Seeing God the Father

Seeing God the Father

No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known. – ESV

[No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.- KJV]

John 1:18

This verse is not saying that no man had ever seen any sort of manifestation of God.  The Bible records several instances in which God had manifested himself to prophets in certain ways.  Yahweh had told Aaron and Miriam about Moses, “With him I speak mouth to mouth, clearly, and not in riddles, and he beholds the form of the Lord” (Num. 12:8), and the Bible says repeatedly that the Lord spoke to Moses “face to face, as a man speaks to his friend” (Ex. 33:11; Deut. 34:10).  Yet, even then God would not fully show the glory of his face to Moses (Ex. 33:18-23).  Isaiah also saw the Lord and feared for his life because of it (Is. 6:1-7).

We see God the Father through Christ the Son.

We see God the Father through Christ the Son.

Contextually, John is talking about Jesus, the Word “who is God” (John 1:1).  While others like Moses and Isaiah had seen various forms of God which he allowed to be shown to them, it would be Jesus who would make God known as never before.  Christ the Son of God, being “the only God, who is at the Father’s side,” had not been made known before…but now is known through Jesus.  Moses, Isaiah, and the other prophets taught the people what they had heard God speak to them, his creation…the Creator talking to the creation.  Jesus, on the other hand, taught the people what he knew of God as his equal, and thus was able to give a greater understanding as to God’s nature.

It is for this reason that he would say to Philip, “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9), and later that same evening pray to his Father, “I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world” (John 17:6) while speaking of “the glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world” (John 17:24).  Paul would say of Jesus, “He is the image of the invisible God…” (Col. 1:15).  The writer of Hebrews perhaps put it best:

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.  He is the radiance of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.  After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

(Hebrews 1:1-4)

Jesus knew God more than any of the prophets who came before him, and when we read about him and how he was in the gospels we are seeing God revealed as never before.  It is for this reason that it is impossible to truly know God without first knowing Jesus (John 14:6).

Not only that, but consider this also.  As followers of Jesus, we must strive to be like him (Luke 6:40)…and by becoming more and more like him, we are becoming more and more like God, because Jesus is God and reveals through his own teaching and character how God truly is more than anyone else.  It was God’s plan from the beginning that we be “conformed to the image of his Son” (Rom. 8:29), in other words, that people would see Jesus in us.

Are we allowing that to happen?

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An Abomination

An Abomination

Fifty years ago, to a God-fearing people, it was unthinkable. Fifty years ago, to a God-fearing people, it was unimaginable. Fifty years ago, a God-fearing nation full of God-fearing people never could have conceived, in their worst or wildest nightmares, that they would ever, in their entire lifetimes, have to face the reality of such a ghastly, horrific, ungodly, and satanic occurrence. It no more occurred to a God-fearing people then, than it occurred to God Himself what an awful and horrible abomination His Old Testament people would commit in the fiery massacre and sacrifice of their own God given offspring (Jeremiah 32:35; Psalm 127:3-5).

Minds and behaviors far from God. They have become an abomination.

Minds and behaviors far from God. They glorify not but have become an abomination.

And yet, today, a somewhat similar satanic abomination has become an almost constant and commonplace occurrence. And so much so, that now schools scheme for it; colleges collaborate over it; and police forces and S.W.A.T. teams must routinely plan, practice, and prepare for it. After all, how often since Columbine have we switched on the news and seen it? Yet another cowardly and deranged, suicidal teen or twenty-something, with absolutely no regard, respect, or reverence for almighty God or God-given human life, goes to a school somewhere and starts mowing down defenseless students… But in the name of all-consuming common-sense, legitimate life-learned logic, and especially divinely-inspired and God-given Scripture, WHAT ELSE SHOULD ANYONE, WITH ANY WHISPER OF WISDOM WHATSOEVER, REALLY AND TRULY EXPECT TO HAPPEN?

Scripture says: “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life” (Galatians 6:7-8). Over the course of the last fifty years, masses of confused and misled Americans have constantly and continually sought to run God and any semblance of respect or reverence for the sanctity of godly standards, godly morals, godly discipline, or God-given human life out of our society, starting in our schools and court systems. When you deny the fact that God created us in His image; deny school students the right to pray openly and publically; legalize the outright murder of millions and millions of unborn baby human beings; illegalize any attempt whatsoever to introduce or reinforce godly morals, standards, or discipline at a young age; and then, instead, replace such good, pure, holy, righteous and lovely, life-giving and respecting restraints and lifestyles with such deviant, satanic, and suicidal moral, physical, and sexual license – WHAT ELSE COULD YOU POSSIBLY, REALISTICALLY EXPECT, AS THE ONLY POSSIBLE OUTCOME?

