The God family is a family of creators. They created everything and sustain everything. Sadly, due to Satan’s rebellion and man’s failures as well, there has been nothing but destruction ever since. Yet the God family is not done creating. There is more to their plan. How will their plans for regeneration affect us and all of mankind in the future?
Kalon Mitchell
What Is It We Are Searching For?
Without knowing where we are headed, we will lose our way in this world. If we are not fully focused on serving God, we are not following Christ’s command to “seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.” That is our guiding light, and all of our actions can and must fall under that way
of thinking.
Are We Using the Correct Tools?
Last year, I purchased an espresso machine that I use daily. I typically make three coffees a day, two for myself and one for my wife.
Before, I was using a hand grinder to grind my coffee fresh each morning. Each grind would take about 2 – 3 minutes to grind the beans fine enough to push hot water through it and make espresso. So, 2 – 3 minutes multiplied by 3 equals 6 to 9 minutes just in grinding the beans down. (I have used the machine for nine months; 30×9=270 days) equals 2,430 minutes. If we divide that by 60 minutes, that is 40.5 hours.
So, I had spent almost the time of a full work-week (40 hours) grinding beans by hand! When I actually stopped to think about this fact, it shocked me! Even if it was only 2 minutes for each cup, it’s still about 27 hours. Now I have an electric grinder which automatically grinds the beans in about 30 seconds. This one device has shaved off minutes of making coffee each morning, essentially saving me days of time each year!
The right tool for the job saves time! I think this also iterates the fact that the little things that we do repeatedly over time build up. Good, bad, everything we do builds up and has effects.
What tools do we use in our Christian lives? Many of us have been in the Church of God for a very long time. But how much do we apply the tools of our trade? Are there areas where we are failing to apply the proper tools? Are we wandering aimlessly, using the wrong tools and getting bad results?
When God was giving instructions to Moses for the building of the traveling temple or tabernacle of God and the things to be placed therein and the garments needed to perform the service, all of it was intricate and it was to be built by craftsmen—people who knew what they were doing. These people didn’t just randomly have the ability. It says that they were skilled and then the Spirit of God led them. Exodus 28:3 states: “So you shall speak to all who are gifted artisans, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron’s garments, to consecrate him, that he may minister to Me as priest.”
God hasn’t called us by random chance! God has called us and has given us the ability to accomplish what He needs us to do. Notice, Paul states in Ephesians 2:10: “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” It is easy to get caught up in our daily lives, with everything that is going on around us, and to miss the bigger picture. The Bible doesn’t leave us without knowledge of what to do. If we are involving God in our ways, then it’s clear that He will show us the ways and open the doors for us.
When it comes to our Christian lives, what is it that we are doing daily?
We know we should be praying always. We know we should be studying the Bible. We know what we should be doing. But how much are we actually really turning over to God?
What we need to keep in mind at all times is that we are not here fighting against flesh and blood (Ephesians 6:12). Rather, we are fighting daily against spiritual enemies that are trying to kill us—yes, physically, but more importantly, eternally.
We can ONLY fight this fight by turning to our spiritual Helper and Guide. We need to realign ourselves with the proper tools to fight the battles and consider who our true enemy is. When we are not fully engaged and using the tools that God gives us, then Satan’s fog of confusion, deception and a whole host of other tools that he uses are active and are designed to cause us pain, grief and ultimately destruction. 2 Corinthians 2:11 tells us that Satan should not “take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.”
Our time here is limited. We are called now to do different tasks. Yet we ALL are in this struggle between life and death. We are each given the opportunity to take up and learn how to use the tools that God gives us. Ephesians 6:10-20 lays out for us the tools that are given to us. That then is our duty—to take them and to use them—to figure out how they find use and purpose in our lives. We should also realize that without these tools, it is impossible to win. Another area that comes to mind and that goes hand in hand with using these tools is learning how to utilize the fruit of the Spirit of God. The actions that come from this fruit is what is key. It is ONLY by studying—thinking about and really looking at our lives that we can come away with answers, with changes.
