Faithful on Fridays Blog

Part Two

Relationships are kept alive with communication; it’s the only way to really ‘know’ people holding true with God as well. In Chapter Six Isaiah was given communication with the King, the Lord of heavens armies, through a prophetic vision and it was a doozy. He personally experienced Christ on the throne, seraphim angels worshipping, and His Voice speaking in the midst of the glorious smoke. What was his response? God’s presence caused him to recognize that he and his people were lost in sin and hopelessness. The apostle Peter, in the presence of Christ, had a similar reaction,

“… he fell to his knees before Jesus and said, “Oh, Lord, please leave me—I’m too much of a sinner to be around you.” Luke 5:8 

God reassured Isaiah that his sin was removed and he’s prepared for his assignment to prophesy to this rebellious people of the coming exile to Assyria, but also the hope that a remnant will return. It wouldn’t depend on ‘blind faith’, but there will be signs along the way:

… Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14b

Sound familiar? It’s not simply a Christmas card passage, it’s a reminder that God will be with them, and us, even in the hard times. Yes, exile is coming (8:5-15), but Immanuel will be with them. 

Remember those key words ‘in that day’ and ‘latter times’ as you read these chapters because the prophetic telescope is speaking of Jesus who’ll appear 700 years later. Unfathomable? Yes, but God’s communicating to His people that His Son will be sent to the nations (Galilee represents the nations), not only Israel, as Matthew records (4:12-16); He’s the great light, the Son of God (9:6-7), who’ll be the promised Son of David seated on the throne for eternity. Isaiah was able to prophesy of Jesus’ first coming and second coming, it’s no wonder he’s called the Prince of the Prophets!

God used a foreign nation to bring about His justice and promised they will return. The northern kingdom, ten tribes, called Israel did in fact return to their land after being scattered, however it didn’t happen until 1948 when Israel was recognized as a nation (10:20-23). 

The love of God is crystal clear in this prophetic book; take Chapter Eleven for example. There’s a first coming of Christ, the descendant of Jesse (David’s father), who’ll be filled with the Spirit, and a second coming when the earth will be restored and we’ll all experience Him once again. Praise, worship, and thankfulness (Chapter Twelve) will erupt on That Day when mankind rejoins Jesus Christ to spend eternal life with Him. 

Chapter Thirteen begins judgments against enemy nations of Israel who God used as His instruments, however, they’ll suffer in their pride at His hand. There’s even a glimpse of Judgment Day when Jesus returns (13:9-16), but we remember Immanuel, He’s with us and ‘in us’ forever.

Fruit of the Spirit: Part Six

There’s been a lot of teaching and worship music in the last few years that remind us of our spiritual identity. I am Who You Say I Am by Hillsong, You Say by Lauren Daigle, or Made New by Lincoln Brewster to name a few. It’s vital for believers to remember who we are in Christ, however, it’s also essential to remember that it was God who showed us His spiritual identity first. 

The next two pieces of fruit to explore are kindness and goodness, thankfully, God showed us those attributes so we could recognize them in Him and, in turn, pattern ourselves after them.

Lovingkindness, unfailing love, steadfast love, grace, or mercy are words translators choose for the one Hebrew word chesed. In this passage God is declaring His spiritual identity as chesed:

“Please, Lord, prove that Your power is as great as You have claimed. For You said, ‘The Lord is slow to anger and filled with unfailing love, forgiving every kind of sin and rebellion.’ In keeping with Your magnificent, unfailing love, please pardon the sins of this people …” Numbers 14:17-18a, 19a

Kindness is when someone demonstrates acts of grace or undeserved favor to meet your needs (Eph. 2:7) and Jesus, as our example, showed exemplary kindness to everyone He met and encouraged us to be like Him:

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. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. Luke 6:35-36 

As the Lord meets and even surpasses our needs, how much more should we meet the needs of others and be like Him?

Goodness, the next fruit, is also an attribute of God that we copy in our lives. Goodness is the desire to be generous (Pv. 19:17) and benefit others whenever we have the opportunity. Only God is truly good (Ps. 100:5), but after He washes away our sin (Rom. 2:4) we are good as well. People may say, “He’s a good person” but true goodness is when the Holy Spirit prompts us into action and we obey. The motivation to be good is Spirit-directed and empowered as we desire to please God.

And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.

Acts of the Apostles 10:38 

It’s no different with us then it was with Jesus; we’re given the power of the Holy Spirit to do good to others which includes healing and deliverance. Put yourself in the position of showing kindness and goodness to others by meeting their needs wherever you can and strive to be generous in every way.

