Joy is the theme of the epistle to the church in Philppi.
It is written by a prisoner, who for thirty years was the victim of whipping, stoned, and beaten enough to leave even the angels stunned.
Yet he overflows with joy. The very things that might naturally discourage him only increase his joy. It’s essentially amazing what God can do in one’s life.
Even when the circumstances of life do not go well, we can rejoice in the Lord.
Paul had the conviction that Christ was near, and that he would appear at any time.
Anxiety is contrary to a life of faith.
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Philippians 4:4-7 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
I) Be Careful For Nothing
How many times would we like to serve the Lord with all of our hearts, but then come the storms of life and anxiety, and we lose our joy?
A) The Care Of This Word Matthew 13:19-22
B) Seek Those Things Above Colossians 3:1
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II) Rejoice In The Lord Always
A) Rejoice With Me Philippians 2:16-18
B) Finish Your Race With Joy Acts 20:22-24
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Do You Know Why I’m Content?
In ancient Rome, a jailer was sad for a christian prisoner who would soon be put to death for his faith in Christ.
Secretly, the guard brought the man’s daughter in to visit with him. After his daughter left, the jailer could not stop looking at the prisoner.
The prisoner asked, “why are you looking at me like that?”
The jailer answered, “do you fear nothing?”, concerned, “you’re going to die tomorrow, tonight, you saw your daughter for the last time!”
The prisoner answered, “Oh! You’re mistaken. I will see my daughter again, she’s a Christian, soon she will be following me.”
“Christians never see each other for the last time, we will see each other again in heaven, where we will live forever.”
“Today, know that I’m happy, and why I am ready to die for my Christian faith.”
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A Smile In The Storm
An Atlantic passenger ship found itself in a storm. For two days the waves beat that ship.
The passengers were frightened, and finally one anxious passenger with great effort arrived at where the pilot of that ship would be.
He then returned to the rest of the passengers and announced that everything was going to be fine, and to take courage, because, “I’ve seen the pilot and he was smiling”.
With the Grand Pilot directing our lives, we can smile, come any storms; smiling, be at peace.
*** Only when we turn our lives over to Jesus can we rejoice in afflictions.
Today you can find the joy, among all afflictions and trials. Christ desires to share this joy, so rejoice in the Lord.
God bless you Reverend Pedro A. Villarreal (Parenthesis: Pedro Villarreal III)
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(What kind of faith do you have?
What would happen to your faith if it were tested?
Could you choose your faith over your own life?
Valid questions. After all, what is the value of your faith if it’s never tested?
Believers, our lives in Christ we’re not meant to be without cost. If we are to suffer as the outcome of our faith, what greater joys can we expect than to know the ultimate end of this natural life, than to know that our eternal life awaits?
Believers in persecution understand the weight of following Christ, and they follow him to his death as well as their own.
Rejoice! He’s nearer than we know, and if trial and persecution comes, he’s already been there.)
John 4:7 There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink.
We could speak of the many different kinds of thirst that Christ has. I say, “has”, not “had”, because his thirst is beyond our capacity to quench, at least by our physical means.
It might seem odd, or out of place for Jesus to ask a Samaritan woman for a drink. It’s odd to us because she wasn’t even “saved”. How funny, neither were we when he asked us (you and me) for that very drink.
The plain animosity (can we say?) between the Jews and Samaritans is apparent. Is it any wonder that unbelievers aren’t accepting of believers?
Maybe Jesus is asking them for a drink. Somehow we don’t believe that they can satisfy him, but we don’t see what Jesus sees.
That barrier will always be there between believers and unbelievers, at least until we can get outside of our comfort zones, and go meet them where they are.
Bring them a drink of living water in exchange for their water to you. Accept them, Jesus already has.
Blessings for those who are poor in spirit, Whom can recognize their need for him, For when they know the Lord, The Kingdom of heaven belongs to them.
Happy will they be who now, Though they may be in mourning, Either for their loss of loved ones, Or for their own grief of sin, For a great consolation will they receive, receiving them back to life, And that their sin has been put away in Christ.
