a radical, economy-leveling era November 29, 2010
Posted by highofseventyfive in profound thoughts, theology.Tags: Bible, isaiah 61, Jesus, jubilee, leviticus 25, luke 4
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Jesus makes the poor a priority. He understood the gap in income between the rich and the poor. Jesus proves his radical, society-shaking character in Scripture.
In Luke 4 Jesus is quoting Scripture in public ministry. Jesus quoted Scripture many times. But Jesus had never read the Scriptures the way He did on this day. The Spirit of the Lord had anointed Him. The Holy Spirit had descended upon Him to give Him power to begin His earthly ministry. Everything Jesus did from that day on had a new power and anointing. This is the only such moment in all of the Gospels. The Son of God selecting and reading Scripture? This is it. On the singular occasion we know of, which verse did He choose?
Jesus read a passage from Isaiah 61:1,2. This passage prophetically spoke of Jesus and His recent anointing. Jesus told them they were witnessing the day that Isaiah’s prophecy was coming to pass. The Spirit of the Lord had come to rest on Jesus and they were all witnesses.) Luke 4:17-19 says
17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:
18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”[a]Luke 4:17-19
And then it says that everyone’s eyes were fastened on Him.
Yeah, I’ll say.
Jesus applied theses verses to himself in the synagogue at Nazareth. Jesus is pretty much claiming publicly that He is the Messiah described. Bold. But the thing that is sticking out to me is something different in this passage.
“freedom for the captives”, and “the year of the Lord’s favor” reference The Year of Jubilee, described in Leviticus 25.
The Year of Jubilee
8 “‘Count off seven sabbath years—seven times seven years—so that the seven sabbath years amount to a period of forty-nine years. 9 Then have the trumpet sounded everywhere on the tenth day of the seventh month; on the Day of Atonement sound the trumpet throughout your land. 10 Consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you; each of you is to return to your family property and to your own clan. 11 The fiftieth year shall be a jubilee for you; do not sow and do not reap what grows of itself or harvest the untended vines. 12 For it is a jubilee and is to be holy for you; eat only what is taken directly from the fields.13 “‘In this Year of Jubilee everyone is to return to their own property.
14 “‘If you sell land to any of your own people or buy land from them, do not take advantage of each other. 15 You are to buy from your own people on the basis of the number of years since the Jubilee. And they are to sell to you on the basis of the number of years left for harvesting crops. 16 When the years are many, you are to increase the price, and when the years are few, you are to decrease the price, because what is really being sold to you is the number of crops. 17 Do not take advantage of each other, but fear your God. I am the LORD your God.
How cool is that? With time, the gap between the rich and the poor become so large that the rich and the poor never see each other. God never wants those who have a lot to be so far from those who have a little that they cannot see each other. This year of Jubilee would cancel debts, return land to original owners, free slaves, and start fresh. Set the playing field level again. Even. The jubilee guaranteed everyone an opportunity to get back on their feet.
Wow, so the Year of Jubilee, a paperwork/logistical nightmare, may never have actually happened in Israel. As far as we know, the people of Israel never practiced the year of Jubilee. There are no stories in the Bible that indicates these things actually happened. The Jubilee was seen as an ideal future situation, to be put into practice when the Messiah would come.
it hit me in a different way than it usually does (through a lesson in Max Lucado’s Out Live Your Life) that Jesus cares deeply for the poor. So much so, that His first anointed public ministry teaching was used as a platform to proclaim a radical, economy-leveling era of trust and fairness (which was so radical it had never happened!!)
I mean, is that crazy? That Jesus is making a bold statement about how He’s the messiah, and He’s ushering in a time described in the Old Testament, but something Jews may have never seen/experienced. It was an ideal, a future situation. It was SUPPOSED to be happening every 50 years. “acceptable year of the Lord” describes the reminiscent twice-a-century celebration intended to press the restart button on the machinery of justice. Jesus was ushering it in. Jesus was ushering in a radical, economic infrastructure that would shake up society. God shakes the social etch-a-sketch.
Jesus’ mission statement:
Preach the gospel to the poor
heal the brokenhearted
proclaim liberty to the captives
proclaim recovery of sight to the blind
set at liberty those who are oppressed
and proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.
So what does this say about God’s heart? At least this: He values a level playing field. In His society the Have-a-lots and the Have-a-littles are never to be so far apart that they can’t see each other.
