The Love of God

John 3:16 Ampl. For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes on (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.

We have heard and probably read this scripture since our childhood. We have heard it at home, in Sunday school, and in songs and many other forms.  Even non-Christians know John 3:16. What in reality does this passage of scripture mean?  What does John 3:16 mean to you and me personally? It is a powerful and astonishing revelation that God sent Jesus to die for the sin of the world.  Praise God! It is remarkable that, according to Romans 8:1, Therefore, [there is] now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live [and] walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit.  It is truly wonderful to know that we have been reconciled to God through the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ (Eph. 2:16). However, apart from the initial steps to salvation: the drawing of the Holy Spirit, acknowledging our sin and a need for a savior, repentance, confession, and acceptance of Jesus as redeemer, most Christians meld into the corporate body of Christ. Although we all have varying experiences along the way, many believers disappear into the community of the redeemed at large. And it is from this point of view that a lot of believers perceive their walk with God.  We hear it said, we read it in the Word of God, so we know it is true, but the average Christian is not walking in the revelation of God’s love for them individually.   Many of us are doing the work of the Kingdom, true for the love of God, but our eye is also on the inheritance, heaven.

You might say, “Jan, that’s a pretty bold statement.” “How can you say that and prove it?”  Well, factually I can not, but in observation, just looking into the faces and the lives of Christians tells me that most of them do not have a revelation of the love of God for them personally.  There is a distinct difference in a person’s development when they are loved and they know it.  From infants to the geriatric, love makes a difference. There is nothing that material wealth can do to compensate for love. No earthly accomplishment can fulfill the natural need to love and be loved. Fame can not replace the absence of love. Love can not be replaced by any acceptable substitute.

John 3:16, the love of God, the redemption of whosoever will. Let us look beneath the words, the celestial sound, and the general good will toward mankind and see the deeper truth of the love of God.  In this session, I want to look past the inheritance and investigate the relationship.

The question is why did God create man? I believe it goes back to the beginning, in Genesis.  If you have ever taken one of my classes, you know that I start every subject I teach with that question.  In my opinion, knowing why God created man is important because it gives us the foundation upon which to build a solid base for developing our relationship with God. Every thing about the love of God hinges on these questions. For what purpose and to what end was man created? Why does God love us? What makes God’s love different form any other kind of love?

So many questions.  How can we even begin to answer them? How can we even hope to know His heart and mind? However, God did not just create man and leave the scene shrouded in veiled mystery forever sealed shut. He did not leave us to wonder about His plan, but He left a trail of messages, some hidden, some in plain view to direct us to the fulfilled revelation of His love.  He said in Genesis 1:26, “Let us [Father, Son and Holy Spirit] make mankind in Our image, after Our likeness, and let them have complete authority over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the [tame] beasts, and over all the earth and over everything that creeps upon the earth.” Amplified Bible.  God made mankind to be an expression of His glory in the earth and to spend eternity with Him in unbroken fellowship.

In the beginning in Genesis 1:1 – 2:25, we see how carefully God created a place for man. Gen. 1:1 In the beginning (Rêshïyth) meaning the beginning of a fixed period of time, God created (Bârâ): to form, make, produce; to cut, to cut down, to engrave, to carve. Bârâ emphasizes the initiation of the object, not manipulating it after its original creation. The word is used in the Qal and refers to an activity, which can only be performed by God.  Entirely new productions are associated with Bârâ. The word also possesses the meaning of bringing into existence. In the beginning, God prepared, formed, fashioned and created the heavens and the earth (Erets): the physical planet and the earth was: to exist, to be, to become, to come to pass, to be done, to happen, to be finished. Note: There is reason in my mind to believe that there is a space of time between Genesis 1:1 and Genesis 1:2, because Genesis 1:1 says God created the heavens and the earth out of nothing but Genesis 1:2 says there was chaos. If God created something out of nothing, I don’t think He would have created darkness (chôshek): dark, darkness, obscurity, night, misery, falsehood, and chaos. I believe something catastrophic happened between Gen. 1:1 & Gen. 1:2. That is another class (Y)

The creation of the heavens and the earth was no casual display of the powers of a whimsical creator, but God carefully crafted an environment for His greatest creation, mankind.

