A Quite Rest A QUIET REST We read in (Mark 6:30-32) where Jesus and His disciples had been busy ministering to the crowds “Then Jesus said let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile. He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and His disciples didn’t even have time to eat”. Actually David Roper was the author of a devotional article in ODB on Jan 25, 2015, where he told a story of helping a friend move some equipment to a backcountry ranch in Idaho. The road was not passable for a truck so they were using a wagon pulled by team of mules. There was no electricity or phone service to the ranch, only a satellite radio. When asked about how the rancher made out in the winter, and how he endured it, his reply was simply “I find it right peaceable”. How often do we feel like we need to draw back to some quiet and peaceful place to get rid of the constant noise and confusion of our world? If Jesus and His disciples needed to do this, then so d

A QUIET REST

 

We read in (Mark 6:30-32) where Jesus and His disciples had been busy ministering to the crowds "Then Jesus said let's go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile. He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and His disciples didn't even have time to eat". Actually David Roper was the author of a devotional article in ODB on Jan 25, 2015, where he told a story of helping a friend move some equipment to a backcountry ranch in Idaho. The road was not passable for a truck so they were using a wagon pulled by team of mules. There was no electricity or phone service to the ranch, only a satellite radio. When asked about how the rancher made out in the winter, and how he endured it, his reply was simply "I find it right peaceable".

 

How often do we feel like we need to draw back to some quiet and peaceful place to get rid of the constant noise and confusion of our world? If Jesus and His disciples needed to do this, then so do we. In (Matt 11:28-30) "Then Jesus said come to me all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light". We can depend on Jesus to follow through with his promises since he returned to His Father in heaven (Ps 110:1) and They sent the Holy Spirit to take His place on earth. Now the Holy Spirit is available to every person who has by faith received Jesus as Lord and Savior, to be their indwelling guide, who promised to "never leave us nor forsake us".

 

In (Ps 4:7-8) the Psalmist David gives us these encouraging words "You have put gladness in my heart, more than in the season when their grain and wine have increased. I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me to dwell in safety". With promises like these from both Jesus and King David, why would we ever refuse to accept them? The only reason I can think of is the chance that you have never yet put your faith and trust in Jesus as Lord and Savior. And if you have not done that yet, you can do so today by simply recognizing your need of confessing your sins (1 John 1:9), and receiving forgiveness!!

Sincerely submitted.

Dave Jamer                                                                                                                          26/01/15

 

 

A Thousand Years as a Day

A THOUSAND YEARS AS A DAY

 

We find this expression in (Ps 90:4) "For a thousand years in your sight are like yesterday when it is past. And like a watch in the night". Then in (2 Peter 3:8) we read "But beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day". We can only assume that Peter was probably referring to Psalm 90 verse 4 when he made this statement. A few years ago one day I was trying to understand the difference between time and eternity. I took a new piece of white paper and drew a circle in the middle of it, and called that circle our "Time and Space World" and the rest of the sheet of paper I called Eternity. As I understand scripture our "Creator God", who has always existed as Father, Son, Holy Spirit, or in other words a "Triune" being we refer to as "The Trinity". From His position in eternity whenever He views our world He sees things that took place thousands of years ago, as well as those things that only happened today. For that matter because of His "Foreknowledge", He knows what will happen in the future! This little diagram helped me to understand certain scriptural passages, like (Rev 20:1-10) where John tells of a vision he saw in which the Devil was bound for 1000 years, and afterward released for a little season. As soon as he is released he goes out to deceive the nations to cause a mighty army to come together to attack God's people and the holy city of Jerusalem. But God sent "fire from heaven" and consumed them all, after which the Devil who deceived them, plus the Beast and the False Prophet were thrown into the "fiery lake of burning sulfur" (hell) for ever and ever. This event is often confused with the thousand year reign of the Lord called the Millennium which happens after the end of the 7 year period that is known as Daniel's seventieth week". This period in (Rev 20:1-10) leads up to the "Battle of Armageddon" which comes near the end of the 7 year period prophesied by Daniel in (Dan 9:24-27).