The Gospel of Jesus: it was never a formula June 10, 2010
Posted by highofseventyfive in Media, profound thoughts.Tags: donald miller, gospel, Jesus, love, searching for God knows what, sharing
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An excerpt from the book “Searching for God Knows What” by Donald Miller. Page 153-154 says,
It makes me wonder if, because of this reduced version of the claims of Christ, we believe the gospel is easy to understand, a simple mental exercise, not in the least bit mysterious. And if you think about it, a person has a more difficult time explaining romantic love, for instance, or beauty, or the Trinity, than the gospel of Jesus. John would open his gospel by presenting the idea that God is the Word and Jesus is the Word and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. Not exactly bullet points for easy consumption. Perhaps our reduction of these ideas has caused us to miss something.
—
Each year I teach a class on the gospel and culture at a small Bible college back East. This year I asked the students to list the precepts a person would need to understand in order to become a Christian. I stood at the white board and they called out ideas: Man was sinful by nature; sin separates us from God; Jesus died for our sins; we could accept Jesus into our hearts (after some thought, students were not able to explain exactly what they meant by this, only saying it was a kind of interaction in which a person agrees Jesus is the Son of God), and so on. Then, looking at the board, I began to ask some questions about these almost universally accepted ideas. I asked if a person could believe all these ideas were true and yet not be a Christian. I told them my friend Matt, for instance, believed all these ideas and yet would never claim to be a person who knows Jesus or much less follows Him. The students conceded that, in fact, a person could know and even believe all the concepts on the board and yet not be a Christian. “Then there is something missing, isnt’ there?” I said to the class. “It isn’t wateright just yet. there must be some idea we are leaving out, some full-proof thing a person has to agree with in order to have a relatonship with Christ.”
We sat together and looked at the board for several minutes until we conceded we weren’t going to come up with the missing element. I then erased the board and asked the class a different question: “What ideas would a guy need to agree with or what steps would a guy need to take in order to fall in love with a girl?” The class chuckled a bit, but I continued, going so far as to begin a list.
1. A guy would have to get to know her.
I stood back from the board and wondered out loud what the next step might be. “Any suggestions?” I asked the class. We thought about it for a second, and then one of the students spoke up and said, “It isn’t exactly a scientific process.”
this week ROCKS. February 3, 2010
Posted by highofseventyfive in Uncategorized.Tags: extrovert, fund development, gospel, intervarsity, Jesus, meetings, talking'
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this week so far:
monday: 6a-2:30. got tip $. went to target with a coworker. Shared the gospel with her !!! 
met with potential donors. They said yes. Had an beyond awesome CORE meeting.
tuesday: 5a-1:30. took nap. Got free books in the mail. met with potential donors for dinner. They said yes. Learned cool things about them. Came home, watched American Idol.
wednesday: Met with a potential donor for lunch. She said yes. Found out cool things about her. Had SO MUCH FUN! Visited the Princeton Library folks in admin. Mentoring and large group tonight. some chores and errands until then.
This is SO MUCH FUN!
Been reading 1 Chronicles 28-29 alot. its so cool the way King David just lays the plan out there and just says, “who’s with me?” and all the people contributed willingly. They celebrated and gave from their hearts. And David encourages Solomon with such great words, saying,
“Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the LORD is finished. 21 The divisions of the priests and Levites are ready for all the work on the temple of God, and every willing man skilled in any craft will help you in all the work. The officials and all the people will obey your every command.”
I am having such an amazingly fun time doing this. It is great to sit down and listen to people’s stories. Hearing their lives, what God has done. What an amazing blessing fund development is. I wouldn’t want it any other way. It seems hard and crazy, but I am getting so much out of this! I get to see the KINGDOM at work. I get to hear what is happening all around the country, all around hte world, and all around mercer county that i didn’t even know about. wow. and about crazy connections.
and this isn’t even working with students, (which is what i get REALLY jazzed about). haha. this is hilarious. i’m just so full of joy. oh yeah.
so now i’m blasting music and bopping around my house.
Quick! Get a paper towel, a sponge, anything! January 20, 2010
Posted by highofseventyfive in Uncategorized.Tags: christianity, evangelism, fund development, gospel, intervarsity, Jesus, prayer, rider university
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“Quick! Get a paper towel, a sponge, anything!”
