Category Archives: John

Discovering Sacred Space

Posted on November 5, 2023 | Leave a comment


Acts 7:7 ‘But I will judge the nation that they serve,’ said God, ‘and after that they shall come out and worship me in this place.’  8 And he gave him the covenant of circumcision. And so Abraham became the father of Isaac, and circumcised him on the eighth day, and Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob of the twelve patriarchs.  9 “And the patriarchs, jealous of Joseph, sold him into Egypt; but God was with him 10 and rescued him out of all his afflictions and gave him favor and wisdom before Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who made him ruler over Egypt and over all his household. 11 Now there came a famine throughout all Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction, and our fathers could find no food. 12 But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent out our fathers on their first visit. 13 And on the second visit Joseph made himself known to his brothers, and Joseph’s family became known to Pharaoh

LEARNING FROM OTHERS: Brian Borgman

Cliff Notes: Stephen uses the history of God’s interaction with Abraham and Joseph — before the law, before Moses and before the Temple — to point out to the Jewish leaders they have forgotten the real identity and location of Sacred space.

LEARNING ABOUT SACRED SPACE FROM JESUS — ESV Verses from John with only Chapter citations.
8 Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am. 6 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. 6  I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh. 8 I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. 10 Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.  10 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 11 I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. 14 I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 15 I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 15  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.

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Posted in Acts, John, Light, Sunday

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Learning from Scripture

Posted on October 25, 2023 | Leave a comment

Acts 6:7 And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith. 8 And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. 9 Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and disputed with Stephen. 10 But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. 

LEARNING FROM OTHERS
“The first disciples in the gospels actually devoted themselves to the way of life taught by John the Baptist. The gospel of John depicts this time of discipleship as rather short- lived since John the Baptist understood his own work as in part a preparation for the coming of Jesus…In the book of Acts, the resurrection of Jesus adds a new dimension to discipleship. In a sense, the disciples also devoted themselves to a particular teaching about Jesus, that God raised Jesus from the dead, which in turn further substantiated devotion to Jesus’ teaching after his crucifixion. [Robert L. Foster] 

The question arises: why is the word ‘disciple’ only found in the Gospels and in the Book of Acts? According to Alison Morgan: “The difference is that the emphasis is now not on the individual, responding to the call of Jesus, but on the group, learning to reshape their lives in the light of that call”. She concludes: “The plural of disciple is church.  [Paul Beasley Murray]  

“New Testament scholar Darrell Bock says: “At salvation, a believer becomes a disciple.” He goes on to say that “discipleship is a walk that lasts the rest of one’s life.” Bock lists some of the key aspects of this lifelong discipleship that are emphasized in Luke and Acts: total commitment; love for God and neighbor; prayer; perseverance in suffering; watchfulness, patience and boldness; faith and dependence; joy and praise; testimony and witness; stewardship of wealth and possessions; commitment to the lost.17 Embracing and maturing in each of these areas takes time and is challenging, but those who receive the grace of God and enter His kingdom are enabled to do so through the empowering presence of the indwelling Holy Spirit…With total commitment to orient us, the Word of God to instruct us, the Spirit of God to empower us, the people of God to support us and a gracious Lord to pardon us, we are able to live out faithful and fruitful discipleship leading to increasing Christlikeness. [CS Lewis Institute]

LEARNING FROM JESUS
“If ye abide in My word, then are ye truly My disciples ; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free ” [Jesus]

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Posted in Acts, John, Light, New Testament, Wisdom

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The Lie That Destroys

Posted on October 11, 2023 | Leave a comment

Acts 5:1 But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, 2 and with his wife’s knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? 4 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.” 5 When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. 6 The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him.  7 After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 And Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.” And she said, “Yes, for so much.” 9 But Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” 10 Immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things. ESV

MY THOUGHTS
The plain truth is that deception has been around since the foundation of the earth. The liar began at the beginning, there in the midst of perfection, to lobby the minds and the hearts of those first two people to normalize deception.  And mankind learned from the “best worst.”  The Living Bible says it so clearly; “When he [satan] lies, it is perfectly normal; for he is the father of liars.[John 8:44].  And therein lies the “more” of the fearful and tragic outcome of this story.  Ananias and Sapphira were members of a community of faith.  They cared enough for that community that they were willing to sell their property for its benefit…but they bought the lie!

BEWARE!  We’ve been lied to…too!   We’ve accepted an abnormal “normal” that we’re just holding a little back from God.  That’s the ultimate lie. We’ve been fooled into believing we can give God just enough that it covers up the ultimate lie that we think we’re better than we really are.  The destroyer has found the perfect way to normalize that lie by corrupting the heart and mind of those who’ve been given the Spirit of the Lord.  BEWARE!