 

That is why Revelation cannot be read like Acts, where every chapter fits together one after the other, and this is why we need the help of the Holy Spirit to make sense of this wonderful book that God uses to close out His Divine Book we call the Bible. But is the "summary" so to speak, of everything out Creator wanted us to know. So when we read the Bible we should always ask the Holy Spirit to tell what He told the authors, and why He chose the words He told them to use. (2 Tim 3:16)!!

Sincerely submitted.

Dave Jamer                                                                                                          27/08/14

My Big Problem

MY BIG PROBLEM

 

I confess to having a problem that seems to be getting bigger every day, since I started to spend more time studying the Bible several years ago. It has to do with certain well known Bible teachers teaching doctrines that according to my new understanding of scripture are not true. I used to believe and teach these same doctrines for years, but since changing the way I have been approaching scripture lately, God has been showing me a different way of understanding certain passages. I had been taught they meant certain things by my leaders, but once I started using a "Face Value" method of understanding scripture, and laying aside what I had been told, the scriptures suddenly came alive to me! I have been given more "illumination" on certain well known scriptures by the Holy Spirit, that changes the meaning all together. And my problem centers around the area of "why do these experienced teachers" still keep spreading the same old lies to their hearers? This is the basis of my problem!

 

All I did was to realize that the same Holy Spirit who inspired the authors of scripture, (2 Tim 3:16-17), is the same Holy Spirit that indwells me as a simple follower of Jesus, and I could just ask Him to show me what He had in mind when He told them what words to use. It is a very simple process, and the results have been surprising, giving me a completely different understanding of passages that I thought I knew what they meant. Then I have to be bold enough to make public this new understanding, which often comes against the doctrines of "long standing" in our churches! This can result in you being considered a "rebel" or perhaps a "heretic", or worse. Everyone desires to be well thought of by their peers, and I am no exception, so it is still hard to dispute the doctrines that have been accepted, and taught, in our church circles for years, without being challenged. This is also part of my problem, and I will have to settle it with the Holy Spirit as to what to do with the new things He is showing me. So I would ask you to remember me in prayer, that I might have humility and wisdom as I try to introduce some of the results of this new "illumination" that God has been bringing to me   that are quite a bit different from what we have been taught. I certainly do not consider myself any sort of an expert on Bible interpretation, but simply a follower of Jesus, trying to walk in such a way that my life, and my actions might please the Father. I believe this should be the goal of all of us who claim to be followers of Jesus!

Sincerely submitted.

Dave Jamer                                              30/11/15

Our ComprtehensiveEquipment

OUR COMPREHENSIVE EQUIPMENT

 

This rather different expression showed up in the devotional article in ODB today Jan 1, 2015, and caught my attention. It was listed as a quote from

J. B.Phillips who wrote a version of the NT. The author David McCasland was quoting from (2 Tim 3:1-5, 10-17), apparently from this translation. This is a very interesting passage of scripture, that we should all be aware of, especially verses 16-17, "All scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip His people to do every good work". NLT This is part of Paul's instructions to his young assistant Timothy, and certainly contains important information for all of us today who are followers of Jesus. Many people want to know at the start of a new year, what we will hold to? Will it be better or worse than last year? Only God knows what the future holds, but He has given some things to look for in His Word. And this passage gives us some insight as to what lies ahead of us this year.