The Empty Cup
There was a knock on my open dorm room door, a friday night, freshmen year at TCNJ. Jess and Chris came in with a spiritual survey. Soon they were telling me that Jesus came and died on a cross so people could go to heaven. With a dismissive wave I said, “sure, sure, I know that”. But did I know Him? The things they were saying challenged me. The more they talked, the more intrigued I was by this Jesus guy. That night I dedicated my life to getting to know this captivating God who loved me more than I had realized.
Filling
These two InterVarsity Christian Fellowship students brought me to a group that met weekly on campus, paired me with a mentor, and brought me to church. By the next Fall I was in two small groups studying the Bible. Chris led one about sharing faith, which I joined because they had already shared it with me– I wanted to know how to tell other people too! I attended leadership-training camps, and by junior year I was coordinating evangelism and community service events to reach out to my campus. Senior year found me casting vision as the president of the 220+ member group at The College of New Jersey. My eternity has been impacted by the work of faithful students and staff workers, and I have grown as a leader and a person of character through InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.
Built to Spill
Now, God has called me to be an InterVarsity Campus Staff Member. He is sending me out to invest in students to cultivate another witnessing community like the one that transformed me. You see, as if a glass could contain the sea, that’s the way God is in me. I’ve been filled to overflowing – my life will never be the same!
What_will_you_do? Invest in students. Guide and cultivate witnessing communities so that students can reach each another for Christ, genuinely & relevantly.
So_is_it_like__a job? Yep! In order to begin fulfilling the vision of InterVarsity on campus, I’ll need to raise a salary, kind of like a missionary.
Will_you_be_@TCNJ? I feel called to develop another witnessing community to become as dynamic and passionate as the one that transformed me.
Which_school_then? Rider University, a nearly 6,000 student, Divsion I, private school in Lawrenceville, NJ.
Whens_it_start? I am aiming to be full-time on campus by Fall 2010 (pending support).
How_can_I_help? Glad you asked! Let’s chat about how you can be a part of the vision to reach college students.
This Fall I started volunteering at Rider University. A place where thousands of young adults (tomorrow’s doctors, moms, and professors) are searching for identity, meaning and purpose. Plopped into a community where it’s their job is to be open to ideas and learn, it’s the time for them to figure out what they are supposed to do with the rest of their lives. I’ll invest in these students: Challenge them to pursue healthy relationships; to love people of every ethnicity and culture; train them in Christian principles of leadership to use on the campus, in their churches, communities and in the world. Most importantly, I’ll guide and cultivate witnessing communities so that students can reach one another for Christ, with genuine love and acute relevance.
InterVarsity’s vision, Students and Faculty Transformed, Campuses Renewed, and World Changers Developed, is essentially to give vision. To give students the chance to see the incomparably great power and love of God– for them. To watch God take that and give them the chance to make the campus a better place to live and learn. To give students a peek at the world through God’s eyes, and give them a clear picture of how they can create lasting change in their lifetime.
Sound exciting? (I sure think so). Would you consider partnering with me financially or in prayer as God spills out of me onto the campus? Click here to do just that! Give
Want to get my prayer letters and keep up with the work at Rider? Leave a comment!
Instant gratification culture- John 17:3 December 7, 2009
Posted by highofseventyfive in theology.Tags: eternal life, God, hope, intervarsity, Jesus, talk, vision
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this is my talk wednesday night at large group at Rider.
its written more as notes for me as I talk, so its not very paragraph-y or anything. enjoy it if you are reading this.
John 17:3 “Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.”
Engaging Our Instant Gratification Culture:
Everyone wants it now.
Gimme gimme gimme. Download it now, don’t wait, quick, access all the time.
Internet on your phone.
Order something and then don’t even wait to get it delivered, go pick it up yourself.
I can’t wait! Go see it at midnight!
Get there at 4 am!
Perhaps there’s a golden nugget in our greedy and impatient culture. Something we can learn and a tool we can use to relate to our friends. Let me explain.
These are the questions we are going to ask, and hopefully answer:
What is eternal life? What is this knowing God? When is eternal life? Why is this totally awesome?
1- What is eternal life?
John 4:13-1413Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
John 5:2424“I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.
John 5:39-4039You diligently study[a] the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, 40yet you refuse to come to me to have life.
John 6:5454Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.