The tools that we have at our disposal are there for us to use at all times and in every situation that we find ourselves in—if we are in the mindset to do so. That really is what this life is about—being mindful of how we are living our lives. Time comes and goes; no matter, what we do. We should pay attention to how we are using the tools given to us because it will matter!
What’s Age Got to Do with It?
How does God view age? From young to old – God has things to say! What does He consider important in relationship to how we view our age? How can we use our time here wisely?
Status Quo
What is your status quo in your Christian life? Is it OK to remain in a status quo as a Christian or is there more to what we need to be accomplishing?
When the Going Gets Tough – The Tough Get Going
In the coming weeks, months and years we are going to be challenged on multiple fronts. The Bible’s warnings about a Christians life are stark. How do we plan on getting through these times? How are we going to react? We are going to have to be tough in ways that we may not be currently prepared for. What can we do to prepare now?
Accomplish Small Things
In the world, the goal, for humans it seems, is to accomplish as much as is possible. There are some humans who seem to be able to do it all, accomplishing great milestones and leaving amazing legacies. How do we stack up as Christians? What can we accomplish in this lifetime? Does it matter what we accomplish? What does God think?
Foundation for the Future
Recently, one of the email chains I get was talking about change. The email was about how to make change last. In the email, the writer was quoting a friend of his who is a very successful New York Times Best-Selling self-help author. The quote from this author went like this: “I don’t believe most people actually ever change all that much. That may be strange to hear coming from someone who has dedicated their life to helping people change, but I don’t think most people actually change.”
How true this is. So many people in this world want change. And yet, they can often attempt to make a change and then end up reverting back to where they were before.
The author of this email goes on to state the following:
“It’s not because they can’t. It’s because they don’t know what they don’t know. This ‘knowing’ deficit falls into 2 categories…
“1. Most people don’t know what’s actually possible for them.
“Most people have a hard time being able to imagine what’s actually possible for their life experience. They feel ‘good enough,’ and can’t imagine what feeling ‘great’ even is – or that it’s possible for them. They come to accept the malaise. The potential for life remains perpetually on hold as they fall into the norm that Thoreau once accurately described… ‘The mass of men live lives of quiet desperation.’
“2. Most people don’t understand how change actually works
“We think that the way we find greater peace, meaning, freedom, joy and purpose is by focusing on making external changes and quick fixes. The real transformation comes from fixing the foundation. You won’t live differently until you see the world and yourself differently. Sure you can muscle through a diet for a couple of months, but unless your internal operating system changes (your beliefs and sources of meaning) at some point you’re going to find yourself right back at the starting line. This is how it is for everything. External transformation starts with internal transformation.
“Lasting change is an inside-out job.”
As we view this from a Christian perspective, how true this really becomes. When we are called by God and we start to understand the Truth, we are expected to change. Yet, how deeply do we integrate Christian changes into our lives? When we start to make great changes in our lives, we feel invigorated and have a sense of relief. We are zealous and on fire. But as time starts to take its toll in a Christians life, and things start to creep back in or trials and tests happen, that “malaise” can start to set in. The future that we once looked forward to can grow dim and seem increasingly out of reach. The hope for the future, for the Kingdom of God—that which helps to propel us forward—can become dull.
In order to do these things properly, we must allow Christ to be our rock—our true foundation. How do we do this? How do we make sure that we are changing as Christians? We need to be overwriting our carnal operating system. The old person needs to go and needs to be replaced—but with what?
Christ plainly tells us that we must build our foundation—who we are inside (and this takes continual effort, dedication, perseverance, care, watchfulness, searching and changing throughout our lifetime) in order to make it through this life.
In Matthew 7:24-29, we read: “‘Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.’ And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.”