Just like the arrogant, ignorant, self-deluded and power-hungry rulers of old (Acts 2:22-24; 1 Corinthians 2:6-8), those today who thus seek to minimize, marginalize, neutralize, and/or outright deny the very existence of almighty God and what His eternal, inerrant, and all-authoritative word perpetually prophecies and promises, actually and in all reality, wind up completely fulfilling, validating, and verifying it – and to the very letter at that! Not only do we see this powerfully, perfectly, and perpetually proven in places like Galatians 6:7-8 as noted above, relative to recent church, school, concert, and military installation shootings on American soil, we also see it when we turn to places like James as well: “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace” (James 3:13-18).

The root of the problem today, and what needs to be desperately and immediately corrected – ungodly liberal bias and ignorance notwithstanding of course – is not that we have too many guns in our hands and homes, but that we have too little of God in our hearts and minds! The root of the problem is, that those who seek to deny the very existence of their all powerful and eternal Creator simply because they do not want to humble themselves before, and submit to and obey Him, have been so militantly and aggressively advancing a decades-long agenda, that they have now succeeded in producing several generations of progressively worsening decadence, in whom “there is no fear of God before their eyes,” which is where the foundational seeds of all such evil and violence subsequently take root, ripen, and eventually produce such deadly and devastating fruit (once again, just as the God they seek to deny, they once again validate, by so very clearly and concisely fulfilling exactly what He said would happen nearly two millennia ago – See: Romans 3:10-18).

In fact, we have regressed so far back into the abyss by now, that we have produced a whole generation, a number of which are apparently not even intelligent enough to realize or to be able to tell if they were born a boy or a girl, and believe consuming deadly poison laundry detergent is somehow a sign of intelligence and/or maturity. Where oh where will this ugly and ungodly progression of God-denying darkness take us next? God help us all to turn back to Him before it’s too late… if it’s not already.

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God Knows Your Potential

God Knows Your Potential

The first time the Bible speaks of Gideon is in Judges 6:11.  Gideon is hiding in a winepress beating out wheat so the Midianite oppressors will not find it.  An angel of the Lord appears and calls him a “Mighty man of valor”.  The Lord then tells Gideon to “Go in this might of yours and save Israel from Midian”.  Gideon appears to be oblivious to any might that he had within himself.  His work was being done in hiding!  He declared he was of the weakest clan of Israel and weakest of his own house.  When he is finally convinced to follow God’s direction, he does so at night due to fear.

God knows the potential of man.

God knows the potential of man.

Timid Gideon proceeded to break down the altar of Baal and cut down the Asherah (sacred pole).  He stood against fear and anger of his own people.  He went to battle against the Amalekites and the Midianites though outnumbered.  He conquered by the hand of God.

Many people go through life without seeing what they could be.  James 2 speaks of the vision of man.  We are not to look with partiality upon one man or another based upon their appearance.  God knows the great price of the heart hidden in man (1 Peter 3:4).  God called upon Moses who was fearful.  He strengthened Samson who made one bad decision after another.  He chose a shepherd boy to be a king!  He called Peter though He knew he would reject Christ at one point.  He chose Paul who fought against the Gospel to see Christians to their death.  God, through His Son, made new creatures of those once lost in the hopelessness of sin.  God sees beyond the eyes of carnal man.

Why does God choose the poor of the world as heirs to His Kingdom (James 2:5)?  Why does God choose the weak and not the mighty?  Why did he choose lowly Gideon?  Consider the words Jesus shared with Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:9, “My grace is sufficient for thee, for my strength is made perfect in weakness”.  God’s might demonstrates itself by taking what the world thinks of as weak or undesirable and then transforms it into victory.  Christ came as a lowly Nazarene of Galilee and became the Savior of the World.  Certainly, God could show his might through timid Gideon and make him a mighty man of valor.

Imagine what God can do with you!  You have great potential in the hands of our almighty God.

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Who is the Greatest?

Who is the Greatest?

In response to the question asked by His disciples about “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew18:1), Jesus juxtaposes the contrast seen in human nature between greatness and service in his discourse about children and the kingdom. He

You... are not the greatest.

You… are not the greatest.

taught His disciples to be humble and forgiving. Yet soon after this teaching these same men tried to forbid the approach of little children to Jesus, a rich man refuses to serve others and follow the Lord, and Peter asks what the faithful will receive (to which Jesus tells the parable of the laborers in the vineyard, teaching that all receive the same reward). Then the mother of James and John come to Jesus with her sons and asks a prominent place for them with Jesus in the kingdom. When the others hear it they are filled with outrage, jealousy, and resentment. So Jesus pulls them aside and tells them that to be great in the kingdom they must humble themselves and serve each other.

