The Commitment to Jesus

One summer my son found work selling knives and kitchen tools for a well known U.S. company. He had to reach out to an adult contact list: people from church, neighbors, grandma, and friends of his parents. Not everyone wanted to purchase something. Many politely listened, giving him the opportunity to make a persuasive sales presentation; he even demonstrated the sharpness of a pair of scissors by cutting a penny in half, but in the end, most didn’t buy. Those who did bought out of love for my son, because they knew him as a friend.

In the Old Testament, the Hebrew people became enslaved to the Egyptians. God sent Moses, one of their own, to lead them out of bondage. Through Moses God worked many miracles of judgment upon Egypt. In the wilderness, God performed many life-giving miracles to help the Israelites. Yet, as a people, they regretted having left Egypt and slavery and returned to idol worship. Only two adult men who came out of Egypt actually loved The Lord and entered the Promised Land. Joshua and Caleb had followed The Lord fully. (Deuteronomy 34:10-12; Numbers 32:11-12)

In the New Testament, God sent His only Son, as one of their own to the Jewish people, that those who believed in Him would have everlasting life. Lord Jesus proved Who He was by the demonstrations of His authority. He healed the sick, cast out demons, opened the eyes of the blind, and raised the dead. Many believed. Yet after His death and resurrection, during a time of Roman occupation and persecution, only about 120 true disciples remained as followers. (Acts 1:15) They knew the Lord, had seen His resurrection, and loved Him. They would be the recipients of Holy Spirit baptism. (Acts 2)

Persuasive words may be spoken. Demonstrations of divine authority might be displayed. But true friends of God, and His Son, Lord Jesus, will remain even through dark times, fully obeying Him.

The covenant we have with Lord Jesus is as that of the marriage covenant, “in sickness and in health, for better for worse, for richer for poorer.” Commitment in the mind. Love in the heart.

Without commitment and love, we are not fully following God.

Lord Jesus stated, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” (John 14:15)

Those who love Him and keep His commands will move into the abundant life. They will live full lives filled with Holy Spirit. They will walk in God’s power. They will fulfill their lives’ purposes.

The marriage covenant is about responsibility. We must uphold our side of the commitment, even in times of difficulty—the wilderness, even in times of political turmoil and occupation. He will keep His side of the covenant as well: “I will never leave you nor forsake you,” is the promise God gave to the Israelites as they entered the Promised Land. (Deuteronomy 31:6)

The promise made by Lord Jesus to His disciples, His last Words before ascending to the throne, “I am with you always.” (Matthew 28:20)

Are you keeping your half of the marriage covenant with Lord Jesus?

(C) 2020 Kelly Jadon

Is God Stopping You?

Summer vacations as a child in Michigan gave me endless opportunities to be creative. One week, when I was about 10, I decided to be a hairdresser. My sibling marketing team and I created signs for my new business and went door to door advertising to neighbors who humored my endeavor. Later, back at home, I hired a model to practice on, my five-year-old younger sister. She enjoyed the attention until the hairbrush became so twisted up in her white blonde hair that it couldn’t be removed. At that point, upper management was contacted. Mom came to the rescue with a pair of scissors and an out-of-business notice for me.

Sometimes parents must stop us, even when we’re having fun, because we could either hurt others or ourselves. Sometimes they stop us because they think we have better things to do.

God the Father works in the same way, out of love for us, His children.

Jonah was an Old Testament prophet called to go to Nineveh and preach about repentance, but he didn’t want to go. Instead, he ran away from his calling. Jonah found himself on a ship in a terrible storm. At Jonah’s request, he was thrown overboard by the boat’s crew and swallowed by a great fish. Jonah spent three days in the belly of the sea creature, then he was spit out upon dry land.

God had to stop Jonah from running away. He was hurting himself by not facing his future and endangering an entire city of people. In the end, Jonah obeyed God, fulfilled his responsibility and the people of Nineveh repented and were saved. (Jonah)

God the Father loved the people of Nineveh and Jonah.

After the Resurrection of Lord Jesus, He reappeared to His disciples a third time up in Galilee on Lake Tiberius. Peter had gone back to fishing, his original occupation. The Lord spoke to Peter, three times asking him, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” Each time, Peter would answer affirmatively. Then The Lord would respond, “Tend My lambs.”

“Shepherd My sheep.”

“Tend My sheep.”

In a gentle rebuke, Lord Jesus was reminding Peter of his calling and his responsibility—to care for the Church. This ministerial work wasn’t performed as a slave, but out of love for Lord Jesus. (John 21:15-17)

Peter went on to become a patriarch in the Church. He was present when Holy Spirit descended and then he himself preached messages adding thousands to the faithful. (Acts 2) Peter also was the person through whom The Lord opened the door to the Gentiles. (Acts 10)

God the Father loved the Church, the Gentiles and He also loved Peter.

When God stops us from doing something we like doing, it’s for a reason. Most often, there is something better and necessary to Him that we must do. Read the Scriptures. Pray. Ask God what is His purpose, His calling, or the ministry He has for you. Following through on a calling of God brings great satisfaction.

(C) 2020 Kelly Jadon

God Licked Up the Water

As a kid, my summer days were spent in the pool as much as possible. Mom called me “a fish.” Sometimes I came out of the water though to practice my diving; we had a wonderful springboard diving board and a tall water-fed slide. I worked on a few moves: the surface dive, the swan dive, the regular forward dive, the somersault dive coming off the end of the slide, and most uproariously, the “butt-flop.” At times I tried to dive deep to the bottom to retrieve swim toys.

