J.A. Matteson
A servant of Jesus Christ is faithful to cast the light of truth in dark places, motivated by love of his neighbor, delivered with an earnest desire that he not miss heaven by coming under divine judgment. "It is not lawful for you to...." (Mk. 6:18). Cultural norms and laws change, societal values void of the law of God reflect the depraved fallen nature of humanity. This is increasingly so as a society turns its back on Jesus Christ. The king was brazen in his sin of adultery, John was faithful to the LORD to call him out on it; not with a spirit of meanness, but of genuine love for his neighbor, knowing the severity of God's wrath toward lawlessness upon those who remain unrepentant. The tenor of John's rebuke was caring, but firm. Sin blinds moral perception and clouds mental decision making. A servant of Jesus Christ must first make sure his own eye is clear, check his motives before the LORD to ensure that malice and hatred of the sin is not projected upon the sinner. Only then can he be used of God effectively to bring the light of the gospel into another persons life. In response the darkness generally seeks to extinguish the light, employing any means to silence the voice of truth. The winds of carnality howl against the wick of righteousness; faithful servants of Jesus Christ, knowing of the dreadful day of the wrath of God that will visit the unrepentant, persist in their preaching of the King and His kingdom. The salve they apply is done gently, in a spirit of humility, confessing that but for the grace of God they too would be in danger of judgement.
Copyright © 2014 Immutable Word Ministries ("…the word of our God stands forever.") Isa. 40:8
Thursday, February 27, 2014
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
Reality is the Will of God
J.A. Matteson
Beware of drawing conclusions on a matter apart from inquiring of Jesus Christ. "They began laughing at Him" (Mk. 5:40). What appears definitive is not reality; reality is the will of God in the matter. Both Abraham and Sarah laughed at the proclamation of God concerning a future heir only to be proved foolish nine months later with the birth of Isaac (Gen. 17:17, 18:12). A matter is not settled, regardless of how conclusive or permanent it may appear. The God of miracles is immutable, willing, ready, and able to intervine when it is His good pleasure to do so, and in response to the petitions of His children (Jas. 4:2). Pleasing to the LORD are eyes of faith that continue to hope and pray until the Spirit confirms God has settled a matter. Only then is it time to put the matter behind you and move on.
Copyright © 2014 Immutable Word Ministries ("…the word of our God stands forever.") Isa. 40:8
Beware of drawing conclusions on a matter apart from inquiring of Jesus Christ. "They began laughing at Him" (Mk. 5:40). What appears definitive is not reality; reality is the will of God in the matter. Both Abraham and Sarah laughed at the proclamation of God concerning a future heir only to be proved foolish nine months later with the birth of Isaac (Gen. 17:17, 18:12). A matter is not settled, regardless of how conclusive or permanent it may appear. The God of miracles is immutable, willing, ready, and able to intervine when it is His good pleasure to do so, and in response to the petitions of His children (Jas. 4:2). Pleasing to the LORD are eyes of faith that continue to hope and pray until the Spirit confirms God has settled a matter. Only then is it time to put the matter behind you and move on.
Copyright © 2014 Immutable Word Ministries ("…the word of our God stands forever.") Isa. 40:8
Monday, February 24, 2014
The Terror of the Test
J.A. Matteson
There are stark moments when our incomplete understanding of who Jesus Christ is finds itself juxtaposed against His revelation of Himself to our conscience awareness. "Who then is this….?" (Mk. 4:41). Those moments generally come in times of personal crisis; God governs over them as tests. The circumstances are real, their toll if unchecked is real. It is in them Jesus Christ reveals more of Himself to us. If it were not for the terror of the test our understanding of His power and grace would be stunted. Here, Jesus intended to reveal Himself as the God over the created order; the One whom they were familiar with through the Torah, but whom they did not know personally (Ex. 14:21). To Martha and His disciples Jesus purposed in the death of Lazarus to reveal Himself as the resurrection and the life (Jn. 11:45). Peter's mother-in-law lie sick, Jesus reveals Himself as the God who heals our infinities (Lk. 4:38-39). Some of His disciples walk along the road to Emmaus after His crucifixion, Jesus approaches and reveals Himself as the One who makes His word known to His elect (Lk. 24:45). In each instance the recipients of Jesus' self-disclosure were blessed, forever changed. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Heb. 13:8). As His child, expect Him to reveal more of Himself to you when the tempests of life appear threatening.