We live in an age of obscene pride, jealousy, and covetousness. Churches are divided, marriages broken, and nations warring and degenerating all due to the sin of selfishness. Do we want to be considered great in the kingdom? Or do we just want to be seen as great among the world? If the latter you already have your reward. But if the former, the greatest reward awaits you! Serve God, serve others, and ask yourself, “Am I greater than the Lord?” (Matthew 20:28).

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EL COMIENZO DE UNA CONGREGACION EN UN LUGAR

EL COMIENZO DE UNA CONGREGACION EN UN LUGAR

Sin duda alguna los términos que escogemos para hacer esta descripción son muy importantes. El inicio de la Iglesia de Cristo en un lugar no significa que sea el inicio de la Iglesia. En otras palabras, cuando la Iglesia de Cristo llega a un lugar simplemente está dando lugar a la continuidad de la Iglesia  gloriosa de Cristo del primer siglo. A las personas en la comunidad les debe de quedar muy claro y los ministros de igual manera debemos despejar dudas de que no se trata de comenzar una Iglesia nada más, de que Cristo fue quien comenzó su Iglesia (Mt.16:18) y de que nosotros solamente ayudamos a que esa Iglesia llegue a diferentes comunidades. Creo que esto es un reto enorme, cientos de personas mueren en pecado cada día mientras nosotros hacemos lo que podemos por llevarles el evangelio a tiempo. Sería insensato pensar que el inicio de una congregación en un lugar es “pan comido” aún hasta el ministro más experimentado pasará por tremendas situaciones en el proceso  y quizás sea el quién termine más golpeado y maltratado. Trabajar con seres humanos siempre será algo difícil sin embargo trabajar para el Señor será algo que siempre nos animará. Es verdad que cualquier miembro puede comenzar una congregación de la Iglesia de Cristo en cualquier lugar y que para esto no hay que pedir permiso a nadie. Es realmente triste pero en mucho países de Latinoamérica  existen “pequeños papas” quienes están supervisando todo y si algo no está de acuerdo a su manera o a su idea ese algo no es bien visto. Cierta ocasión conocimos del caso de un hermano que estaba abriendo una congregación en cierto lugar, y tal hermano es un hermano sano en la fe y es un predicador con trayectoria que está intentando trabajar, y el hermano X “aspirante para papa” dijo: ¡Oh no, tal hermano no puede abrir una obra ahí!   y cuando se le preguntó el porqué simplemente replicó: “NO, es que el no puede hacer eso”.  Estas como una gran lista de oposiciones y criticas vendrán siempre en el proyecto de abrir obras. Cada hermano fiel que esté detrás de un proyecto como esté deberá de rodearse de gente que le vaya a ayudar, que lo animé y que esté dispuesta a trabajar mano a mano con él. Este concepto es absolutamente bíblico.

he beginning of the Church of Christ in a place does not mean that it is the beginning of the Church.

The beginning of the Church of Christ in a place does not mean that it is the beginning of the Church.

Si usted recuerda a Nehemías en la reconstrucción de los muros de Jerusalén experimento algo similar. Tobias y Sambalat se burlaban de ellos mientras intentaban reconstruir ruinas, pero el Señor estaba con Nehemías y su gente. En los primeros Capítulos de este interesante libro leemos que había una gran cantidad de personas queriendo ayudarle sin embargo no se hallaron en los registros y por lo tanto fueron rechazados ya que no eran Judíos puros. Este sin lugar a dudas es uno de los errores más comunes por parte de los ministros al comenzar una obra, el aceptar gente, problemática viniendo de otras congregaciones y el llenarse de todo tipo de hermanos que van buscando algo así como “ciudades de refugio”  al fin y al cabo pasa la factura. Esta situación es un tanto complicada y difícil ya realmente no hay un argumento lo suficientemente potente para devolverlos a su congregación pero si hay algunos principios que pueden ser usados. La hermanad debe de comprender que al abrir una nueva obra en un lugar no es para que ellos vayan a “tantiar” piscina y que si les gusta el agua se quedan ahí, ellos deben de comprender que los esfuerzos físicos, económicos, espirituales no es para crear una opción más en el menú donde como en McDonals ellos pueden ordenar a su gusto y antojo  ¡NO! Los esfuerzos al abrir congregación en un lugar es para alcanzar al perdido, es porque al igual que el Señor Jesús en Lucas 15 estamos preocupados por aquella oveja perdidas y no por las 99 que están dentro. Deben de comprender que ellos están contratados por el Señor en este hospital espiritual  cuando dijo “ Id y predicad el evangelio a todo criatura” (Mr. 16:15), no más bien que son parte un club. Hermanos que no traigan esta mentalidad y que no vengan con la intención de colaborar, serán un problema más en vez de ser parte de la solución, ¡Cuidado con estos hermanos!.