John 11:2626and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
Do we believe this? All the things we’ve talked about heaven and eternal life being, can we wrap our mind around it? Can our friends wrap their minds around it? And so far Jesus hasn’t really said too much when asked about eternal life, except ways of getting it.
John 17:3 Now this is eternal life: That they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
Ah! So Jesus actually gives us a simple answer. What is it? Eternal life is Knowing God. We could say that the most basic definition of eternal life is communion with God through Jesus.
2- What is this knowing God?
The knowing talked about here is not facts and numbers.
Read John 5:39-40
God doesn’t want us to just know facts, but to know Him intimately.
not like filling out a survey, or guessing the right answers.
not about knowing a few key facts so you aren’t embarrassed when put on the spot.
about knowing God personally, intimately, and all the time!
Knowing God is experiencing God. the word “know” used there, is the same word used men knew their wives in bed. That’s the closeness we’re talking about here.
Our Western definition of knowing is heavily tied with intellect. However, again, the knowing meant here refers more to living it, and experience. Living and experiencing.
Think about a tornado. We can go on wikipedia, on the internet, watch videos, learn in books, talk about it in science class, see the effects of one on the news, etc. You all can say you know what a tornado is. But think about being IN a tornado. Has anyone lived in the Midwest? Too bad Eric isn’t here. Think about what a difference it is to say you know what a tornado is, after living through one? Oh, you sure do KNOW what a tornado is! Right?
How is it possible to know God? All through the Bible we see repeatedly how man is ignorant of God. Our ignorance and our sin keep us separated from Him and we don’t know Him. So how do we know him? Through Jesus. Apart from Jesus you could kinda know God, as an angry judge, you could know His wrath. But only Jesus provides a way for communion with God.
John 14:66Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Also through the Holy Spirit-
Ephesians 1:1717I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit[a] of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.
3- When is it? It’s happening now! Eternal life is a present experience. If our basic definition of eternal life is communion with God, we know that communion with God begins immediately when a person puts their faith in Jesus.
So, if eternal life = knowing God and
knowing God = experiencing God and
we can experience and know God NOW,
then eternal life= now!
Eternal life has nothing to do with time.
4- Why is this totally awesome? I hope you are already able to make that connection yourself. Well, for one thing, it gives us great hope! No matter what happens to us during this life, we are in relationship with God, the creator and king of the universe. and we are experiencing His power and hope.
Ephesians 1:18-19 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19and his incomparably great power for us who believe.
Every day our eyes can be enlightened to the ways God works, because we’re already experiencing eternal life. Sometimes when I’m in a bad mood, I just remind myself that I’m already living! It causes us re-evaluate the way we live our lives, doesn’t it?
Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.
5- Apply it to the vision:
First things first. Are WE living this hope? Are we experiencing eternal life now? What might have to change in our habits or attitudes?
How can we extend this hope to our friends? We already know that our friends have a rough time considering spending “forever and ever” playing a harp on a cloud. They aren’t even sure if heaven really exists! They can’t see giving up their here and now lives, for something later that sounds awfully boring. And quite honestly our friends aren’t thinking about dying. We’re 20-something, and we’re invincible, ya know?
Understanding that we who are in relationship with Christ, are living eternally now, can bring hope. Everyone wants things now. Gimme gimme gimme. Instant gratification culture. Download it now, don’t wait, quick, access all the time.
We don’t have to offer a hope that is only for the future (although there is plenty to look forward to). We can also offer hope for today, now. God can be found. God can be experienced. True life can be lived.
Have you asked any of your friends lately if they want to know God? Chances are, they would say yes. Chances are they would say that they would like to know God, but aren’t sure how, or didn’t know they could. They might say they have felt empty or that there was something missing. This is your chance to show them that a radical life is available to them.
What does that mean for our actions on campus? How would living eternally now, change the things we did? How would it inspire us to see more of the campus renewed, in right relationship with God, and bringing more of the kingdom to earth, now?