Copyright © 2014 Immutable Word Ministries ("…the word of our God stands forever.") Isa. 40:8
There are stark moments when our incomplete understanding of who Jesus Christ is finds itself juxtaposed against His revelation of Himself to our conscience awareness. "Who then is this….?" (Mk. 4:41). Those moments generally come in times of personal crisis; God governs over them as tests. The circumstances are real, their toll if unchecked is real. It is in them Jesus Christ reveals more of Himself to us. If it were not for the terror of the test our understanding of His power and grace would be stunted. Here, Jesus intended to reveal Himself as the God over the created order; the One whom they were familiar with through the Torah, but whom they did not know personally (Ex. 14:21). To Martha and His disciples Jesus purposed in the death of Lazarus to reveal Himself as the resurrection and the life (Jn. 11:45). Peter's mother-in-law lie sick, Jesus reveals Himself as the God who heals our infinities (Lk. 4:38-39). Some of His disciples walk along the road to Emmaus after His crucifixion, Jesus approaches and reveals Himself as the One who makes His word known to His elect (Lk. 24:45). In each instance the recipients of Jesus' self-disclosure were blessed, forever changed. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Heb. 13:8). As His child, expect Him to reveal more of Himself to you when the tempests of life appear threatening.
Copyright © 2014 Immutable Word Ministries ("…the word of our God stands forever.") Isa. 40:8
Friday, February 21, 2014
The Unction of His Spirit
J.A. Matteson
Beware of filling your mind with the bias of men rather than the word of Jesus Christ as you go about ministry in His name. "...that they would be with Him...." (Mk. 3:14). Moses was forty days on the mountain; for the first six days he waited on the LORD, on the seventh day He spoke. God's servant tarried patiently, receiving from God, in His time, that which he was to know. The twelve tarried with Jesus night and day for three years. Impatience before God is a ministers downfall. It will invalidate your ministry if what you convey to those under your care is not His word to them, but the opinion of men. Ministers must become the incarnation of the word in the sense that it must first be pressed through them by the Spirit, becoming their personal experience with Jesus Christ, otherwise what is communicate lacks life. It is an exacting and deliberate act of the will to surrender your idea of urgency and wait on God. We would much rather seek out a detour, a shortcut. Spiritual immaturity itches to find another way to be a minister of grace, so by our choices our lives become packed with activity and commitments, all in the name of the Lord; we do not have time to wait on God. So we defiantly bypass God's way in pursuit of mans, reaching for the opinions of others in the form of books, CD's, DVD's and seminars, anxiously hoping to find inspirited truth. Rest assured, beloved, those under that form of guidance know that you have not been with Jesus Christ because what you proclaim lacks the unction of His Spirit. Both you and they know it is an act. Your words comes across as academic, lifeless, rather than Spirit infused transformational truth. If we want to be used much by God as ministers of His word there are no shortcuts, no bypass routes, we must ascend the mountain and spend as much time before Him as He deems necessary to instill within our hearts His message for His people. Any other preaching and teaching is a charade and of minimal spiritual benefit to those listening. If you find your self protesting, "Have you seen my schedule? I just don't have time." Then you have a decision to make, do you not? Get alone with Jesus for His guidance.