Everything God did in creation up to the creation of man (mankind) was for man’s benefit. The atmosphere, climate, the smells, the look and texture of everything, the resources. All for man, for his benefit and enjoyment.  It reminds me of how expectant parents prepare a nursery.  It is their desire to prepare a place specially designed for and to accommodate and meet the needs of the one who will occupy the area.  Everything that they do has at the root; the needs of the baby, always keeping in mind the immediate and future requirements.  In the natural, no nursery is stark and sterile in appearance.  It is a bright, joyful, colorful room, with all sorts of things that will be pleasing to the baby.  The whole task is one of joy and eager anticipation with a desire to have everything prepared before the child arrives.

Why do they do this? I would say because of the love for the expected child and the sense of responsibility to provide an acceptable habitation for him/her.  This tells me that God loved man before He created him and He made a place suitable for him to inhabit.  Okay, it is all well and good to prepare the nursery, but when you bring the baby home from the hospital, you can’t just put it in the nursery and leave it there without care and attention. Now that the baby is born there are a different set of requirements. Now comes the daily moment by moment care for the baby. In the same way, God has prepared a place suitable for us because He loves us.

Why does He love us? He chooses to love us. Why do two people want to have children?  They want to have a family. They want to love and be loved.  They want to nurture and see the development of the child.  They want to deposit into another qualities that will enrich the life of the child so that he/she can be a productive part of society. They want to impart some of themselves into another being.  They want their name, characteristics, etc to go on.

I believe that God wanted a family and He created mankind.  God wants people to love and know Him. God wants men & women to be like Him, to rule and produce.

This is what I would like to leave you to think about. The revelation of the love of God for you will change your whole attitude about you, your life other people, and your circumstances. Do you remember when you realized that someone loved you? It changed your whole prospective. Your day was brighter, no matter what was going on in it. You had a smile. You would have sudden warm thoughts about that one and hug yourself. Even if something unpleasant happened, you really did not linger in depression over it. Just the thought of the loved one would lift your spirits.

And when you were with that one, everything else faded. Your eyes and ears were for that one alone.  This is what God wants to say to each one of us. God loves you, Jan, God loves you, _______.  He chooses to do so to fulfill Himself.

(All Scripture is taken from the Amplified Bible unless otherwise stated)

What’s Under the Hood?

What’s Under the Hood?

After an especially wet spring one year, the muddy condition of our dirt road made it nearly impossible to navigate and our little 4-cylinder Pontiac was not up to the task. I declared in frustration after almost two weeks of being housebound, “I want a Jeep!” Noted; my husband bought my first Jeep in 1994. To say I enjoyed driving the vehicle would be an understatement. And for several years I had the pleasure of sitting high and traversing whatever roads came my way.

When it was time to trade in my beloved Jeep my husband insisted on purchasing an 8-cylinder vehicle. Not knowing anything about cars I protested vigorously because I did not want a different SUV. He prevailed and gave me the keys to a beautiful, new 1996 Black Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited (Gold Package).  I had to admit it was impressive. I guess I was just into the aesthetics and had no idea what was under the hood. I soon discovered why he wanted this size engine. One day as I was merging on to the highway, I saw traffic was heavier than I anticipated as I started my merge. I gunned the accelerator and was astonished by the distance I put between me and the oncoming cars! I almost ran into the rear end of one of the cars in front of me! Wow! That’s why he wanted the 8-cylinder!

My goal today is not to convince you to buy an 8-cylinder vehicle, but to share with you that God has put more under our hood than most of us realize. II Tim 1:7 tells us that God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind. I noticed that power was first, love second and a sound mind is third.

I like to do a word study as I read the bible to get a better understanding of the scripture, so as I looked up the words in this passage I came away with a far better awareness of what God has put “under the hood”.

