the new world.

Fruit of the Spirit: Part Three

As I pondered on what brings joy, our next piece of fruit, a Cubs game came to mind. Interestingly, Cub fans understand joy in the lower story; screaming, laughing, dancing, and fireworks spontaneously erupting with each win. It’s true in the upper story as well:

And when they saw the star, they were so ecstatic they shouted and celebrated with unrestrained joy.
Matthew 2:10 TPT

The Iranian astronomers, we call them Wise Men, followed the star for two years until it finally settled over the Hebrew Messiah, Jesus Christ, who was born.

Joy isn’t just feeling happy because things are going well; joy is felt in the depths of our being when we recognize God’s free gift of grace extended to us. The wise men didn’t work for their blessing, but when they experienced it joy exploded. It’s a conscious decision to maintain our joy and rejoicing when times get tough and life causes us to lean into negativity and fear. However, when we seek to maintain joy under pressure it causes our mood to shift toward thinking like Jesus. 

Nehemiah 8:10c says it well; the joy of the Lord is your strength. 

Jesus explained there’s spiritual joy in our inner man when we stay connected to Him, but also, it’s evidence that you’re His disciple.

By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be My disciples. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. John 15:8, 11

The Holy Spirit was sent to help you grow the fruit of joy every day, even when your life seems full of trials.

So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. John 16:22, 24

If you’re not experiencing joy then you’re probably not spending enough time with Jesus. It’s His Spirit that empowers you to be joyful.… in Your presence there is fullness of joy; Psalms 16:11a

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Romans 14:17

Interestingly, the word charisma and charismatic come from the word joy; we are to be people filled with His joy and grace as we move in His gifts (1 Cor. 12-14) to help each other. When we’re faithful to use the grace-gifts He’s given us we ‘enter into the joy of our Master’ (Matt. 25:21) and that’s a good place to be. 

And the believers were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. Acts 13:52

If your desire is to be more like Jesus then be filled with Him and use your spiritual gifts; maybe you’ll experience the excitement of a Cubs Win!

Episode 9: Not Yet

“In My Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to Myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.” John 14:2-4 

Jesus is leaving His followers, but assures them that He’ll be back to retrieve them. He needs some prep time to get everything ready for His Bride: The Church. What does that look like? All we have to go on is Scripture which indicates we’ll be enjoying a new heaven, new earth, and a new Jerusalem (Rev. 21:1-4) so we get ready for His Return and He gets ready for our arrival. This promise was recognized by Old Testament believers in Yahweh as well; consider Hebrew 11:13-16 which tells us that in the ‘Hall of Faith’ God’s people died still believing His promises. They didn’t receive them on earth, but still believed because God allowed them supernatural vision from a distance. They had blessed assurance even while foreigners on earth of a new residence they could call their own: a heavenly homeland and a prepared city.

I wonder how many believers die unsure of their eternal destiny, they don’t have confidence of their future, and immortality. Peter wrote to suffering believers (1 Peter 1:4-5) encouraging them to remember their inheritance: it’s imperishable, undefiled, and unfading kept in heaven for them. What great truths for those who are suffering. 

This ‘not yet’ aspect of the Kingdom of God is centered around His timing; the full consummation is on the horizon, ready to be completed, but not yet. It’s like that candy called Now and Later; you eat some now and save the rest for later. Jesus’ incarnation started the countdown, it’s called ‘this age’ and will be be completed at His Return when we’ll be like Him again: glorified. In Luke 20:34-38 Jesus told the religious leaders that the lower story of ‘this age’ can’t be compared to the upper story when believers are resurrected from the dead, never to die again: we’re immortal. Why? Because He’s a God of the living … not the dead who live in Him. That’s a Now and a Later truth.

In Matt. 19:27-28 Peter couldn’t let go that it’s hard for the wealthy to enter the Kingdom of Heaven; then what about the disciples? They all left careers to follow Him; what’s in it for them? Jesus responded reminding them that there’s a ‘new world’ coming when He’ll sit on His throne and they’ll being sitting on thrones as well alongside the Twelve Tribes of Israel. They don’t have to worry about wealth or security, it’s taken care of for eternity. What’s the New World? We’ll get deeper into that next week, for now, just get ready.

Fruit of the Spirit: Part Two

Believers in Jesus Christ are expected to think, speak, and act in contrast to the world and make no mistake, people are looking for evidence of our faith.

The first fruit of the Spirit from Galatians 5 is love, defined in many terms, however, two of my favorites are unconditional and non-reciprocal. We don’t love someone because they deserve it, we love without any conditions. Additionally, non-reciprocal means we love expecting nothing in return. Ok, now even I’m clinching.

The best way to check how love is growing in your life is to compare yourself to Jesus’ instructions because love is personified in Jesus. If you want to define love then read the gospels and watch for that word, not only His love for us, but how we show love to others. That’s the sticky part.

But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.

If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.