Copyright © 2014 Immutable Word Ministries ("…the word of our God stands forever.") Isa. 40:8
Beware of filling your mind with the bias of men rather than the word of Jesus Christ as you go about ministry in His name. "...that they would be with Him...." (Mk. 3:14). Moses was forty days on the mountain; for the first six days he waited on the LORD, on the seventh day He spoke. God's servant tarried patiently, receiving from God, in His time, that which he was to know. The twelve tarried with Jesus night and day for three years. Impatience before God is a ministers downfall. It will invalidate your ministry if what you convey to those under your care is not His word to them, but the opinion of men. Ministers must become the incarnation of the word in the sense that it must first be pressed through them by the Spirit, becoming their personal experience with Jesus Christ, otherwise what is communicate lacks life. It is an exacting and deliberate act of the will to surrender your idea of urgency and wait on God. We would much rather seek out a detour, a shortcut. Spiritual immaturity itches to find another way to be a minister of grace, so by our choices our lives become packed with activity and commitments, all in the name of the Lord; we do not have time to wait on God. So we defiantly bypass God's way in pursuit of mans, reaching for the opinions of others in the form of books, CD's, DVD's and seminars, anxiously hoping to find inspirited truth. Rest assured, beloved, those under that form of guidance know that you have not been with Jesus Christ because what you proclaim lacks the unction of His Spirit. Both you and they know it is an act. Your words comes across as academic, lifeless, rather than Spirit infused transformational truth. If we want to be used much by God as ministers of His word there are no shortcuts, no bypass routes, we must ascend the mountain and spend as much time before Him as He deems necessary to instill within our hearts His message for His people. Any other preaching and teaching is a charade and of minimal spiritual benefit to those listening. If you find your self protesting, "Have you seen my schedule? I just don't have time." Then you have a decision to make, do you not? Get alone with Jesus for His guidance.
Copyright © 2014 Immutable Word Ministries ("…the word of our God stands forever.") Isa. 40:8
Tuesday, February 18, 2014
Going Out
J.A. Matteson
Our deepest transformational encounters with Christ are always accompanied by intense personal discomfort, be it emotional, physical or spiritual. "Immediately the Spirit impelled Him to go out...." (Mk. 1:12). Our setting changes abruptly or subtly, circumstances become hostile to our communion with Christ, foreign, we have not been this way before. Inwardly we sense the overpowering nudge of the Spirit driving us out, away from the familiar and comfortable, away from the emotional company of others to a solitary place, away from our dependence on self and into the everlasting arms of divine grace. And most surprising to us is this inner compulsion to go out often takes place in the ordinary confines of our daily experience. It is in that setting, in that venue, Satan comes to tempt us as we depend on Christ to deliver us from evil. We are surrounded by familiar faces and things, those near and dear are unaware that inwardly we are in a desert place, a war is raging between the flesh and the Spirit, having been impelled to go out, to be purified by the Spirit through our triumph over satanic temptation. And no one on earth can comprehend the fire through which you walk, adding to its solitary experience. Conferring with flesh and blood is not advised or profitable, Jesus Christ bids you to confer with Him; He is your counselor, your wisdom, your comfort, your strength, your friend. The time will come when the test ends; grace has made you wiser, stronger, the fruit of the spirit more abundant. The gladness of your heart is filled to overflowing. You have been alone with Jesus in a desert place and prevailed by His hand, overcoming the devil, to the praise of His glorious name.