Israel was in a drought. Water was scarce. Most of its people had turned to false gods.

Elijah was a prophet in the Old Testament who thought he stood alone against the paganism of Queen Jezebel and King Ahab. In a “double-dare” with pagan priests, a competition was ordered in which “the God Who answers by fire, He is God.”

On Mount Carmel in Israel, Elijah demonstrated the power of God.

The false priests of Ahab and Jezebel set up an altar with an animal sacrifice, then they called upon their idol, Baal, to send fire and burn it up. Elijah poked fun at them. He said, “Maybe he’s asleep! Maybe he’s out of town!” and other such jabs. The priests of Baal continued on, raving and cutting their flesh open in an effort to get Baal to answer, but nothing happened.

Then Elijah set up the altar to God and he even poured water on top and in a trench all around the bottom. He called to God. Fire fell and God burnt up the sacrifice, even licking up the entrenched water. When the people who were watching saw this, they fell on their faces; and they said, “The Lord, He is God; the Lord, He is God.” (1Kings 18:19-39)

The fire which fell from Heaven in the New Testament was Holy Spirit. He arrived at Pentecost, as believers were praying. He came as tongues of fire upon each believer’s head, (Acts 2:3), first to the Jews, then to the Gentiles. (Acts 10:44-48)

This fire comes from Lord Jesus, Who sent Holy Spirit, our Helper. (Luke 3:16; John 14:16)

Our God is a consuming fire. (Hebrews 12:29)

The fire of God in Elijah’s time burned up the animal sacrifice.

The fire of God (Holy Spirit) also burns, it burns up, through conviction, little areas left in our lives, sanctifying us for our calling. We believers are living sacrifices. Each with a plan and purpose for his life.

Paul wrote in Romans 12:1, “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.”

We are to be His ministers flames of fire, (Hebrews 1:7), especially during these darkening days. Holy Spirit, the fire of God, helps us.

When we study the Word of God, we must not omit the Old Testament as some do. Dive deep and see that prophecy, shadows, and types all point to the coming of the Messiah, Lord Jesus.

Surface diving is shallow. Roots will not grow down into your soul, anchoring you to The Lord, The Word. We as Christians must know our heritage and teach it to our children.

Swan diving looks good: being able to recite The Word, but not live it out.

Butt-flops happen when we don’t really know The Word but tell others that we do.

What brings the falling of Holy Spirit?

Elijah prayed. Elijah preached the truth of God. Elijah had great faith. He called upon God to show Himself with fire. Elijah was completely devoted to God during that event.

Remember the Upper Room, 120 disciples were in prayer, devotion to God. ie. deep diving

Remember Peter preaching the testimony of Jesus to the Gentiles, devotion to God. ie. deep diving

Know the Word of God, just as Elijah did. Know His Name, Lord Jesus. He Who answers with fire is God. His Name is Lord Jesus. He answers to His Name. He answers with fire. He answers with Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:3)

Believers, are you devoted to God? Are you God’s flame of fire?

(C) 2020 Kelly Jadon

You Are Vital

Survival. There is much to be learned from Christians in the Middle East, who have existed there for the last 2,000 years. Up until the recent years, there were tribes of believers that lived on the land and traveled together. One was the Ghassani tribe, from which my spouse’s father’s family descends.

As they moved across camel trails, over mountains and through deserts, the Gospel of Jesus went with them and was shared. They were known as people of the Book.

Other settlements of Christians lived together in villages, like Acco, on the Mediterranean Sea, not far from Nazareth.

Christians in the Middle East today still live together, for safety, in their own villages or near to relatives. They support each other’s businesses and services. Together, with God’s help, they have kept the churches in the Holy Lands open and vital for 2,000 years. This has not been easy. They have endured poverty, famine, occupation, empires, and numerous wars. But they are still standing and many refuse to leave.

The Word of God says that it is good and pleasant for brothers to dwell together in unity. (Psalm 133:1-3) The psalmist, David, likens the oneness of brotherhood to the dew which comes down upon Mount Hermon in northern Israel. Refreshing.

Lord Jesus had a large following of believers and disciples during His three-year ministry on Earth. There were squabbles about who would be first and where bread could be purchased, but the men and women lived as a community, following The Lord. He kept them safe. (John 17:12)

After The Lord’s ascension, the Acts church developed and boomed to thousands from 120 on Pentecost because of the baptism of Holy Spirit. Under persecution from the Jewish and later Roman societies, these believers learned to listen to Holy Spirit and live together in community. Even land was sold to provide for others; no went in need. (Acts 4:32-37)

Once again, there were squabbles about eating meat first sacrificed to idols or meats previously considered unclean, but division was overcome.

They lived in the world, but were not of the world. They were separate from the world. And they lived together and were of one mind. (Acts 2:41-47; John 17:11)

Believers are to meet regularly, eat together, pray together, study Scripture together, even daily and be of one mind, living in unity with each other. (Romans 15:5; 1Corinthians 1:10; Philippians 1:27) There will be squabbles, just as there were in the beginning, but they too can be overcome with God’s help, counsel and direction.

Do you rely upon the fellowship of community?

If a great crisis came, would you have a network of believers to go to for help?

We are called to love each other. This is a command of Lord Jesus. Do not isolate yourself. You matter and you are needed by The Lord as a vital part of the body of Christ. (Romans 12:5)

Unity of the body of Christ is necessary for survival just as it always has been.

(C) 2020 Kelly Jadon