Taste and see that the Lord is good. Psalms 34:8a

Part One

God loves to communicate with us since His desire is that we know Him, consequently, Isaiah helps us by speaking for God with his prophetic words reaching all of God’s people for all time. Envision a pirate’s handheld telescope allowing you see far away details, open it further and your vision increases to far, far away details impossible to see without this tool. We have a ‘prophetic telescope’ through Isaiah allowing us to see far away details of Israel’s future alongside the far, far future for all believers in these 66 chapters. 

The Bible has 66 books divided into two sections: The Old (39 books) and the New Testaments (27 books). Isaiah is also divided by theologians into two parts; the first 39 chapters are indictments from God as warnings (like the Old Testament) with an obvious shift in the remaining 27 chapters promising the Messiah who ushers in eternity (like the New Testament). Coincidental? I don’t think so.

As we walk through Isaiah we’ll be using an end times lens, not focusing on historical Israel, but on what God is saying to us today and for our tomorrow. For example, God’s grief over what’s happening to His creation and His image bearers with impending punishment on its way is Chapter One. He compares them to the sexually immoral Sodom and Gomorrah, the lack of justice for widows and the fatherless, and no help for the oppressed … are we any different today? Immoral sex on TV, the internet, and movies in which many in the Church participate, little help from the Church for single women and fatherless children, or organized opportunities for serving the poor, hungry, naked, and in prison. Those were Jesus’ words in His last parable (Matt. 25:31-46) which sounds like an indictment for the worldwide Church today. Thankfully God has an antidote to this infection: repentance (vs. 16-20). 

Let’s watch for far, far future prophetic words in Isaiah like ‘latter days’, ‘that day’, or ‘a day’ from the LORD of hosts; they’re a prophetic telescope extended to Judgment Day and for us the day is dawning and the Morning Star is arising (2 Peter 1:19b). 

Chapters 4-5 describe the coming of the Messiah, The Branch (Jesus), who adores His people, but laments those who ignore the crucial nature of obedience in serving others. Isaiah used God’s name, LORD of hosts, nine times in these five chapters indicating that Jesus is the Commander in Chief, ready to return taking dominion over the earth and we’ll be with Him,

Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The One sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following Him on white horses. Revelation 19:11, 14 

I invite you to read Isaiah alongside this message so we can receive God’s charges against us, repent, and enjoy His promises for eternity spent with Him. 

Fruit of the Spirit: Part Five

Love, joy, and peace … ahh, such wonderful attributes of God that eventually grow in our character as we strive to be like Him. However, our fruit for today is a little more challenging: patience. When ripened, this fruit is persevering and longsuffering; it has staying power and Holy Spirit strength (Rom. 15:5). 

Since the fruit of the Spirit is God’s character, listen to what He declared to Moses as He stood with him:

“Yahweh! The Lord! The God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.” Exodus 34:6

The people of Israel deserved His wrath, but instead received mercy as God stood with them. Now, don’t get me wrong, God does have His limits (see Ex. 4), but His nature is patient and longsuffering. That’s true for us as well.

What is patience? It means you burn long and strong. It’s experiencing strong, even fierce emotion, but keeping it under control. Patience is enduring and constant; it suffers long and doesn’t have Plan B. If I was God I would’ve scratched Plan A and tried another one: not God. He burns long and strong for us.

And the seeds that fell on the good soil represent honest, good-hearted people who hear God’s word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest. Luke 8:15

Jesus promised if we would burn long and strong, being patient, a ginormous harvest would come! Get ready … it’s coming.

And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. Hebrews 12:1c

There are people allowed in our life by God that give us opportunity for endurance training (do I hear an Amen?), fortunately, we don’t endure in our own power or strength but in His. 

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because He has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with His love. Romans 5:3-5

This isn’t about will-power, but about Spirit-power. Jesus never intended us to have the ability to go it alone, that’s why He gave us the empowerment of the indwelling Spirit.

Emotions are observable, consequently, they’re reflected in our bodies. Passion for good or evil (rage) causes an increased heart rate, heavy breathing, bulging neck veins, and a red face which everyone can see. God gifted us with the ability for passion, but it’s our goal to keep it burning, long and strong, for good.

He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, He will give eternal life; Romans 2:6-7

Be patient with irregular people, have the steadfastness of Christ (2 Thes. 3:5), since He is patient with you.

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.