Fortunate will be the meek, those with power and restraint, Because they wait on the Lord, For he makes crooked paths straight. For they will gain control of the earth when all is made new, As kings and queens and the glory of Christ when all has been subdued.
“…Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth…” Matthew 5:3-5
Jeremiah 27:2 Thus saith the LORD to me; Make thee bonds and yokes, and put them upon thy neck…
Jeremiah 27 begins with God telling Jeremiah to make yokes and to distribute them to the messengers of the foreign dignitaries that came to Jerusalem, and to send them back to their kings, to warn them to prepare to be put in bondage or under the authority of Nebuchadnezzar, and Babylon.
If you don’t know what a yoke is, it was used as one of two forms of binding. One way was to use them to bind a pair of oxen together so that they could work together in tandem while plowing.
Another way that the yoke was used was in a way of forming a chain gang of sorts, like you might see in a movie about slave trading; the way that they would be used to restrain men with a bar with chains or straps to bind their arms across the bar or yoke to limit their mobility.
Tying them together limited their ability to escape or resist their captors.
It’s what God’s message was to the foreign kings, to make themselves willing to submit to Nebuchadnezzar so that they may live and not be removed. Otherwise they would also face the same judgement as Jerusalem and Judah.
God also warned them, “hearken not ye to your prophets, nor to your diviners, nor to your dreamers, nor to your enchanters, nor to your sorcerers”, who would tell them that they would not serve Babylon or king Nebuchadnezzar, but if they resist they will be destroyed.
As for Jerusalem, the message for them dealt with the recovery of the Temple vessels Nebuchadnezzar took on his first entrance into Jerusalem.
The Lord said that the prophets were lying to the people saying that they would soon be returned, and Jeremiah told them that they should prepare for the rest of the Temple vessels to also be taken to Babylon until God would have them returned in his appointed time.
“…They shall be carried to Babylon, and there shall they be until the day that I visit them, saith the LORD; then will I bring them up, and restore them to this place…” v 22
We know that 70 years later, the new king, Cyrus of Persia (formerly Babylon, read the book of Ezra), would allow the Jews to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple, and he also returned all of the Temple vessels that Nebuchadnezzar took from there.
You can read in 2 Chronicles 36:17-21, that the temple was destroyed, and burned down. The pillaging of the Temple was for the good of the future of Jerusalem, because Jerusalem would be left unprotected and without care.
But in the time of Jeremiah’s prophecy it was yet future for them, so they may have believed they would have time to live their lives, pursue their own interests, and continue to ignore the pleas of Jeremiah as though it was not true, or it was further ahead than the present time they were in.
Consider that today, our churches and ministers continue to tell us of the return of Christ, but it always seems that it’s still future, years away, perhaps generations yet. We’ve been hearing for generations that Jesus is coming, we just don’t think it could be in our lifetime.
We “believe” that Jesus is coming, but we always think that we have more time.
As for the yokes which God told Jeremiah to make and send to those foreign kings, what do these things speak of to us?
Firstly, I believe that king Nebuchadnezzar represents the glorious character of the conquering Christ.
Not in the man, Nebuchadnezzar, but in the grandeur of his Majesty; as the King of kings, and the Lord of lords in his time, because as you can see, God had given Nebuchadnezzar that glory to reign over all of those nations as well as Judah, it goes to represent the true Majesty of Christ.
Secondly, God told those nations to submit to Nebuchadnezzar and live.
On our part, as the church, we are those who have submitted to Christ and have accepted his rule and his authority over us.
We don’t see Jesus as that conquerer, but we do submit to him and to his authority.
And what does Jesus give to us in return?
“…Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light…” Matthew 11:28-30
Growing up in the church, I don’t think I ever questioned the yoke. It was taught to me that this yoke represented my submission to Christ to let him carry my burden.
It was that he was carrying the majority of the load while I learned to trust him, to learn from him, to depend on his strength, especially throughout the course of life.