I’m not sure if you’ve heard this before, but even if you have, I listen to it all the time. It’s a poem written during a prayer time, in England. Anyone heard of the 24-7 prayer movement? A guy wrote it in a prayer room. Someone else copied it down because they were so inspired. Now, its recorded, and the author of this vision was tracked down, and he wrote a book. He started a movement where there are places that have constant prayer going on, all over the world. To me, this is what living eternal life now, is all about. Check it out.
christmas parties December 5, 2009
Posted by highofseventyfive in documenting life, just thoughts.Tags: christmas parties, Jesus, reflecting, small group
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I just had THE most fun. so, today i worked from 8a-4:30p. i was absolutely exhausted from the week’s lack of sleep, and i pretty miserable. but it was still fun, i love my job. then, after work, i trekked out in the snow and rain mess to east windsor. i thought i got lost but i didn’t! although the directions were really terrible. i need a GPS. i go too many places i’ve never been before. i feel like i find myself once a week at least, traveling some random place i’ve never been to and having trouble.
ANYWAY. i went over the frasso’s house for our small group christmas party. i LOVE my small group!! its one of those times where you know you’re there. what i mean is, the times when you sit back and look around, really just digest that–you’re there. i have times where my heart is filled with thanks, joy, and contentment. i’m here! i’m at this dining room table with these beautiful jesus-followers and we are enjoying community with each other. and its so real! and its so romantic! looking at each bright-eyed face, thinking about all our different lives, converged together at this very point in time, connected not only by friendship, but by the covenant of Christ that makes us brothers and sisters. and its so, aaaaah, I love it! those moments you really just sense God’s presence and I remember them forever. this one: a red table cloth. a dining room table. a beautiful woman from Colombia, who cooked a delectable dinner spread. Polenta. Her husband from Italy across at the head of the table telling stories about cops and one-eyed friends. San Pellegrino. A weathered father who learned to love Jesus only a few years ago. His wife, an animated woman going to nursing school and parenting. A kind of loud airplane pilot with a terrific grin and a cheerful heart. Life stories. His wife, a young grandmother who sees witnessing as a natural outcome of faith. And our small group leaders, a couple from Brazil who are full of life and pronounce things funny. Kids running and giggling in the other room, playing together. a milk frother. Flan. Serious conversations. Hilarious stories. Frustrations of life. Snowing outside on an advent night.
Sometimes in these reflective moments I also think about where I might have been had I not be introduced to Jesus. Or simply how I would have missed out on THIS, on life eternal.
There are lots of different holiday parties that happen during this season. So far this year, I hosted a young people hang out. we played wii, pictionary, ate some snacks, and shared some laughs.
Open house parties where you socialize a little, with alot of people, but each clump of people keep to different rooms. Somewhat nerve-wracking, somewhat exhilarating.
Grown-up people dinner parties where you don’t get up from your seat at all, linger so pleasantly over dessert, check your watch, but wind up still having conversations on the way out the door at 10:30.
I’ve got a couple more coming up. I’ll let you know how those compare
and this is eternal life: November 18, 2009
Posted by highofseventyfive in documenting life, just thoughts.Tags: Bible, driving, eternal life, hershey, Jesus, trips
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so this week has been terrific. I feel so alive. I keep reminding myself of John 17:3 which says,
Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
Eternal life is not some final destination. Eternal life is THIS: knowing God. wow. So this week, I’ve been praying and keeping at the front of my mind, that THIS, right now, is LIFE. life abundant. and that eternity is already in motion. Am I living “eternally-minded”? Am I KNOWING God, the best I can?
He’s been giving me good rest so far this week. I’m not tired. I had such a relaxing car ride back from Hershey today. the turnpike was terrible, but i was in the zone and praying and Loren was quiet and it was just so relaxing! I felt so rejuvenated after that time.
And it was kinda funny, we went to chocolate world. and so there i was, IN a candy factory! like my dream, lol. and I couldn’t decide on what to buy, but thats mainly because i only had $7. I bought a Reese’s Fastbreak. I love those.
now i’m back, going to Panera’s for a yummy bread bowl with Caroline and then large group at Rider! to sleep for another lovely day in the Kingdom on thursday.
woooohoooooo!
Make You Feel My Love October 18, 2009
Posted by highofseventyfive in Media, profound thoughts.Tags: adele, bob dylan song, Jesus
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Bob Dylan song, Make You Feel My LoveI really like the Adele version, so thats why this one’s up. This song is beautiful. you can picture God singing this to you.