Spirit: Pneuma: primarily denotes “the wind” (akin to pneo, “to breathe, blow”); also “breath”; then, especially “the spirit,” which, like the wind, is invisible, immaterial and powerful; the rational soul; mental disposition.

(Vine, W.E. Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words: With Topical Index (Word Study) (Kindle Locations 44827-44829). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition.)

There are multiple types of spirits. The Holy Spirit, our own human spirit, and of course demonic spirits as well. The word ‘the’ in front of spirit in this passage expresses that this is not the Spirit of God and that it is a destructive spirit.

Fear: timidity, cowardice. deilia (1167), “fearfulness” (from deos, “fright”), is rightly rendered “fearfulness” in 2 Tim. 1:7, RV (for KJV, “fear”). That spirit is not given us of God. The word denotes “cowardice and timidity” and is never used in a good sense,

(Vine, W.E. Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words: With Topical Index (Word Study) (Kindle Locations 26972-26974). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition.)

Power: 1411. δύναμις dýnamis doo'-nam-is Definition: force (literally or figuratively); specially, miraculous power

Ref: Strong, James. KJV Bible with Strong's Markup and Dictionary of the Bible (Kindle Locations 242777-242779). Miklal Software Solutions, Inc.. Kindle Edition.

(usually by implication, a miracle itself)

KJV Translation(s): ability, abundance, meaning, might(-ily, -y, -y deed), (worker of) miracle(-s), power, strength, violence, mighty (wonderful) work.

Ref: Strong, James. KJV Bible with Strong's Markup and Dictionary of the Bible (Kindle Locations 242779-242780). Miklal Software Solutions, Inc.. Kindle Edition.

Love: Agape, the God kind of love. agapé: love, goodwill

Definition: love, goodwill

Usage: love, benevolence, esteem; plur: love-feasts;

 Agape-properly, love which centers in moral preference. So too in secular ancient Greek agape focuses on preference, likewise the verb form agapáō meant to prefer. In the New Testament agape refers to divine love.

https://biblehub.com/greek/26.htm

A sound mind: II Tim 1:7, This phrase is taken from the Greek word sophroneo, which is a compound word combining sodzo and phroneo. The Greek word sodzo means to be saved or delivered. It suggests something that is delivered, rescued, revived, salvaged, and protected and is now safe and secure. One expositor suggests that the word sodzo could actually depict a person who was on the verge of death but then was revived and resuscitated because new life was breathed into him.

https://renner.org/what-does-it-mean-to-have-a-sound-mind/

All of this to say that God did not leave us on the side of the road waiting for the tow truck. He has made available to us the power we need to do the job He has for us. Even if we get muddy, He has provided resources (angels) to come to our aide to get us out of the situation. The Blood of Jesus, the Word of God, the name of Jesus, the love of God, and the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us. He says in Acts 1:8 that we would receive POWER after the Holy Spirit comes upon us. In Rom 5:5 He said the LOVE of God has been shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who has been given to us and in I Cor 2:16 we are told that we have the MIND of Christ. I John 1:7 ... and the blood of Jesus, His Son, cleanses us from all unrighteousness.  Let's get out there in traffic and show them what's under the hood!

My Father’s Voice

After years of journaling, writing on scraps of paper, backs of tablets, and collecting multiple yellow legal pads of notes, thoughts and questions, I have finally put some off these writings into my first book. My title is”My Father’s Voice” and you can learn more about my journey by visiting my website:http://myfathersvoice.net
Grace & peace❤️

Leave the Panic Room

There was a movie that came out in 2002, called The Panic Room, starring Jodie Foster, and the story line is about a woman and her daughter experiencing a home invasion, and how they retreated to a panic room in their home for protection. We have seen horrific headlines about home invasions that resulted in devastating tragedies.  One could wonder if a panic room could have prevented some of those disastrous results?