All of this is true, but there’s so much more.
He’s leading us to rest, rest in him.
He’s leading us to learn from him; his meekness, his gentle heart.
But he’s also alerting us to the eternity of our souls.
I say, eternity, because that’s the outcome for our souls.
If we can learn to be like Christ in this world, we can be like Christ in eternity.
So what does it mean to come under his yoke? What would it look like to resist?
The people of Jerusalem, and anyone who resisted the rule of Nebuchadnezzar would be brought to death and destruction.
God isn’t looking to destroy mankind, he’s looking to save it. He doesn’t want to salvage what’s left, he’s looking to rescue those who will submit to the authority of Christ.
So, are we in bondage to Christ?
What’s your perspective?
Look at Paul’s.
“…For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles…” Ephesians 3:1
“… I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called…” Ephesians 4:1
“…Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace…” Philippians 1:7
Here are three verse to speak of Paul’s bondage to Christ.
Sure, you can look at the last one to be in bondage to Rome, but in reality, it was a self imposed bondage because of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
No man can serve two masters, and Paul chose to be in bondage to Jesus over Rome.
Paul tells the Philippian church that they are in his heart as though together in his bonds.
Except in America, for the time being, many of our fellow believers are also in bonds and chains for the gospel of Christ.
Paul tells us…
“…The salutation by the hand of me Paul. Remember my bonds. Grace be with you. Amen…” Colossians 4:18
“…Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God…” 2 Timothy 1:8
“…Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body…” Hebrews 13:3
Those who are sensitive to the signs is this age can see the markers of the soon return of Christ.
We are not going to change the world for his return, that’s why he’s returning.
But we can affect the hearts of those that we speak with to help them find the love of Christ and his desire for them before the conquering Christ comes without restraint to claim back the earth.
Like it or not, we all have a yoke that we live under, but only the yoke of Christ promises life and rest for your souls.
Who’s yoke are you under?
Jesus loves you.
God bless. Pedro Villarreal
The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. Numbers 6:24-26
After that the Lord had demonstrated his power at Mount Carmel, Elijah forgot that the Lord was always with him. He went and hid in a cave because queen Jezebel wanted to take his life.
God’s loving care is for all of those who trust in him, knowing that he is always by our side, even though we sometimes neglect his presence. That is when the doubts and fears come.
But the Lord speaks to us to assure us of his presence.
(Dad gave this following illustration)
“I Will Surely Be With You”
Many years ago, a young boy was laying in his bed to go to sleep. Just before he fell asleep, he turned towards the bed where his father slept.
He asked, “father, are you there?” “Yes, my son”, he heard him say. Then the boy turned himself again and fell asleep with no fear of danger.
Now that boy is an old man of 70 years, and every night he looks up before he falls asleep towards the face of his heavenly Father, and he asks, “Father, are you there?” The answer is clear and strong, “Yes, my son”.
Who needs to fear if God our Father is with us?
***
1 Kings 19:9 And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?
Why did the man hide when his fear overcame him?
A) Do not fear, or be dismayed.
“…Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest…” Joshua 1:9
B) Be strong and of good courage.
“…Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee…” Deuteronomy 31:6
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(Dad gave a second illustration)
“My Father Is Here”
Reverend John McNeil recounted an event that he experienced when he was a boy with his father.
“I remember one Saturday night about midnight, when I began to walk some 6 miles down a dark lonely road to get home.
The road had a bad name. That night was particularly dark and two miles away from that small village it got darker.
In sorrow I entered into the darkness when some 100 yards away I heard a loud joyful voice, “Johnny? Is that you?!”
It was my father, the strongest, bravest man who found me.
Often, when things got dark in life, I have heard a larger and familiar voice, “Don’t fear, for I am with you”. It’s the voice of my heavenly Father.
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1 Kings 19:10 And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.
Many times, the thoughts come to our minds that we are alone and the weight is very heavy
A) We are surrounded by others who love the Lord, though we don’t know them
“…Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city…” Acts 18-19
B) Elijah didn’t know that God had more people, and he was not alone.
