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John’s Testimony: This Is the Son of God

Read John 1:19-42 and SOAP John 1:34

  I have both seen and testified that this man is the Chosen One of God.”

John 1:34

John uses a variety of names to identify Jesus to the people in verse 19-42, for instance in the NET version John references Him as Lord (23), The Lamb of God (29, 36), and The Son of God (34). On top of the specific names John also uses several specific references such as “the One – whose sandal strap I’m not worthy to untie” (27), “the one who takes away the sin of the world!” (29),”a man who has surpassed me, because He existed before me.” (30), “The One who baptizes with the Holy Spirit” (33). All of these references are specific to this One Man. They are applicable to Jesus alone.

John had a job to do – a ministry call to fulfill, for he was commissioned before he was even born to “prepare the way for the Lord” (Luke 1:17 and 76), and he did it well. However, he not only tasked with telling people who Jesus was – but he had seen who Jesus was. God gave John an unmistakable sign that left no room for doubt that Jesus was the Chosen One, The true and undeniable Lamb of God.

Every time I read this portion of Scripture, one question pops in my head and convicts my heart. What is my testimony about Jesus? This question is followed by a seemingly endless list of follow-up questions like – Do I know Him well enough to testify about Him? Am I certain enough of who He is that I talk freely and assuredly about Him, where He came from, what He can do, and what He’s done already? I am convinced that if we are to be His witnesses (Acts 1:8) we must be able to move beyond simply knowing His name and His birthday, to seeing “who He is” because God has shown us who He is! – We must be able, like John, to say without wavering – “I have both seen and testified that this man is the Chosen One of God”.

Yes God, may we see the Son through Your eyes, may we watch for and remember the ways you make Him known to us so that in due time we can make Him known to others. May our lips not only name Him but may we point Him out with descriptions that testify to who He really is. In all of this may You be glorified.

Me, From the Inside Out – 2 Corinthians 5:17

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Jesus – The Word and The Creator

Grab your favorite Bible and read John 1:1-18; SOAP: John 1:1-4

In the beginning the Word already existed.
    The Word was with God,
    and the Word was God.
2 He existed in the beginning with God.
3 God created everything through him,
    and nothing was created except through him.
4 The Word gave life to everything that was created,
    and his life brought light to everyone.

John 1:1-4

John was born and sent by God to be the one who prepared the way for “the Lord”, the Messiah to come, (Luke 1:1-25 and 67-80). While Jesus was not yet with John, we find John introducing Him in the very first verse of John’s Gospel. He doesn’t introduce Him as a baby in a manger or a name at the end of a long line of genealogy – but he boldly proclaims Him as “the Word” … as One being with God in the very beginning – we’re talking Genesis 1:1 beginning – before creation was spoken into being beginning. John not only says that Jesus was with God in the beginning but he introduces Him … as being God and as being used by God in the creation of everything – “Nothing was created except through Him.” The other word John uses to describe Jesus is life – “life that brought light to everyone”. The importance of that last statement, “brought light to everyone”, is made clear in verse 5 where we are told that His light shines in the “darkness” but the darkness does not overcome it. Jesus will explain this part of Himself later in John 8. For now just let John’s description settle over you for a moment – Jesus, the very word of God … with God in the beginning … God Himself … Life and Light. The One, who though He was God, came and took on flesh to offer us the hope of eternal security wasn’t dreamed up when all else failed – He was there in the beginning.

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OUR SECURITY FOR ETERNITY

“One of the biggest and most humbling questions in life is what happens when we die. We long for peace, for certainty to know that, even though our lives on earth will end, there is something more. But how can we know for sure? How can we be certain death is not the end? – The only true answer is found in the Scriptures – the Word of God – and the Book of John is a great place to start … Through the reading of John’s Gospel we can know what it means to have faith in Jesus and what it means to have eternal life. – If you’ve ever had questions about faith – this Bible study is for you – whether you’ve never placed your faith in Jesus or you’ve been walking with Him for more years than you can remember – Our Security for Eternity will deepen your understanding of who Jesus is.”