But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for He is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Luke 6:27-28, 32, 35

So … love enemies, do good to haters, bless the cursers, pray for the abusers. Did I get that right? How’s that even possible?

Keep in mind that as we adjust to the Spirit living in us we will fail, but with His help and strength we try again … and again; the key is desire. Do you really want to be like Jesus? You’re not in this alone, He gifted us the power to love when He gave us the Holy Spirit.

God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. Romans 5:5b

Let’s look briefly at this ‘fruit check’ using 1 Cor. 13: the Love Chapter.

• Love is patient and kind; that means you don’t quit when it’s hard (it’s unconditional), but in the power of His Spirit you keep being nice when you get nothing in return (it’s non-reciprocal).

• Love focuses on others; there’s no room for envy, boasting, arrogance, or rudeness.
• Self-centeredness, irritability, and record-keeping of wrongs is not love.

• Love rejoices when good things happen to others, even those who hurt you.

• Love protects, shields, and even conceals; it covers a multitude of sin (1 Peter 4:8).

• Believing the best in people is true love: keep praying for them.

• Love has a confident expectation of good things for others: deserving or not.

• Love never surrenders, it’s enduring with no end.

Remember, you weren’t created to fulfill these on your own, only through the power of Jesus’ Spirit. Read that list again and pray for His strength to be infused into you by the Spirit.

Episode Eight: Already

As Jesus walked toward the cross His mind remained on the Kingdom of God as He focused His disciples on the Day He’d return on the clouds with power and great glory setting up His final kingdom. He told two last stories to help them prepare for That Day: Ten Virgins and the Talents.

The story of the virgins has two crucial truths the disciples needed to hear: always be watching and ready for Him since you don’t know when That Day will be. In the story five of them had full oil lamps and five didn’t; that’s the lower story. How can we be sure our upper story lamps are full? Oil is an image of the presence of the Holy Spirit, consequently our lamps become our hearts that need to be daily filled with Him. Paul wrote,

‘Be filled, and keep being filled, with the Spirit’ Eph. 5:18b

Spending time with God in prayer and worship, Scripture reading and studying, serving others, and obedience to His will and not your own are ways to be filled with the Spirit. That helps you to eagerly and expectantly watch and wait for His return. There’s no shortcut to an intimate relationship, as the first five women found out, it takes discipline and consistency like any relationship. 

The second parable gets real; it shows the value God puts on the spiritual gifts He distributes for the benefit of others. You can choose to use them or not, but there’s reward in heaven for those who serve others. Do you want to hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your Master,” or “Cast this servant into outer darkness …?” A true believer wants to please the Lord, dedicates his life, and is willing to sacrifice serving Him and others as well. 

Completing His teachings (Matt. 25) Jesus made one last reference to the Kingdom of God,

Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” Matthew 25:34 

That’s a great segue for the last part of this series: The Not Yet. We dug our foundation with God’s plan of redemption from before time, we’ve discovered Jesus’ many teachings on the already nature of living in the kingdom, and next week we begin our study of what’s ahead for believers. It’s called eternal life and apparently He’s already preparing that place for us (John 14:1-3). At the Last Supper Jesus told His disciples He’d be leaving, but would returning for them so they’d be together for eternity. We get ready for His Return and He gets ready for our arrival. It’s a heavenly homeland (Heb. 11:16) prepared for those who love Him (1 Cor. 2:9-10) that has been kept in heaven until the Last Time (1 Peter 1:4-5). That’s good plan for those on the right.

Fruit of the Spirit

Part One

It amazes me when I talk to believers about faith and they list the things they do. Now, don’t get me wrong, these are usually good things: “I go to church, read my Bible, and pray.” Paul wrote to the church in Galatia, who were being deceived, to remind them of their freedom in Christ and not depending on works for salvation. 

So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law. Galatians 5:1 

In Galatians 5 Paul reminds us that we are free to do whatever we want; the question is what do we want to do? What drives us in life? Since those who trust in Jesus for salvation are no longer slaves why do we go back to things we know we shouldn’t do?

But we who live by the Spirit eagerly wait to receive by faith the righteousness God has promised to us. Galatians 5:5 

Oh … it’s about life in the Spirit. 

For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. Galatians 5:13 

Paul continued in this chapter showing us that the power of the Spirit living in us  changes our lives and we can walk in total freedom. God’s best for us is to be driven by the Spirit and serve others. Pretty simple, right?

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. Galatians 5:16-17 

It sounds like there’s a war going on in our hearts and minds, opposing forces battling for a Spirit-filled life; whose side are you on? Paul gave us a sample of desires of the flesh in verses 19-21 in case we weren’t sure: look it up, it’s grim. However, he doesn’t leave us there, but reminds us of the contrast of life in the Spirit.