What actions is Christ talking about? What changes are God and Christ looking for within us? Will those things–if we put them into practice in our lives, (because it takes action)–allow us to be able to stand on the rock as we go through life’s trials (rain, floods, winds)? The answers are in the previous verses, in chapters 5-7. Notice the headings in the New King James Bible:
- The Beatitudes
- Believers Are Salt and Light
- Christ Fulfills the Law
- Murder Begins in the Heart
- Adultery in the Heart
- Marriage Is Sacred and Binding
- Jesus Forbids Oaths
- Go the Second Mile
- Love Your Enemies
- Do Good to Please God
- The Model Prayer
- Fasting to Be Seen Only by God
- Lay Up Treasures in Heaven
- The Lamp of the Body
- You Cannot Serve God and Riches
- Do Not Worry
- Do Not Judge
- Keep Asking, Seeking, Knocking
- The Narrow Way
- You Will Know Them by Their Fruits
- I Never Knew You
- Build on the Rock
There is a TON of content in these three chapters, things that we can all take action on. If we want to change as Christians, we have to be willing to do the internal work that it takes. Oftentimes, we can get stuck in the knowing—and yet not actually digging in and dealing with the things that matter in this life.
In preparation for the Passover, Paul warns us all to really think about who we are on the inside—the person who cannot be hidden from God. In 1 Corinthians 11:27-32, he gives us good insight: “Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.”
To examine ourselves and to take action on those things that are wrong is the ticket. We all fall short in some areas. That is why we are admonished to examine—to seek them out. God is willing and fast to forgive our sins when we see a sin and repent of it. When we are in this mindset of seeking out how to build better on the rock—how to fortify and make ourselves stronger—we will be making good changes in our lives.
In John 21:15-17, Christ tells Peter three times to “feed My sheep.” Why is this significant and what does it mean for us today?
Actually, as we will see, Christ did not use those exact words three times. Why was Christ telling Peter to “feed My sheep”? Each time Jesus said, “Feed My sheep,” or a similar, but not identical expression, it was in response to Peter’s threefold declaration of love for Jesus. Christ used this opportunity to encourage and exhort Peter about his upcoming responsibilities. By asking Peter, “Do you love me?” three times (while using different words for “love”), Christ was showing just how important and necessary Peter’s love and obedience to God was for his future ministry.
Jesus begins by questioning Peter about His love for Him, and each time Peter answers in the affirmative. Jesus follows up with the command for Peter to feed or tend His lambs or His sheep. His meaning is that, if Peter truly loves his Master, he is to shepherd and care for those who belong to Christ.
When Peter first told Christ that he would follow Him even to death, Christ pronounced that Peter would deny Him three times before the rooster crowed. It is quite interesting that three times he denies Christ, three times he is asked if he loves Christ, three times he professes his love for Christ and three times Christ says “feed or tend My lambs or My sheep.” Christ’s repeated question in John 21 would have reminded Peter of his three denials. There is no doubt those denials and how he felt when Jesus turned to look at him at that moment were seared deeply into Peter’s mind (Luke 22:54–62). It wasn’t lost on Peter that Jesus repeated His question to him in different ways three times, just as Peter previously denied Him three times. But we can see that Christ didn’t hold this against Peter.
There is an interesting contrast when looking at the Greek words for “love,” used in John 21:15–17. When Jesus asked Peter, “Do you love me?” in John 21:15–16, He used the Greek word agapao the first two times, which refers to unconditional godly love which can only be granted through the Holy Spirit (compare Romans 5:5). Peter responds throughout with “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You,” using the Greek word phileo, which refers more to a brotherly/friendship type of love. Again Christ is trying to get Peter to understand that he must be receiving the Holy Spirit (which would be the case on the Day of Pentecost) to be able to love Christ and God the Father with godly love in order to be the leader that God is calling him to be. The third time Jesus asks, “Do you love Me?” in John 21:17, He uses the word phileo, and Peter again responds with “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You,” again using phileo. The point in the different Greek words for “love” seems to be that Jesus was stretching Peter to move him from phileo love to agape love, while understanding that he could only obtain the love of God through the gift of the Holy Spirit. In verse 17, however, as Christ does not use the word agape, but the word phileo in His question, He shows Peter that even though he did not yet have the Holy Spirit, that was no excuse for not feeding His sheep with brotherly love. It also shows that God does not do everything for us, but we must do our part and do what we can.