Copyright © 2014 Immutable Word Ministries ("…the word of our God stands forever.") Isa. 40:8
Our deepest transformational encounters with Christ are always accompanied by intense personal discomfort, be it emotional, physical or spiritual. "Immediately the Spirit impelled Him to go out...." (Mk. 1:12). Our setting changes abruptly or subtly, circumstances become hostile to our communion with Christ, foreign, we have not been this way before. Inwardly we sense the overpowering nudge of the Spirit driving us out, away from the familiar and comfortable, away from the emotional company of others to a solitary place, away from our dependence on self and into the everlasting arms of divine grace. And most surprising to us is this inner compulsion to go out often takes place in the ordinary confines of our daily experience. It is in that setting, in that venue, Satan comes to tempt us as we depend on Christ to deliver us from evil. We are surrounded by familiar faces and things, those near and dear are unaware that inwardly we are in a desert place, a war is raging between the flesh and the Spirit, having been impelled to go out, to be purified by the Spirit through our triumph over satanic temptation. And no one on earth can comprehend the fire through which you walk, adding to its solitary experience. Conferring with flesh and blood is not advised or profitable, Jesus Christ bids you to confer with Him; He is your counselor, your wisdom, your comfort, your strength, your friend. The time will come when the test ends; grace has made you wiser, stronger, the fruit of the spirit more abundant. The gladness of your heart is filled to overflowing. You have been alone with Jesus in a desert place and prevailed by His hand, overcoming the devil, to the praise of His glorious name.
Copyright © 2014 Immutable Word Ministries ("…the word of our God stands forever.") Isa. 40:8
Monday, February 17, 2014
Fulfilling His Commission
J.A. Matteson
To be used as a redemptive instrument of God through the Gospel is a natural effect of our abiding; too often we confuse evangelism and discipleship as being an act we perform. "I am with you always" (Matt. 28:20). In every occasion and location Jesus is with you, in you, and the intimacy of your relationship with Him is the foundation of effective ministry (Col. 1:27). If your paradymn of witnessing and discipleship is rooted in anything other than your relationship with Jesus Christ your activities will disappoint those you seek to influence, because you have yet to be influenced by the Spirit of Christ yourself (Jude 1:12); come to Him first, abide with Him, then you will hear clearly how to reach and build others up in Christ (Acts 8:29). We cannot impart what we do not posses, and a sincere inner intimacy with Jesus Christ is the quickening agent God uses to awaken the dead (Acts 4:13). To be greatly used of Jesus Christ in fulfilling His commission demands we first spend much time with Him and remain with Him as we move through the unique providential settings He engineers daily. With spiritual eyes open, in a perpetual state of inner prayer, Jesus Christ will reveal to you where He is working, gently illumining your awareness as He is speaks to you in each setting; get ready for His directive, obey immediately and completely (1 Sam. 3:10), and you will be empowered by His Spirit in that moment to fulfill what He purposed in eternity concerning the person with whom you are interacting, to the praise of His glorious name.
Copyright © 2014 Immutable Word Ministries ("…the word of our God stands forever.") Isa. 40:8
To be used as a redemptive instrument of God through the Gospel is a natural effect of our abiding; too often we confuse evangelism and discipleship as being an act we perform. "I am with you always" (Matt. 28:20). In every occasion and location Jesus is with you, in you, and the intimacy of your relationship with Him is the foundation of effective ministry (Col. 1:27). If your paradymn of witnessing and discipleship is rooted in anything other than your relationship with Jesus Christ your activities will disappoint those you seek to influence, because you have yet to be influenced by the Spirit of Christ yourself (Jude 1:12); come to Him first, abide with Him, then you will hear clearly how to reach and build others up in Christ (Acts 8:29). We cannot impart what we do not posses, and a sincere inner intimacy with Jesus Christ is the quickening agent God uses to awaken the dead (Acts 4:13). To be greatly used of Jesus Christ in fulfilling His commission demands we first spend much time with Him and remain with Him as we move through the unique providential settings He engineers daily. With spiritual eyes open, in a perpetual state of inner prayer, Jesus Christ will reveal to you where He is working, gently illumining your awareness as He is speaks to you in each setting; get ready for His directive, obey immediately and completely (1 Sam. 3:10), and you will be empowered by His Spirit in that moment to fulfill what He purposed in eternity concerning the person with whom you are interacting, to the praise of His glorious name.