Por otro lado quisiera describir algunas de las dificultades más comunes al abrir congregación en un lugar para luego concluir con solamente un texto que soluciona todos y cada uno de estos puntos. Comencemos:

  1. Los Tobias y Sambalat: Esos siempre aparecerán en su panorama. Como Nehemías simplemente ore por ellos y realmente ignore sus gritos contra usted. Recuerde usted está edificando muros para Dios y el diablo no se quedará de brazos cruzados tan fácilmente.
  2. Sus Energías: Abrir obra demanda de un trabajo fuerte. Tal vez se encuentre usted, realizando todos los actos de adoración, limpiando local, cocinando el pan para la cena, abriendo el local, cerrando etc… seguramente no hay escape a todo esto pero asegurece  tener días libres. Apaga el teléfono y disfrute de un día en familia, saque tiempo para hacer ejercicio o para relajarse con frecuencia. Aunque a los hermanos nos les guste y aunque hayan muchos extremistas que se opongan preferimos eso a un ministro quemado en un mes o una semana.
  3. Económicas: Esta es muy famosa. ¿Como rentar un local para la iglesia si solamente hay un miembro?. Confíe en el Señor y recuerde que la Iglesia del Señor se reunía en las casas en Hechos 2:46; Ro. 16:5. Nunca se desenfoque, el local es importante pero la gente que compone la Iglesia es mucho más importante, sin importar el lugar en que se reúnan.
  4. Su membrecia: Las personas quienes vayan llegando obviamente son niños espirituales, el Señor les está asediando a su Iglesia y eso es grandioso, pero ahora toca enseñarles y esto no es un proceso de ir un día a la semana y tener un estudio con ellos, sino que es un proceso de maduración, quizás sus miembros se vean aún apoyando prácticas sectarias sin embargo con paciencia y doctrina vamos ayudándoles a cambiar (2Tim.4:1-2). Se va estresar, desesperar, y hasta desanimar, pero recuerde usted un día también fue un niño en la fe y le tomó tiempo también aprender los rudimentos de la doctrina de Cristo.
  5. Bautismos: El numero de bautismos es importante pero puede llegar a ser un factor contrario. Después de algún tiempo es probable que usted vea su trabajo como estancado al no ver bautismo tomar lugar mientras que usted ha seguido trabajando constantemente. Tal vez el sostenimiento suyo se vea en peligro ya que hay muchos patrocinadores que miden el éxito de una congregación por el numero de bautismos. Yo sé por ejemplo que el trabajo en Africa se pueden bautizar 3000 en un año sin embargo 2 o 3 permanecen fieles para el próximo año. Que el número de bautismos no sea un factor contrario para usted, olvide los Números y dedique su ministerio a predicar la palabra (2Tim. 4:2), siembre la semilla del reino que el Señor es quién dará el crecimiento (1 Co. 3:6-8).

Al final de todas estas dificultades y más que habrán de venir, tenga presente lo que Pablo escribió en Filipenses 4:13 “Todo lo puedo en Cristo que me fortalece”.En el contexto de este capítulo Pablo estaba en la cárcel y anteriormente había descrito muchos de sus tribulaciones. En el 14 les dice a estos hermanos que ellos habían hecho bien en haber participado con él en la tribulación. Por lo tanto este pasaje tan popular tiene mucho más fuerza, cuando leemos el v.14 porque Pablo todo lo podía en Cristo que lo fortalecía. Estar en Cristo  de acuerdo a lo que él describió en Efesios es estar en su Iglesia Ef. 1:3-4; 22-23. El Señor no solo estaba con Pablo sino que le había fortalecido a travez de los hermanos en Filipos. ¡Que bendición tan grande es el Ser parte de la Iglesia de Cristo!. Cuando estos problemas vengan a su ministerio, recuerde que usted no está solo que por ahí hay una que otra iglesia de los Filipenses que va a ser partícipe y que le va a animar en el Señor. Necesitamos más congregaciones de la Iglesia de Cristo en nuestras comunidades, somos el último salvavidas, y por lo tanta la responsabilidad es grande, la labor es apremiante pero la paga es inimaginable.

 

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