“…Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him…” 1 Kings 19:18
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So we must go forward knowing that he has called us.
(Dad gave one final illustration)
“Always”
When David Livingston traveled to Africa for the first time, some of his friends accompanied him to the pier to wish him a good journey.
Some of those, who accompanied him were worried for the safety of this missionary, reminded him of the danger that awaited him in that primitive nation.
One man pleaded with him to stay in England.
Livingston’s response was to open his bible and read from what Jesus said in Matthew 28…
“…I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world…” v 20b
Turning to the man who wanted to persuade him to stay, the missionary said to him, “this, my friend, is the Word of a meek man, so I must go”.
God bless you Reverend Pedro A. Villarreal (Parenthesis: Pedro Villarreal III)
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(I remember watching a movie called, “End of the Spear”
It was a movie based on the life of a group of missionaries that went into the jungles of South America.
It is the story of Nate Saint, and four other men who needed to go, and try to speak to people of a barbarous primitive understanding, to bring them the message of the gospel.
They were willing to lay down their lives for Jesus, and they were killed.
Old time saints looked forward to their executions, joyful that they were counted worthy to suffer for Christ.
John 4:6 Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour.
So being that it was high noon, it was strange that the Samaritan woman would be coming at the time of the heat of the day, instead of the cool hours of the morning or evening.
Through the course of John chapter 4, we’ll see that this woman was somewhat unsavory in her own town.
At the time of the day when the other women came to the well, she may not have been welcomed to accompany them, because it is likely that she had her own “scarlet letter” of sorts.
It’s reasonable to me that Jesus would take this time just for her, there was no reason to make a broad speech for a crowd, not this time.
I love the way that Jesus met her, just her; with all of her baggage: distrust, anger, sins.
How often has our Lord met us in our own depravity? How often has he held out an invitation to sit with him, to hear his thoughts?
Of the many times that Jesus has personal encounters with people, we can see his heart of compassion and his willingness to carry our weights because we cannot.
Have you had an encounter with Jesus?
When he does come to you, it is only just for you.
My deepest darkest secrets, I could never ever hide from Thee. Darkness to my eyes and the night, Is as clear as sunshine all around me.
Darkness cannot be hidden from Thee, Even the nighttime shines as the day. There is no difference, day and night, Both are equally seen in your way
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“…If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee…” Psalm 139:11-12
Jeremiah 26:2 Thus saith the LORD; Stand in the court of the LORD’S house, and speak unto all the cities of Judah, which come to worship in the LORD’S house, all the words that I command thee to speak unto them; diminish not a word…
Jeremiah 26, is half way through the book of Jeremiah, though I can see that the book seems to revert back to previous times in the history of Jeremiah.
I’m only a student, not a professor to any degree.
In the previous chapters we have seen the coming of Babylon with king Nebuchadnezzar, the imprisoning of Jehoiakim, and the struggle between Babylon and Egypt up to this point.
So there is a back tracking of sorts happening through the book, so I’ll just give you what I see.
Reading through Jeremiah 26, we see that God told Jeremiah to go stand in the court of the Lord’s house to preach the message he gave him.
It would be beneficial for you to go back and read Jeremiah 26.
As I read it, it reminded me of a previous post that I wrote for Jeremiah’s Cry.
It felt familiar, and I think it was meant to be or was the behind the scenes of what took place after that initial message.
This one could be called “Remembering Shiloh, part 2”
This link is from one of my previous posts of Jeremiah’s Cry.
If you took the time to go back and read it, you might have seen the comparison that I made with the current church.
That observation remains the same.
There is another facet to this chapter that needs to be considered.
It is the division that was caused among the people that heard that message.
One part, being the priests, prophets, and the people, who wanted to put Jeremiah to death, as opposed by their princes who declared that Jeremiah was not worthy to be put to death.
In one of my last posts, God made a distinction between two baskets: good figs, and evil figs (rotted, repulsive figs).