Copyright © 2014 Immutable Word Ministries ("…the word of our God stands forever.") Isa. 40:8
Friday, February 14, 2014
Godly Sorrow for Sin
J.A. Matteson
Sin exposes the true spiritual state of the soul, its response to it being either a worldly remorse terminating in satanic condemnation or a godly repentance leading to eternal life. "...he went away and hanged himself" (Matt. 27:5). Peter and Judas both sinned against the Lord Jesus Christ, yet their responses to their errors was notably different and illustrates clearly the difference between the redeemed and the reprobate (Matt. 7:20). Both men upon realization of their sin are said to have "gone out" to a solitary place. But that is where the similarity between these two men ends. The Holy Spirit within the children of a God convicts of sin, redeems from bondage, restores to holiness, and in all ways makes the heart joyful and glad. The focus of conviction leading to godly grief is in the absolute horror and disgust in the sin that so easily entangles us (Heb. 12:1); the aim of the Spirit is the condemnation of sin, not the sinner redeemed from it (Rom. 8:1). The outcome of godly conviction is always towards life and further growth in grace (Jn. 15:2), bringing to fruition the promise of redemption of the elect, sealed by their great confession of faith (Eph. 1:13), which God in eternity purposed in accordance with His good pleasure, loosing none (Jn. 10:28), but bringing to glory all those foreknown to Him (Rom. 8:30). The fruit of worldly sorrow is markedly different, for its fruit is satanicly inspired, the bitter condemnation from the prince of darkness emanating in the putrid depths of hell. Its focus is antithetical to life, death is its aim, eternal misery its outcome. The spirit of worldly condemnation compels the wretched soul toward its master, satan, the father of lies. The Spirit of godly conviction compels the blessed redeemed toward the lover of their souls, the Lord Jesus Christ. O how wonderful is the godly sorrow for sin in the children of God, and how awful is the worldly spirit of condemnation in the offspring of the devil who do not hear the sweet invitation of salvation found in the Lord Jesus Christ (Jn. 10:26).
Copyright © 2014 Immutable Word Ministries ("…the word of our God stands forever.") Isa. 40:8
Sin exposes the true spiritual state of the soul, its response to it being either a worldly remorse terminating in satanic condemnation or a godly repentance leading to eternal life. "...he went away and hanged himself" (Matt. 27:5). Peter and Judas both sinned against the Lord Jesus Christ, yet their responses to their errors was notably different and illustrates clearly the difference between the redeemed and the reprobate (Matt. 7:20). Both men upon realization of their sin are said to have "gone out" to a solitary place. But that is where the similarity between these two men ends. The Holy Spirit within the children of a God convicts of sin, redeems from bondage, restores to holiness, and in all ways makes the heart joyful and glad. The focus of conviction leading to godly grief is in the absolute horror and disgust in the sin that so easily entangles us (Heb. 12:1); the aim of the Spirit is the condemnation of sin, not the sinner redeemed from it (Rom. 8:1). The outcome of godly conviction is always towards life and further growth in grace (Jn. 15:2), bringing to fruition the promise of redemption of the elect, sealed by their great confession of faith (Eph. 1:13), which God in eternity purposed in accordance with His good pleasure, loosing none (Jn. 10:28), but bringing to glory all those foreknown to Him (Rom. 8:30). The fruit of worldly sorrow is markedly different, for its fruit is satanicly inspired, the bitter condemnation from the prince of darkness emanating in the putrid depths of hell. Its focus is antithetical to life, death is its aim, eternal misery its outcome. The spirit of worldly condemnation compels the wretched soul toward its master, satan, the father of lies. The Spirit of godly conviction compels the blessed redeemed toward the lover of their souls, the Lord Jesus Christ. O how wonderful is the godly sorrow for sin in the children of God, and how awful is the worldly spirit of condemnation in the offspring of the devil who do not hear the sweet invitation of salvation found in the Lord Jesus Christ (Jn. 10:26).
Copyright © 2014 Immutable Word Ministries ("…the word of our God stands forever.") Isa. 40:8
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)