Come join me for this 6 week journey through John's Gospel. Regardless of how often you've heard it, read it, or studied it I am confident that God's Spirit will make it fresh - for His Word is alive and active and has the power to transform our lives.
Join me for week one of “Our Security for Eternity” from the Gospel of John (March 7 – March 11)

Discover how to SOAP the Scriptures for a more meaningful Bible Study

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Remaining or Cut Off

Read Proverbs 2:11-22 (SOAP: 21-22)

For the upright will live in the land,
    and the blameless will remain in it;
22 but the wicked will be cut off from the land,
    and the unfaithful will be torn from it.

Proverbs 2:21-22 NLT

This section of reading makes it clear that righteous living, that which is based on the wisdom of God, is better than those who live in perverse ways, delighting in doing wrong and rejoicing in evil. Solomon concludes this section of sayings with pointed instruction to “walk in the ways of the good and keep to the paths of the righteous”. Why? Because he knows that these are the people who will obtain and dwell in the land the LORD had promised long ago. “Dwelling in the land” was a phrase known as a great reward in that day because it indicated that they were heirs to the promises of God. (see Genesis 12; 2 Samuel 7:16) He also understood that those who were unfaithful – who chose to not follow the ways of wisdom would forever be “cut off from the land”. From Solomon’s instruction and words of warning it is clear Solomon wanted more for his “son” than this.

Through faith in Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son, I am a child of God. Because I have believed He has made me an heir and I have a share in the promises and blessings of God’s people. (Galatians 3:17-29; 4:4-7 and Hebrews 3:12-14)Like Solomon, I must be faithful to tell my children and the generations to follow what God desires and what He has promised.

 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

Galatians 4:7
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For the Lord gives wisdom,
    and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
7 He stores up sound wisdom for the upright
    and is a shield to those who walk in integrity—

Proverbs 2:6-7

In the first 5 verses the listener is encouraged to listen for wisdom, to concentrate on understanding, and call out for understanding and then here in verse six Solomon reveals that wisdom comes from the Lord, as does knowledge and understanding. So the underlying instruction is to seek the Lord – listen to Him and call out to Him. Why? Because those who seek after Him and walk in His ways are those to whom He will give wisdom and for whom He will be a shield of defense.

May God grant us wisdom and understanding so that we may please Him and know His discernment and protection. In Jesus’ Name – Amen

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The Peace of Listening

But all who listen to me will live in peace,
    untroubled by fear of harm.”

Proverbs 1:33

All the wise sayings that preceded this verse were concerning those who had ignored the opportunity for wisdom, 1:20-32. They had chosen their own desires and their own ways over that of wisdom and because of this they were having to deal with the fall out of failing to do what is good and right. Not so with those who had chosen to follow after wisdom, who because of their obedience were graced with peace and did not have to worry about harm coming to them.

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Be Careful of Your Company

Read Proverbs 1:10-19 and Soap verses 10 and 15

My child, if sinners entice you,
    turn your back on them!

My child, don’t go along with them!
    Stay far away from their paths.

Proverbs 1:10, 15

Solomon gives his children instructions – teaching them here to ‘be careful’ around sinners – those who follow after the ways of the world instead of God’s way. When these people attempt to get us (believers) to join them in their sin we must be ready to not only turn our backs but to choose to stay away from them, or as Peter says – we must be self-controlled and alert because the enemy prowls around seeking someone to devour, – and we know he uses sinners to accomplish his purpose. Solomon knew the dangers of turning toward sin and away from God.

Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.

1 Peter 5:8

The Apostle Paul knew the dangers too. Consider the wisdom statements he made throughout the new testament, such as – Ephesians 6:11 “Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.” and James 4:7 “Submit yourselves then to God resist the devil and he will flee from you”, or this one – 1 Corinthians 15:58 where Paul says to “Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.” Afraid you won’t be able to turn your back or stay away from their paths?Then you will find great encouragement from these words of Paul from 1 Corinthians 10:13 (some of my favorite) – The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.

We must, as God’s children, listen to the instructions of Solomon and walk in them rather than ‘with’ the world – and we must remember God has empowered us to do just that.

Me from the inside out

May God keep us alert to the enemy’s presence so that we choose paths that are safe. May He Strengthen us against the sinner’s tactics and enticements that we may be faithful to turn away from him and all his minions. And, may all of this bring Him the utmost glory! In Jesus’ Name – Amen!