Now consider that those who wanted to put Jeremiah to death were the “religious” crowd, similar to the way it was with Jesus and the priesthood and Pharisees.
The princes were the ones to deliver Jeremiah from those priests and prophets. The princes represent how even Pilate wanted to release Jesus, but Pilate eventually acquiesced, and had Jesus tortured and crucified.
2 Chronicles 36:5-8 describes briefly that Jehoiakim was king for 11 years before Nebuchadnezzar came to take him in chains.
Later, Nebuchadnezzar came back for Jehoiachin, the royals, the builders and the prominent people of Judah back to Babylon as well.
So, during the reign of Jehoiakim was Jeremiah’s message in the house of the Lord, before the invasion of Babylon into Jerusalem.
God said to Jeremiah…
“…Thus saith the LORD; Stand in the court of the LORD’S house, and speak…diminish not a word…”
“Diminish not a word”
I want to be careful about this because I don’t want to keep beating the church down with an accusation of not giving the full counsel of God, but somewhere along the way, the message has been lost, rather, it’s been diminished (watered down).
“…20 And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house… …26 Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. 27 For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God…” Acts 20:20,26-27
The apostle Paul was saying goodbye to the elders of the Ephesian Church. Reading from Acts 20:17, Paul tells them that he is expecting to be bound and taken to Rome, knowing through the Holy Spirit that these things will happen.
But he expects them to know for certain that he has given them all that God has put in his spirit to give them.
I wonder how many pastors are so bold as to give the whole counsel of God knowing that many in the church will be offended.
Feelings can be hurt, people may decide to get out of the church and look for someplace more accepting of their ways.
Tithers may leave, prominent members may affect the others, churches could split.
Pins and needles! Is the church of God so fragile!?
God’s desire is for a holy church, he knows that some will be offended and leave, but his purpose is to guide the church into holiness, and faithfulness.
We are entrusted with God’s Word, and we are accountable for it.
“…But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts…” 1 Thessalonians 2:4
What is it to be put in trust?
It’s a weight of responsibility that is given and accepted counting on one’s honor, character and reliability
Jeremiah knew that weight.
Jeremiah had to give them the whole counsel of God, and the religious crowd were the ones who were most opposed to him.
Paul was put in trust by Jesus himself!
I have to say, anyone who has the calling in their own spirit has been put in trust by God. It has been handed down through a great many generations; from pastors and teachers, from men of God like my dad, the gospel has been delivered to us to continue our part and leg of the race.
But look at this.
“…And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation…” 2 Corinthians 5:18-19
Aside from being reconciled to God, our primary purpose now becomes the ministry of reconciliation; working to restore the fellowship between God and man since our own fellowship has been restored.
Reconciliation = fellowship, as opposed to animosity.
For this ministry of reconciliation there is a “Word of reconciliation” which is committed to us.
I have seen this word, “committed” to mean that it has been put into us like a treasure in earthen vessels (2 Corinthians 4:7). But it’s more like something that is set, or put in place. One of the BLB outline uses does describe a charger, like a platter to serve others with. I like that description.
“Committed”, also speaks of a putting off, or aside, in which we can see that Jesus has handed us the responsibility of the gospel.
“…But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth…” Acts 1:8
If you can see it, understand that when Jesus said…
“…ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you…”
… there is a “committing” happening there.
With this “power“, “ye shall be witnesses”.
It’s something of a task being here some 2000 years after the fact. Regardless, it is possible with the Holy Spirit because He’s the initial witness, and our internal teacher to know and understand the reality of it, more than only the knowledge of it.
What’s more? He has affected our lives to be able to “witness” of what he has done for and in each of us. We have our own testimonies.
I guarantee you that the Holy Spirit will not diminish a single word. The issue is us; you and me. How does what the Spirit of God say translate into what we say?
Are we being “honorable” to that which has been committed to us?
Are we giving the “whole counsel” of God?
Are we diminishing the Word?
Jesus loves you.