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Posted in Acts, John, Light, New Testament, Wednesday

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The Hidden Treasure

Posted on August 16, 2023 | Leave a comment

Matthew 13:44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.”  ESV

POP QUIZ
1. Why did the man choose to cover up the treasure and then go buy the field?
2. What is the treasure?
3. Is the field the kingdom of heaven?
4. What makes the treasure like the kingdom of heaven?
5. Why purchase the field, not just take the treasure?  Matthew 7:21-23
6. Is Jesus challenging our greedy human nature wanting to own the treasure or is He asking us to do whatever it takes to make the treasure ours?   Matthew 6:19 or Matthew 6:21
7. Is the Word the treasure?  John 1:1
8. Is Jesus the treasure covered up in the flesh of man? Philippians 2:7

Think about these things.
“…God’s mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Col 2:2b & 3

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Posted in Colossians, John, Light, Matthew, New Testament, Parables, Philippians, Wednesday

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I Am/You Are

Posted on May 3, 2023 | Leave a comment

14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. ESV

This parable from Matthew is from the same Lord who said “I am the light of the world.a” It’s a big deal!  Light and sight were God’s #1 priority at creation and now Jesus says “You are the light of the world.” Light is still His priority and “I Am/You Are” is His #1 way to share it with a world, a city and all in the house that are having trouble seeing…
Direction: Where the light is coming from
Intensity: the impact light has on what is seen
Contrast: what is hidden by darkness

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.  You are the light of the world… so that they may see your [light] good works and
give glory to your Father who is in heaven.  

a John 8:12

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Posted in John, Light, Matthew, New Testament, Parables, Wednesday

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Don’t Miss the Details

Posted on March 29, 2023 | Leave a comment

This is a perfect example of the premise of letting one Testament read you the other.  Jesus talks in John 16:25 about using “figures of speech.”  The “horn of salvation” is like that.  I have read it, I know it’s Jesus, I have no reason to disagree. It’s a “figure of speech” I can easily skip over except this exercise has caused me to see a tiny little letter that directs my attention to Psalm 18 and I find details of worship for that moment I would have otherwise missed.

I love you, Jesus, my strength. You are my rock and my fortress and my deliverer the rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield AND “the reality of my salvation,” my stronghold.  Amen.

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Posted in John, Light, Luke, New Testament, Old Testament, Psalms, Wednesday

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Three in One

Posted on March 22, 2023 | Leave a comment

to Old Testament Verses
Genesis 1:26-28 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”  So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.  And God blessed them. And God said to them,“Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth
Psalm 110:1 The Lord says to my Lord:..

I love that God has a history of talking to Himself!  And I love that these Old Testament verses use plural pronouns to confirm the reality that God exists in the mysterious wonder of three identities for the purpose of identifying Himself to the them that includes me.  As believers in Christ we know those three identities are a)the creator God, b)the Son Jesus and c) the Holy Spirit, the witness — but why Three?   I wonder if there’s more to that conversation God was having with Himself?  I wonder if knowing about His self-talk and that we’re created in His image means I need to pay more attention to my self-talk as a follower of Jesus because self-talk may be God’s way of speaking to me.  It does say “God said to them.”

Self-talk is an inner voice that combines our thoughts, beliefs and feelings to influence our response to life.  Sometimes it’s way below the radar of consciousness but that’s why that mysterious three are so important. The one who at creation knew He would speak life into you just as He did for Adam, at just the right time. The one who walked on earth to be the guide for your steps through the twists and turns of daily life, and the one who came after, to be the internal helper that could keep track of those steps long before anyone else even thought of step tracking.  They are the same Three in One having an important conversation with each other about your life and their intended purpose for it that spans creation to eternity.  Listen carefully, and practice their Words as part of your own self-talk.

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Posted in Acts, Genesis, John, Light, Psalms, Wednesday

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The Integrity of Grace

Posted on March 15, 2023 | Leave a comment

And Old Testament Verses 
— Isaiah 6:9 And he said, “Go, and say to this people:  “‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’ 10 Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and blind their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.”
— Isaiah 53:1 Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?

John repeats some of the most troublesome Words in the Bible.  They are God’s judgement given to Isaiah to let unbelievers know He will use their unbelief for His purpose.  Not all judgment of God is punishment, but it is always reality.  God sets the rules.  He has judged this group of unbelievers will be made deaf, blind and dull of heart.  I see that, but I wish it weren’t so.  