Me from the inside out

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Fear of the LORD

Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge,
    but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

Proverbs 1:7

For the next two weeks we will journey through the first 4 chapters of Proverbs. The book was written by King Solomon, son of David. It is typically described as a book of wise sayings – rather than large passages of information or stories. It covers a wide range of topics but there are four key terms:

  • Learning- getting information for immediate use, such as a phone number
  • Knowledge – information kept for long term use
  • wisdom – being able to act on knowledge
  • and understanding – being able to, or even having the responsibility to pass on something learned, retained, and wisely used

Our SOAP verse today, verse 7, is actually said to have be the cornerstone for the entire book so let’s give it some special attention and set the stage for the study.

Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. The word fear here doesn’t mean to stand trembling before Him but rather to have a great reverence for God – who He is, what He expects and what He can do.

True knowledge, according to Solomon, cannot exist without a fear or deep healthy reverence for God. “The implication is not that knowledge can’t be obtained apart from God but that knowledge is out of place apart from a ‘fear’ of God.”

However, just because “the fear of the LORD” is to be top priority in my life does not mean it is ok to set aside “wise instruction or the discipline of the instruction”. Solomon says those who do so are fools.

Living like this requires studying God – spending time with Him, learning to know His power, love, and expectations – and then living by this knowledge.

Father, thank You for teaching me to have a healthy reverence for who You are and what You expect from Your children. Help us to live accordingly so that in all thing and at all time You will be glorified – In Jesus’ Name, Ame!n!!

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Commit to a Pure Heart

Read: Psalm 51; Soap: Psalm 51:10

Create for me a pure heart, O God.
Renew a resolute spirit within me.

Psalm 51:10

Have mercy … wipe away … wash away … cleanse me … forgive me … cleanse me … grant me forgiveness … hide Your face from my sin … do not reject me … rescue me from the guilt … do not take your holy Spirit away … David, obviously convicted for his sin of adultery with Bathsheba, pleads with God throughout this prayer for forgiveness. He is contrite, truly sorry for the sins he has committed, and desperately wants God’s forgiveness. He realizes he doesn’t deserve what he requests but appeals to God’s great compassion.

It is equally important to note that David doesn’t just ask for forgiveness but he pleads for God to cleanse him, to wash him, to rescue him … He knows his heart has been deceptive and that he needs God to renew a right Spirit, one that would stand strong and firm, resolute, against the temptations he might face going forward. This is important to our application of this verse, because unless we realize the treachery of our sin we will continually walk in it, and rather than repentantly coming to God as David does here – we will flippantly utter the words while perhaps still walking in the sin.

Sin is a dangerous enemy for the Christian, so we must have a healthy respect for the impact it can have on our lives and the lives of others. It is important for us to deal with our sin daily so that it does not take hold of us … which I believe is why David prayed for God to give Him a pure – unadulterated-heart.

May we be committed to seek God for a heart that is pure and pleasing to Him – Amen!

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Pray Knowing the Spirit Intercedes

 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes on behalf of the saints according to God’s will. NET

 

 And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. NLT

Romans 8:27

This has been one of my favorite and most comforting verses since my early twenties. Somehow knowing that God searches our hearts – not just looking for sin and things that need to be removed, as David prayed in Psalm 139:23-24, but also to help us in our weakness, like when we want to pray but just can’t find the words. The Father, who knows our hearts – the good, and bad, and ugly of our hearts – doesn’t turn away from His children but instead cares so deeply for us and wants us to be able to communicate with Him – that He sent His Spirit to intercede on our behalf. Actually verse 26, in the New Living Translation, says that the Spirit prays for us with groans that cannot be expressed in words.

Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!

And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words

Psalm 139:23-24 and Romans 8:26

Imagine it – the Creator of the universe not only says come … bring me your burdens, your heartaches, and tiredness. Turn to me when you’re tempted or in need, cry out to me in your distress or when you’re afraid. He even invites us to bring Him our sin so that he might forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness … and as if that’s not enough – He says, when You don’t know how to pray about something – don’t worry, I have you covered. Oh the rich rich goodness of our God!

May you find hope and encouragement from these truths today!

Don’t miss today’s Love God Greatly Blog Post at https://lovegodgreatly.com/lgg-blog/