God bless. Pedro Villarreal
The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. Numbers 6:24-26
As I watch the news, the over crowding in the jails and prisons for people that have gone down the wrong road, I wonder where their parents were when they were growing up.
We as parents fail in guiding our children when we think that they are too small, or young to know about God.
If parents would share the Word of God daily with their family, perhaps we would see more youth serving God.
Instructing our children doesn’t mean warning them, but taking the time to share your love with them, and the love of our Savior as well.
(To take a lifetime, their lifetime bringing them up in the atmosphere of the Word and the church, so that they’ll know the right path and right choices to make in life.)
***
Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
Parent’s Instructions Towards The Children
1) Continue in what you have learned. 2 Timothy 3:14-15
2) The greatest in the Kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:1-2
3) Let the little children come unto him. Mark 10:13-16
It’s up to us to know what will become of our children when they grow to become adults.
I believe that all parents want to see their children grow up to be something special. That can only be when they grow in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Theodore Roosevelt said…
“If you’re ever going to do anything permanent for the average man, you must begin before he is a man. The chance of success lies in working with the boy, not with the man.”
That applies particularly to those boys who tend to drift into courses, which means, unless they are checked they will become a formidable addition to the criminal population when they grow older.
***
“She Knew What It Meant”
A little girl had learned the verse…
“…But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God…” Mark 10:14
…to repeat it at a meeting.
She stood on the platform, and began, “suffer”, it was her first attempt at speaking in public, she was frightened and stopped for a moment. Then she began again, “suffer little”, again her fear came over her, but being a determined little one, she made a third attempt, and said, “suffer little children”, with a last grand effort she said not exactly the verse, but the words, “Jesus wants us all to come to him, and don’t any body try to stop us”
***
“Too Young”
A missionary on a foreign mission was examining candidates for baptism. He had examined all but one and found their answers satisfactory.
He looked at the last candidate doubtful and suggested that as he was so young to wait a while before coming into the church.
Immediately, the others protested “Why? He was the one who led us to the Lord!”
***
God bless you Reverend Pedro A. Villarreal (Parenthesis: Pedro Villarreal III)
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(It’s a normal concept to take for granted, at what age does a child come to understand their need for salvation?
There is no established age, children are all unique, but we tend to lump them all into a sense of little to no understanding.
In the prospect of being leaders, perhaps they are too young, but a child is never too young to come to Jesus.
When a child decides to give their life to Jesus, sit him or her down, and ask them what they do understand without immediately correcting their thoughts. Listen carefully, and allow them to lay out their heart.
The worst thing to do is to tell them they are too young.
The fact is that we are the ones who complicate salvation, intending to cover all of the bases, we make a long prayer to lead them to Jesus, when it can be from their own heart, with the simple acknowledgement that they recognize their sins and are in need of Jesus’s acceptance.
Why did Jesus say?…
“…Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein…” Mark 10:15b
A child (to an adult) has simple understanding.
The technicalities of doctrines are not necessary in this arena, only a simple faith.
Let that bloom on its own, the Holy Spirit is the one at work here.
John 4:6 Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour.
Most times I hear a message at the church house that gets me thinking, gets my thoughts to ponder.
I was considering one specific verse to highlight, but as I considered it, it made perfect sense to take the bits and pieces that make the whole, and serve it up over more time, because it needs some in depth thought.
I’m not only a student of scripture, scripture propels me, and I have wondered what it would be like to speak to Jesus face to face like the Samaritan woman did.
So I’ll start here.
It was noon, high noon when Jesus reached Jacob’s well. It was probably hot, since it says that Jesus was weary.
But it was an appointment that he needed to keep, though the woman had no schedule.
Often, the Lord meets us when we have no idea that he’s going to be there.
Where?
Where we need him to be. Even though we don’t think we have a need, he can reveal to us that deep longing that we are searching for, though we don’t even think we’re searching at all.
Jesus keeps his appointments.
When his appointment is with you, you won’t leave the way you came.
Kingdom Thoughts 