A panic room, in real life, is a secure place to retreat to in time of a real or perceived imminent threat. It is a fortified space, constructed to withstand extreme force. Storms, like hurricanes, tornadoes would be a reason to construct a panic room. There are other dangers one might want to escape, like biological, or atomic attacks and, home invasions. These spaces are designed to accommodate the occupant/occupants for an extended period of time with food, air, communication, and what ever other life preserving resources necessary while keeping them safe from harm. The bottom line is this is a place to head for if you feel endangered.

I was thinking about how a recent encounter with someone pushed me into a place of withdrawal. It was a very uncomfortable and in a way, threatening confrontation,with no way, in my mind to escape emotional harm. I knew this was an occasion where things could escalate and do damage, so I retreated to my inner panic room and bolted the door. My face was looking at them, my body was present, but I was really removed from the conflict. Or so I told myself, but then I heard the familiar voice saying, 'What are you doing in here?'

I want to consider, briefly, how we can live our everyday life as though we are in a panic room. There are so many dangers in our world; physical as well as emotional, spiritual and mental. It can be easy to slip into a place removed or detached from the situations we are faced with daily.  We can retreat in a moment of conflict, emotionally, and close a door behind us. That may be safe for the moment, but we should not remain there. The danger is in continually retreating and closing doors as we back away from life's demanding situations. Soon you are so far into the panic room, you cannot hear or see what is outside.

Or, we could be like Batman in his Bat Mobile.  Once he enters the vehicle, he commands, Shields, and the armor plated shields surround the car, and now, he is impervious to attack.  He is able to navigate dangerous situations without fear of being harmed. But, in the natural, we cannot live like this.

We all know that our ability or power to defend ourselves is not exhaustive. Even physical power is limited, contrary to what the movies tell us.  The only real Super hero in our lives is God. The Bible tells us that He is all powerful, all knowing and everywhere present at all times. He has said in scripture that He will keep us in perfect peace if our mind is fixed on Him (Isa 26:3 NKJV)

He also said that when our ways please Him, He makes our enemies to be at peace with us (Prov 16:7 KJV) There are so many scriptures about God's protection, that I can't address them all in this piece. However, for me, the ultimate prayer or scripture for protection is Psalms 91.  He that dwells in the secret place... This scripture covers everything concerning the safety of my family, myself, all that concerns me with God's protection, and offers me many promises of safety.  This is a scripture to keep by your bedside. It is more powerful than a 357 Magnum. It is not something to pull out in a panic, while trying to learn how to use it.  You wouldn't do that with a natural weapon, you would want to train, to become proficient.

God's Word is a valuable resource to turn to daily.  When we take in God's Word on a daily basis, it begins to live on the inside of us. Once the Word is alive in your spirit, there is no force that can withstand it.  Keep God's word in your heart and in your mouth. It has the power of life.

The Metron

 The word metron is a  term defining measurement. According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary it means: the minimal unit of measure in classical Greek verse constituting in certain meters (as the iambic, trochaic, anapestic, and the lyric forms of dactylic) a syzygy of two feet, in others (as hexameters of epic verse) a dipody and where necessary for analysis in the case of spondaic series a single foot, and in compound meters (as the ionic and choriambic) a foot of four syllables (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/metron)

 In scripture it refers to authority. The prophet Samuel had authority. I Sam 3:19 tells us that God did not allow any of Samuel's words fall to the ground. His authority range encompassed  prophet, priest, and judge. Saul was given authority by God to be king. In 1 Sam 13 Saul stepped out of his authority as king and took upon himself Samuel's role as priest. (Samuel's metron) It cost him the kingdom.  God tore the kingdom from Saul and gave it to David.

Jesus has given the Church authority. The Church is the most powerful force on the planet! Nothing should happen on the earth without the permission of the Church. Nothing!

Jesus tells us in Matt 18:18-20 whatever we bind on earth is bound in heaven and whatever we loose on earth is loosed in heaven; if two of us agree... it will be done... For wherever two or three are gathered... there I AM in the midst.

