Amen

“And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, ‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God:”

-Rev 3:14

Jesus is the very form and embodiment of AMEN!! Wow---I love this—He is speaking here to John and refers to Himself as AMEN!! Wow---I never stopped to think about this…this word is so common now we lose the value of it.  According to Blue Letter Bible the word means the following: verily--a) at the beginning of a discourse - surely, truly, of a truth b) at the end - so it is, so be it, may it be fulfilled. It was a custom, which passed over from the synagogues to the Christian assemblies, that when he who had read or discoursed, had offered up solemn prayer to God, the others responded Amen, and thus made the substance of what was uttered their own.

Jesus is verily---He is the substance of what is spoken!! Since we don’t understand this today its easy for us to laugh when someone says it out of place according to us---or when someone overuses it. But only God knows the heart of the person saying it.  AMEN is Jesus---Amen is the essence of Jesus’ truth and promise!!  Jesus is THE AMEN!

I like what someone wrote about AMEN (read below):

The word "amen" is a most remarkable word. It was transliterated directly from the Hebrew into the Greek of the New Testament, then into Latin and into English and many other languages, so that it is practically a universal word. It has been called the best known word in human speech. The word is directly related -- in fact, almost identical -- to the Hebrew word for "believe" (amam), or faithful. Thus, it came to mean "sure" or "truly", an expression of absolute trust and confidence. -- HMM

Chasing the Mysteries of the Kingdom.

And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.”—Matt 13:10-11 NKJV

In this chapter Jesus is on a roll telling parables especially to explain what the Kingdom is like…the disciples are there and hearing these parables.  Obviously they ask Jesus why He spoke to the crowds in parables?? Jesus’ answer is pretty much; ‘you all have the opportunity to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven and they don’t’---now from this phrase we can conclude Jesus considered the disciples people either in the Kingdom or well on their way to being a part of it---the funny thing is this---in vs. 36 after Jesus has told about 4 parables about the Kingdom the disciples come to Him and pretty much say “ok, can you explain yourself?”  I love that Jesus goes right into the explanation—what I love even more is after He explains the first parables He goes on to tell them 2 more parables and then asks them, “Have you understood all these things?” (vs 51)  This is where the disciples were given the mysteries Jesus spoke about—not during the parables part but during the extra time spent afterwards explaining them!! You see Jesus didn’t speak and then BAM they got it!! They had to spend extra time with Him, walk with Him in order to GET it! DO YOU GET IT????  Is it clicking now?? Many a times I was the kind of Christian that thought I would grow in knowledge and mysteries of God and the supernatural by just attending church and/or a one hour prayer meeting.  These things aren’t wrong and they definately help in our growth but that’s not where most of my knowledge of the Kingdom will come from---it will come from Jesus Himself.  Jesus revealing His plans, ideas, thoughts, lessons etc.  It will happen in time spent outside of the regular “preaching/teaching” time. 

The disciples already had the promise of knowing the mysteries, but they had to go after the mysteries.  The mysteries didn’t come to them and land on their laps.  If they had decided to keep, the doubts/confusion to themselves about the parables, there would be no knowledge released…notice their questioning of Jesus wasn’t so they could prove something about Him.  They questioned to learn and grow.  Once He answered, they received and believed…it’s not like one question led to 10 more questions.  Sometimes our questions come out of a place of doubt or criticism of what God is doing---and in that case, they don’t honor God.  When Job and God went at it, God’s reply to Job was pretty much who are you that you need to be throwing all these questions at me??  I am God and that is that---now this won’t always be the case but we must make sure our questions are coming from a place of humble submission and a burning desire to grow. 

So today I ask myself, Am I chasing after the mysteries of Jesus?? Am I going into a session with Him expecting to come out with insider knowledge? I have to admit sometimes I do and other times I don’t—other times I do just to meet my devo obligation.  Nothing worst then spending an hour reading your Bible and coming out with nothing mysterious or revealed and just head knowledge---Jesus is ready and willing to release the mysteries…they are ours for the taking.

One thing is for sure once Jesus explained Himself He told more parables to test them.  He wanted to see if they got it.  I believe we are and will be tested even while in Kingdom to see what we know and if we’re really listening etc.  Jesus wanted to make sure these folks got His message about the Kingdom.  The Kingdom is so important to Jesus He spent most of His parables on it!

Adelante---

Bea

Generation Glory

Iglesia Cristiana Adonai

The Easy Sin to Fall into---

Enthusiasm without knowledge is not good. If you act too quickly, you might make a mistake.-Prov 19:2 New CenturyVersion

 Even zeal is not good without knowledge, and the one who acts hastily sins.-Holman Christian Standard Bible

 Also it is not good for a soul to be without knowledge, and he sins who hastens with his feet. NKJV

 I was led to this verse this morning---wow---I provided 3 different versions because I know some of us get it better with different wording. But we can’t get away from the King James Version---we can sin if we act quickly without knowledge.  Not because God doesn’t like quick decisions but because when we make them we don’t wait on the knowledge of what God wants or doesn’t want—that’s how I understand it. I’m sure there are also other reasons why---but wow we can sin from a hasty decision!! I’m still chewing on that---I normally don’t think a quick yes or no can lead me to sin . It could be a sin because I am making the decision without trusting in God or making it in anxiety or fear.  And what about the big one decisions made without faith—and anything done without faith is a sin! Wow serious business here.  The knowledge of God’s will and plans is easily found in His word and in moments of intimacy with God.  We can’t tell people what to do or what decisions to make, but we can speak into them about the knowledge of God.  Today more than ever, I am equipped with Word and knowledge from God on how to deal with different situations and circumstances. On my own strength and my own knowledge, I am helpless and sinful.  This morning I was inquiring of the Lord for specific situations---I inquired and now I’m in silence listening to His leading. It’s amazing how He answers---it’s not too long before He begins to pour into me. And in different methods and different avenues but all of it is in agreement.  Whether I like what He has to say or not He is speaking.  Like with Elijah He can speak to guide me in any environment—wind, rain, earthquake, or silence.  He can speak in any element or season.  I must be listening no matter the circumstance or environment.  

It’s so easy to make hasty decisions especially when we think certain ones don’t need our inquiring of God---but I found the David method of inquiring for anything is simpler and much more precise. The will of the Lord will prevail anyway why waste my time where God’s will isn’t and be hurt and frustrated?  I’ve experienced both before--I find when I inquire of Him even for small matters God is gracious to me and gives me favor in those small things.  It’s when I begin to feel rushed and pressed for time I risk making the wrong hasty decision and falling into sin. It’s when I feel I know what I’m doing and am in “God’s will” I risk sinning by making a hasty decision. (MY OWN KNOWLEDGE CAN LEAD ME TO SIN whereas GOD’S KNOWLEDGE IS ALWAYS GOOD) There are so many of us believers in a hurry…let’s slow down and enjoy God’s timing and peace. Rom 15:13 says may I hope while I trust.  This means waiting and trusting in God can be a season of peace and Holy Spirit hope which brings results and is power.  

Think on this word today—let God speak to the specific need/area where you have acted rather quickly.  Keep in mind knowledge from God is different than human knowledge so when we read this verse let’s not be fooled into thinking this refers to human knowledge we already possess etc. Don’t want anyone missing out on what God has for you in His Word by faulty interpretation.

Aprovecha y Avanza! 

Bea Z

Generation Glory