Here are some excerpts:

• Living by the Spirit (used twice)

• Walking by the Spirit

• Led by the Spirit

• Desires of the Spirit

• Fruit of the Spirit

• Keeping in step with the Spirit

All those phrases are used by Paul in Galatians 5 for the express purpose of showing the benefits of Spirit-filled believers. How do you know if you’re a Spirit-filled believer? That’s the point of the metaphor of fruit: what’s growing in your life? Which side is winning this war; Paul says it’s evident. People watch you, listen to you, and analyze what you say, it’s evident to them if you’re different. So don’t get caught up in what you do as much as who you are.

Episode Seven: Already

Matthew 13 is famous for Jesus’ rapid fire of eight consecutive parables describing what the Kingdom of Heaven is like: four seed stories, leaven, hidden treasure, a pearl and a net. He closed this series (vs. 52) by announcing that all teachers need to be prepared or trained with these new truths as well as the old ones. Jesus didn’t disqualify the Law and the Prophets, He fulfilled them. In that way He created a new way of living in freedom and newness of life. His disciples needed to understand that the ‘old ways’ of Judaism, the first covenant, was being replaced with ‘new ways’ of Christianity calling them treasures.

But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant He mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises. Hebrews 8:6

The prophet Jeremiah prepared God’s chosen people for this ‘new covenant’ by declaring it would be in their minds and written in hearts (31:31-34), additionally, in His mercy He won’t remember their sins anymore. 

In speaking of a new covenant, He makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away. Hebrews 8:13 

The New Covenant was ratified by Jesus’ own blood when He paid the ultimate price for our sin. Now, the Kingdom of Heaven includes forgiveness, undeserved grace and mercy, freedom to choose, and on and on. It’s a new and better way of living (Heb. 10:20); it’s Kingdom living. We also need to understand that Kingdom living is not about obeying rules or working for God’s acceptance reassuring those in our sphere of influence of the value of faith.

Understanding those upper stories is vital to sharing the gospel of the Kingdom and the disciples were getting it, yet they also fell back into lower story thinking asking Jesus (Matt. 18) who will be the greatest in this kingdom? Jesus used this opportunity to show, once again, it begins with childlike humility and forgiveness. When Peter asked about it Jesus told a parable that taught the danger of not forgiving people who sin against you; it’ll put you in spiritual prison (Matt. 18:23-35). 

Another ‘new way’ of kingdom living is recognizing that God’s authority is sovereign and what seems unfair to us isn’t, in His perspective. He told a parable of workers who received the same pay even though they worked different lengths of time. It seemed unfair, but Jesus was teaching that in the Kingdom of Heaven He chooses what’s right and acts accordingly. Some Christian doctrines don’t seem fair in our eyes, but ultimately God chooses, elects, and invites whomsoever He will into His Kingdom (see Luke 14). 

Passion Week was recorded by Matthew beginning in chapter 21, fortunately Jesus isn’t finished teaching us about this invisible Kingdom that we can’t physically see, but it’s already here in the midst of us (Luke 17:20). 

*** I’m taking a two week break from posting on my blog going on vacation. Hope you’ll stay with me until I return.

Fruit of the Spirit

Part One

It amazes me when I talk to believers about faith and they list the things they do. Now, don’t get me wrong, these are usually good things: “I go to church, read my Bible, and pray.” The attitude is, “That should do it” but does it? Paul didn’t agree so he wrote to the church in Galatia, who were being deceived, to remind them of their freedom in Christ. 

So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law. Galatians 5:1 

In Galatians 5 Paul reminds us that we are free to do whatever we want; the question is what do we want to do? What drives us in life? Since those who trust in Jesus for salvation are no longer slaves why do we go back to things we know we shouldn’t do?

But we who live by the Spirit eagerly wait to receive by faith the righteousness God has promised to us. Galatians 5:5 

Oh … it’s about life in the Spirit. 

For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. Galatians 5:13 

Paul continued in this chapter showing us that the power of the Spirit living in us  changes our lives and we can walk in total freedom. God’s best for us is to be driven by the Spirit and serve others. Pretty simple, right?

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. Galatians 5:16-17 

It sounds like there’s a war going on in our hearts and minds, opposing forces battling for a victorious life; whose side are you on? It’s pretty easy to tell, Paul even gave us a sample of desires of the flesh in verses 19-21 in case we weren’t sure: take a look at it, it’s grim. However, he doesn’t leave us there, but reminds us of the contrast of life in the Spirit.

Here are some excerpts:

• Living by the Spirit (used twice)
• Walking by the Spirit
• Led by the Spirit
• Desires of the Spirit
• Fruit of the Spirit
• Keeping in step with the Spirit

All those phrases are used by Paul in Galatians 5 for the express purpose of showing the benefits of Spirit-filled believers. How do you know if you’re a Spirit-filled believer? That’s the point of the metaphor of fruit: what’s growing in your life? Which side is winning this war; Paul says it’s evident. People watch you, listen to you, and analyze what you say, it’s evident to them if you’re different; it’s time for a fruit inspection.