Psalms 133:1(Amp) Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment poured on the head, that ran down on the beard, even the beard of Aaron (the first High Priest), that came down upon the collar and skirts of his garments [consecrating the whole body]. It is like the dew of Mount Hermon and the dew that comes on the hills of Zion; for there the Lord has commanded the blessing, even life forevermore [upon the high and the lowly]. 

How clever of satan to divide the Church! He has us squabbling and arguing about non-eternal things and we are not focusing on the great commission and God's eternal plan of salvation for mankind.

Our corporate anointing is so powerful that our adversary has put much effort into keeping us distracted. We get fixated on how much music, how little the sermon, what color the carpet, who is sitting in a particular seat, and on and on.

God has said, ask of me and I will give you the nations as an inheritance Ps 2:8, but we often only want a parking space close to the building.

We, the corporate Church have a huge metron! But we may be using it as scatter shot. Little pellets that irritate the enemy rather than irradiate his schemes.

We each have a gift from God to accomplish His desired task for us.  We all belong, but we each have levels of authority. As we grow in the knowledge of God and the finished work of Jesus on the cross, I believe our metron increases.

My husband and my dad were both in the Army.  Father used the military ranks to give me a visual of the levels of authority.  https://www.goarmy.com/about/ranks-and-insignia/ranks.html

Starting with the Pvt, (Private) the lowest rank to General of the Army (GOA, Five Star General) each rank carries authority. The private the lowest, the GOA, the highest. But even the Five Star General has a measure, and not all authority. The GOA needs other Generals from the whole Army and their authority, and the Army depends on the other armed forces, the Air Force and the Navy and the Marines, Coast Guard, and all of their branches. And still, they, combined, do not have all of the authority. All of the military might is but a portion of the authority  of our government because we also have the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Defense Secretary and the Senate and the Congress, and finally the Commander in Chief, the President. This represents the full power and authority of the US Government.  

Each segment has a metron, but when we face a formidable enemy, we don't just send a Pvt or even a GOA, we send a significant representation of our force. We meet force with more force with the expectation of winning. We continue to add more and more power until we do win.

We are powerful,as the Body of Christ, even individually. Jesus said in Matt 11:11
Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

So we have authority, just not all authority.   Eph 6:12(AMP)  tells us that we wrestle not with people, but, powers, master spirits who rule the world, and spiritual wickedness in the heavenly sphere. We need the corporate body together to pull down authorities in the heavenlies.  To bring down racism, to stop abortion, to clear our neighborhoods of gang violence, to stop human trafficking, and gun violence. To clean up our government, and to stop police brutality, child abuse and whatever else ails our land and our world.

How do we get back on the right page? Find out what your metron is and fulfill God's mission for you. Stay in your spot until you get promoted to the next rank. Stay in faith, stay in love and always, always speak God's word over every situation.

Our Never Ending Celebration

It has been so long since I had something exciting to write to you my friends, but as we approach Christmas day my heart is filled with the joy and excitement of the reality of the plan of redemption conceived in the heart of God and covenanted between God and Jesus.  An everlasting covenant.

God's plan was so ingenious that none of the principalities and rulers knew or they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory (I Cor 2:8)  Who would expect Almighty God to descend from heaven as a Seed and impregnate a young virgin? Who would think to look for Him in an animal stall, lying in a manger, wrapped in swaddling cloths?  Who would anticipate His birth to be among the lowly,announced to shepherds in the field? No one! God confounds the wise with what seems foolish to man, but it is the Wisdom of God.

That starry night, the Hosts of Green Berets, and Navy Seals of heaven with the Heavenly Knighthood came to declare that the Christ, the Commander in Chief, was born and on earth, God's peace toward all men.  Meaning, God is not mad, He has sent a Redeemer to rescue us. His entrance was quiet, but the plan of God was anything but quiet. His plan was to shake everything up. A new Ruler had come. 