What possible purpose could the Sovereign Lord have in making such a judgment?  Why has He identified these unbelievers in this way?  He’s obviously not punishing them for what He’s done.  I have an idea that this judgment has to do with the reality of grace and glory.

I wonder if what He has seen in this group of people is the nature of man’s heart to listen but not heed His truth and see that truth as a useful tool to manipulate life but not believe it’s His power.  The nature of God’s Sovereignty is driven by grace that must respond to belief.  Could it be that God has judged these unbelievers in order to protect the integrity of His grace for those who DO see with their eyes, and hear with their ears,and understand their transformed heart is for the sake of God’s glory and for His purpose.

“God is sovereign over all belief and unbelief.
He knows exactly how to plan both of them in ways
that exalt his sovereignty and preserve man’s accountability.”
[John Piper]

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Posted in Isaiah, John, Light, New Testament, Old Testament

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Moment of Obedience

Posted on February 5, 2023 | Leave a comment

I think I must have subconsciously remembered that the Feast of Dedication was also known as the Feast of Lights.  That got my attention. Don’t miss that timing here because I don’t  think Jesus did. The Feast of Lights is observed during the Winter solstice when the day with the least hours of light happens. The Light of the World choosing to be at the Feast of Lights during the darkest time of year to celebrate enduring light. Do you see where this is heading?

The Jews had been through a terrible time in their history when this feast first began. They’d endured nearly 200 years of wars, massacres, their faith being outlawed, the Temple in Jerusalem being desecrated and no new prophets raised to reveal new truths about God to them.  They were blinded by that loss until the Temple was recaptured and they were called to rebuild it and refocus themselves on the worship of the One true God, as instructed by Moses. The first Feast began as a commemoration to rededicate the Temple and themselves to God and to relight the menorah that was meant to provide light every day and night in the Temple.  The Jews knew they only had oil for one day but they chose to give that one day to God out of obedience.  And in that moment of obedience God gave them the miracle of enduring light that lasted eight days that they continued to celebrate each of the following 200 years.

Jesus is the new moment of obedience for them at this feast.  The same Lord they’ve honored every year since that first beginning has come into their midst.  Jesus, the Light of the World, has chosen to reveal the bold declaration of His identity: “I and the Father are one” and then later in verse 38 “the Father is in me and I am in the Father.”  At this point in time they’ve lived through a nearly 400-year period between the Old Testament ending with Malachi’s speaking of a new coming of the Lord and the New Testament’s beginning with John the Baptist’s testimony about Jesus as the Messiah. Now God has proven His silence is over…and they’ve missed the moment.  

Reading John’s scripture passage is like reading a familiar pattern of daily life. The recorded wisdom of history and the reality of life are all rolled into the two Testaments of His Word. The Bible doesn’t put a pretty face on every experience of life.  Sometimes it includes the reality of how easy it is to miss the moment of obedience.  And then it speaks of a new moment of hope in Galatians 2:19 TLB…for it was through reading the Scripture that I came to realize that I could never find God’s favor by trying—and failing—to obey the laws. I came to realize that acceptance with God comes by believing in Christ.

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Posted in Galatians, John, Light, New Testament, Sunday

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AND

Posted on January 29, 2023 | Leave a comment

This “cliff note” idea is not meant to be a definitive commentary of these verses. What I see now is just that — what I see now,  I spend each day between posts reading and re-reading the current verses.  I’m concentrating on looking for what catches my interest enough to make me ask “is this the truth I believe?”  My confidence is in one important thing; the Spirit of God is at work.  He’s the door opener. AND I want to get it right.  When I “ink” what I think I know, in plain sight for you to read, it’s a risk of obedience. I know the Spirit’s work is to teach AND correct.  That’s not an either/or it’s an AND.

Today’s notes are about the Shepherd, the Gatekeeper, the Father and the sheep that recognize them. The Gatekeeper is the guard, the Shepherd manages the sheep and His charge from the Father is to find the “sheep that are not of this fold…so there will be one flock, one Shepherd.”  That’s spot on!  However, I wondered why I’d ignored the last three verses of this chosen passage and realized I didn’t want them to mess up all that lovely truth-teaching with the hard fact of division and doubt. That’s when the “teach AND correct” kicked in. Sometimes it’s the ugly Words that remind me how much I need the Shepherd, the Gatekeeper and the Father to open my own eyes so I can recognize division is the thief and robber who will never “open the eyes of the blind.”

 

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Posted in John, Light, New Testament, Sunday

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