We also find that the three commands Christ gives Peter in regard to the “feeding or tending the sheep or the lambs,” although often translated the same way, are subtly different.
When Christ talks about “feeding” His lambs in verse 15, the Greek means literally “pasture (tend) the lambs.” The Greek word for “pasture” is in the present tense, denoting a continual action of tending, feeding and caring for animals. The Greek word is boskó and means to feed (graze); and figuratively, to spiritually nourish by feeding people the Word of God. By describing His people as lambs, He is emphasizing their nature as vulnerable and in need of constant tending and care. The Greek word for lamb is arníon and means a young lamb, “a little lamb”; and figuratively, a person with pure (innocent), virgin-like (gentle) intentions. This may also refer to those people of God who are still new in the faith.
Christ then talks about “tending” His sheep in verse 16. Christians are often referred to as sheep throughout Scripture (Psalm 95:7; John 10:9,11). In this exchange, Jesus was emphasizing tending the sheep in a supervisory capacity, not only feeding but ruling over them. The Greek word for “tending” is poimaínō and means to shepherd, care for and protect the flock. It focuses on “tending” which includes guarding, guiding, and feeding the flock and is only provided (ultimately) by Jesus Christ – the Shepherd, who calls under-shepherds (such as elder-overseers) to guard and guide His people by His direction (1 Peter 5:1-5).
This expresses the full scope of oversight, both in Peter’s future as a minister and in all those who would follow him in being in the ministry. Peter follows Jesus’ example and repeats this same Greek word poimaino in his first letter to the elders of the churches of Asia Minor: “Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers” (1 Peter 5:2).
The word poimaínō occurs 11 times in the New Testament, usually with a figurative sense of “shepherding (tending) God’s flock.” This provides Spirit-directed guidance (care) in conjunction with feeding His people by teaching them the Word of God (bóskō in Greek, see above).
When Christ says in verse 17 that Peter has to “Feed My sheep,” the literal translation is “pasture (tend) the sheep.” Here, Jesus combines the different Greek words to make clear the job of the shepherd of the flock of God. They are to tend, care for, and provide spiritual food for God’s people, from the youngest lambs to the full-grown sheep, in continual action to nourish and care for them, bringing them into the fullness of spiritual maturity (Ephesians 4:11-16). The totality of the task set before Peter, and all shepherds, is made clear by Jesus’ three-fold command and the words He chose.
Peter declares that Christians are to desire the pure spiritual milk of the Word so that by it, they can all mature in their salvation (1 Peter 2:2). As early as the book of Deuteronomy, we see the Bible describing His Word as food for His people who are not to live by bread alone, but by every Word that proceeds from His mouth (Deuteronomy 8:3). Jesus reiterates this thought in His temptation in the wilderness (Matthew 4:4). Clearly, the Word of God is something we should be constantly using and learning from!
One of the main jobs of the shepherds of God’s people is to provide them with the pure milk of the Word of God so they can move on to the meat and solid food of the spiritually mature (Hebrews 5:12-14). The ministry should be one of pastors feeding God’s people the Word of God. We continue to feed the sheep as Christ would have us do by staying close to God, while at the same time preaching and proclaiming the good news or gospel of the Kingdom of God.
Lead Writer: Kalon Mitchell
Submit to Whom?
The Bible is clear that we must bring ourselves in submission to the Father and the Son. But is there more to whom we should be submissive to? Interestingly, the Bible is very explicit that we should submit to our fellow human beings, but how is this supposed to work?