Now as the whole world is preparing to celebrate something many of them don't realize the significance of, I smile within my heart, knowing.  Knowing that He came for me.  Knowing He was not willing to be without me and that He called me by name.  Knowing that the celebration is not for just one day, but for all of eternity.  For one day, even non believers will have to curtail their normal routine because of His celebration.  The days moving forward will not mean much to many, until they hear the story and have their hearts awaken to the love song of Jesus.  He smiles and says, Come away, my beloved, I have prepared a place for you.

So grace and peace has descended upon us and brought Good News!  Christ the Savior is born! Let all the earth bow before Him! Worship Him!  Hallelujah!

Sponge

Like so many people I have wanted to have a closer relationship with God and to truly be tuned in to His voice.  So many times I thought I was operating by direction from God only to realize and find out later that God wasn't in the mix.

I think we humans tend to make it hard to know God when He has said it is simple; spend time with Me and I will lead you and guide you.  Right...; is there some special super duper hard thing that I can do, God? Some severe or monumental sacrifice? No, He says seek first the Kingdom of God and all those other things will be added. What else can I do to be more tuned in to God?

We certainly don't seem to believe that God is not holding out on us, waiting until we reach super spiritual level 1or higher!. After all, Jesus suffered, so of course we must do so as well. So many thoughts and sermons, testimonies and other influences were swirling around when Father God gave me an analogy using my kitchen sponge.

I have a sponge that sits at the back of my sink behind the faucet. It has a two fold purpose, to catch the water that splashes against the backboard and to mop up occasional spills.  Some times the sponge is so dry it will hardly absorb the liquid.  It sort of makes this scratchy sound as I use it to wipe up a spill.  Why is that? It is because it has been sitting there behind the faucet and no water has touched it, all of the moisture has evaporated.  At other times, the sponge is a bit damp and can very easily pick up crumbs or a few drops of water or what have you. If the sponge happens to be in the sink filled with water, and I have a major mess to clean up, the sponge is saturated to the point that it cannot absorb anymore, and it at this point the water in the sponge begins to leak out. I have to squeeze or wring out some of the water (the anointing) in order for the sponge to take on cleaning up the mess.

Our Lord Jesus, spent considerable time in the presence of the Father. In His own words, He said I only do what I see the Father do and I only say what I hear the Father say.  He would often go aside to spend time with the Father. When the Holy Spirit descended on Him at the Jordan river, the scripture says that the Spirit remained on Him. With this presence and power, Jesus went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil. (Acts 10:38)

We are often like the sponge. Without active pursuit of God, we can be in varying degrees of moisture or dryness spiritually.  Our weekly church service is just enough to make us moist.  If we attend a weekly bible study or mid-week church service, we maintain a bit of that moisture. 

Without constant contact with God we dry out; our moisture just evaporates. You can tell when you are dry because of how you respond to situations or people when you are caught off guard. Our routine activities can absorb what moisture we have, if we do not replenish our spirit man with the Word of God. Contrarily, just spending time in the Word is not sufficient to keep us saturated; we need fellowship with God and to experience His presence.  When something blindsides you, are you scratchy, moist or saturated? 

This spending time with God is not a passive, inconsistent process. Each bit of time we spend with Him delivers moisture to our spirit, but to become saturated requires constant contact with the source; with God Himself. Reading the Word of God without the Spirit of God revealing His truths to us is an exercise in discipline, but not fellowship with God. 

As I learned to spend time with God, without seeking some special favor or making petitions, I discovered that when situations did arise, I had peace and clarity. I had a confidence that God was in the mix and He would show me the solution.  Sometimes, just like the overly wet sponge, just my touch left an impression because of the saturation.  It is the anointing that destroys the yoke.

Ephesians 3:19-21(Amp) gives us a description of what spending time with God will do for us:

¹⁹ [That you may really come] to know [practically, ^[a]through experience for yourselves] the love of Christ, which far surpasses ^[b]mere knowledge [without experience]; that you may be filled [through all your being] ^[c]unto all the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and ^[d]become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself]!

²⁰ Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]—

²¹ To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen (so be it).(The Bible Gateway; www.biblegateway.com)