When the rain
Is blowing in your face
And the whole world
Is on your case
I could offer you
A warm embrace
To make you feel my love
When the evening shadows
And the stars appear
And there is no one there
To dry your tears
I could hold you
For a million years
To make you feel my love
I know you
Haven’t made
Your mind up yet
But I would never
Do you wrong
I’ve known it
From the moment
That we met
No doubt in my mind
Where you belong
I’d go hungry
I’d go black and blue
I’d go crawling
Down the avenue
No, there’s nothing
That I wouldn’t do
To make you feel my love
The storms are raging
On the rolling sea
And on the highway of regret
Though winds of change
Are throwing wild and free
You ain’t seen nothing
Like me yet
I could make you happy
Make your dreams come true
Nothing that I wouldn’t do
Go to the ends
Of the Earth for you
To make you feel my love
just-in-case faith September 20, 2009
Posted by highofseventyfive in documenting life, theology.Tags: acts 17, church, faith, gospel, Jesus, matthew 8:5-10
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Jeff Bell came and was a guest speaker at church today. He’s Jeremy’s brother, from Indiana. He gave one of the most compelling gospel presentations today. It was “bring a friend sunday” which i totally forgot about. But the message was sooo good! He talked out of Acts 17, saying how the people of Athens had an unknown god amongst their idols, “just-in-case” they missed one. Likewise today, if we come to church just on Christmas and Easter, or when we really need something or come into a rut, we have just-in-case faith. This is a hard place to be in. Our lives are are centered around in fact no faith at all, and we pray or attend church just-in-case God is really there. Or we might have a buddha in one room, a statue of the virgin mary, a kabbala bracelet, etc, again– just-in-case.
But Jeff told us that we can have a just-Jesus faith. Because Jesus is the hero that conquered all, who’s big enough and powerful enough to handle anything, and worth giving our whole lives to. Jesus is the answer.
The thing that struck me today, was part of his message for believers. We looked at Matthew 8:5-10,13 where it says that a centurion came to Jesus asking for help to heal one of his servants. Jesus says, “I will go and heal him”. The centurion says, dude, you could just say it, from here, and it would happen! you are the Lord! I’m a guy of authority, i tell people what to do and they do it. How much more will that be so for you! (that was my paraphrase)
When Jesus heard this, he was astonished and said to those following him, “I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.
Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! It will be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that very hour.
Jeff asked us, if Jesus would be stopped in his tracks, astonished, by our faith, or by our lack of faith.
and the youth group band played, which meant there was way more energy in the room, it sounded awesome, and we rocked as we worshiped God!
The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me September 18, 2009
Posted by highofseventyfive in profound thoughts, theology.Tags: Bible, fulfill, God, Jesus, life meaning, purpose, sovereignty, theology
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cool illustration from an artist click the pic
I’m going to continue my study of Purpose, with some verses containing the word purpose in them. This is kind of a faulty way of going about it, because the word purpose could probably just happen to be there in NIV translation, so I will hopefully look up some other translations in the process.
New King Jimmy is in italics
Psalm 57:2—I cry out to God Most High,
to God, who fulfills {his purpose} for me.
who performs all things for me
Psalm 138:8— The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me;
your love, O LORD, endures forever—
do not abandon the works of your hands.
The LORD will perfect that which concerns me; (NLT) The Lord will work out his plans for my life
Proverbs 19:21— Many are the plans in a man’s heart,
but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.
Nevertheless the LORD’s counsel—that will stand
Proverbs 20:5— The purposes of a man’s heart are deep waters,
but a man of understanding draws them out.
Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water,
But a man of understanding will draw it out.
Romans 9:21—Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?
Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?
Philippians 2:13—for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.
do for His good pleasure
2 Thessalonians 1:11—With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith.
and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power
2 Timothy 2:21—If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.
vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.
So it looks like some other terms for purpose(s) are:
all things; that which concerns me; plan for my life; counsel; honor; good pleasure; good works
i’d love to find out what the hebrew/greek words used in each case are. they are probably different. i don’t have esword on my mac.
These few verses show the sovereignty of God, that His purposes for us, are purposed BY him, FOR him, and He will actually FULFILL them! What good news (!)
- who fulfills {his purpose} for me
- The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me;
- for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.
- by his power he may fulfill every good purpose
Also, He chooses our purpose. What would it look like to discover you have been made from common use–humble purposes, rather than noble?
Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden. One of you will say to me: “Then why does God still blame us? For who resists his will?” But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? “Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’ “ Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?
I think it would look pretty awesome, all considering: 2 Corinthians 4:7-11 says, But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body.
Next time: Time to GET DEEP!
The purposes of the human heart are deep waters,
but those who have insight draw them out.
