believers

The Prayer of Jesus

/ Tim A. / Leave a comment

Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on Me through their word; that they all may be one; as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in Us: that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me.  And the glory which Thou gavest Me I have given them; that they may be one, even as We are one:  I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that Thou hast sent Me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved Me.
John 17:20-23

In chapter 17 of the Gospel of John we have the longest prayer Jesus has recorded in Scripture. The only other prayers He prayed are those that were prayed when was asking the Father to raise the dead Lazarus or to heal a certain individual.

The so called “Lord’s Prayer” was an instruction of how we ought to pray.

What catches my attention in this seventeenth chapter of John is; not only is He praying for Himself His praying for His followers – those who believe in Him – as well. He was not only praying those present day followers but for all who would believe through their preaching and teaching His word.

He prayed for us all to be one as He and His Father are One. If there was ever a day when the people of God needed to be one in Christ Jesus it is now. All politics within Christ people must stop. All hatred and bitter talk must come to a swift end, or there will be  even greater division.

Notice also that God loves us, as He loves His only begotten Son.

Overcoming Evil

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“Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine; I will repay,’ saith the Lord.
Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:19-21 (KJB)

Overcoming of evil is not expected of evil.  It is expected of those who have been overcome by the One who has conquered the evil one who is Satan. He was defeated by Jesus Christ on the cross.

Our battle is not against flesh and blood. It is not against our neighbor across the street or across the creek, or on the other side of the fence. Our battle is against spiritual wickedness in high places (Ephesians 6:12). We are to love one another as believers in Christ.

We are to also show love to those who would mean us harm. Give them food and water. Give them wood for their fire. Overcome evil with good.

If you think this is difficult then just think of what Jesus Christ did for us. The sinless, guiltless, Son of God went to the cross to die for the sin laden, guilty, dirty, filthy, stinking sins of the sinners that you and me are. He really was overcoming evil with good.

Vengeance is God’s. Leave it with Him. Also see Deuteronomy 32:35 and Hebrews 10:30.

We Shall Judge Angels

/ Tim A. / Leave a comment

“Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?  Do you not know that the saints shall judge the world, and if the world shall be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters?  Know you not that we shall judge angels? How much more things that pertain to this life? If then you have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church.  I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? No, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?   But brother goes to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers.  Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because you go to law one with another. Why do you not rather take wrong? Why do you not rather be defrauded?  No, you do wrong, and defraud, and that brethren.”  1 Corinthians 6:1-8 (TKJB)

References:  1 Corinthians 1:2;  Matthew 19:28;  Revelation 2:26;  2 Peter 2:4-10;  Proverbs 20:22;  Luke 6:29;  1 Thessalonians 4:6