 

Take time to read this whole chapter carefully and see what Paul told Timothy to expect. Paul warns of the things we can expect to happen in these last days, but we can know what he tells in (1 Cor 10:13) which is encouraging "The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful; He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, He will show you a way out so that you can endure". NLT This truth applies to any and all situations that may come your way in the future. Our author states "as the spiritual darkness of our world grows deeper, the light of Christ shines more brightly through all those who know and love Him. Jesus is our joy and hope—today, tomorrow, and forever". This is certainly a true scriptural truth that we can depend on, and share freely with others. Our author then includes this prayer "Heavenly Father, the trouble in this world can divert our eyes from You. Thank You for Your Word that helps us stay focused. May we find our delight in Your love and share it with others today". Then he ends his article with these words "The powers of evil around you are no match for the power of Jesus within you". To this I add my AMEN!!

Sincerely submitted.

Dave Jamer                                                                                                                             01/01/15

Remember The Wrapping

REMEMBER THE WRAPPING

 

I was impressed by the devotional message from Joe Stowell in the ODB today Dec 22, 2014. He called it "Remember The Wrapping", he was referring to what Jesus chose as His divine wrapping when He came to earth to be "The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world", (John 1:29). He and Father could have chosen a completely different introduction of God the Son to our world. They could have made it a celestial show of glory, but instead made it a humble birth in a lowly animal trough in a stable outside an inn in the village of Bethlehem. See (Phil 2:6-7) NLT for the details of the wrapping that was chosen for Jesus, when He took upon Himself the "likeness of a human being". Remember what God said in (Gen 1:26) "Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us". And we know that Adam and Eve were the first specimens of the new species created in the image of God, as perfect human beings. And of course they were deceived by our enemy Satan into disobeying God and allowing sin and death to enter creation, and it became a "fallen world". (Rom 5:12-21).

 

Why is this "wrapping" that Jesus chose to come to earth in so important to us? Because Jesus humbled Himself and became a human like us He knows every sort of emotion that we might experience. He was unjustly accused, and abandoned and betrayed by friends, scripture tells us that "He was tempted in everyway like us, and yet without sin". Because He was the one and only "God/Man" who was 100% God yet was also 100% man, so His death on the cross was the only adequate payment to settle the debt we all owed because of the inherited sin of our original parents, plus all the other sins we have committed in our lifetime (Rom 6:23). As Paul states so clearly in (Rom 3:9-26), Jesus who knew no sin became sin for us humans, so we could take on His righteousness. (2 Cor  5:17-21). This is the main point of the "good news" of the gospel of the Kingdom of God. This is why it is so important to understand the miracle of Christmas that Jesus became one of us, in order that He could give His life as a sacrifice on the cross on Mount Calvary some 2000 years ago, (no one killed Jesus). He freely gave up His Spirit, so that we who are sinners can be saved by placing our faith and trust in the finished work of the cross. What a wonderful Savior is Jesus Christ our Lord, Praise His wonderful Name!!

Sincerely submitted.

Dave Jamer                                                                                                                                  22/12/14

FOR SALE "AS IS"

FOR SALE—"AS IS"

 

We often see an article for sale with this sign attached, whether it is a used car or an old house. It usually means the present owner does not want to spend the necessary cost of repairing the item. What it really means is for "the buyer beware", it will probably cost more to repair it than it's worth.

Aren't you glad our Creator doesn't feel that way about us when He calls us to come to Himself through His Son Jesus? He receives us "As Is" in our sin and darkness, knowing that His Holy Spirit has the power to clean us up from whatever condition we may be in. All He needs from us is a decision to believe by faith what Jesus did for us on the cross, and accept Him as Lord and Savior. Then Father does the rest by adopting us into His family and gives us the gift of His Holy Spirit to abide with us forever. This is the "Good News" of the gospel of the Kingdom of God, and is available to anyone who chooses to receive it.

 

As believers in Jesus, and committed followers of Him as members of the "Body of Christ" we have the privilege of sharing this good news with everyone we meet. All we need is to know Jesus as Savior through the "New Birth" experience, and a desire to share Him with others. Jesus tells us clearly in (John 14:6) "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me". And the Apostle Paul explains in

(2 Cor 5:17) "This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old is gone, a new life has begun". NLT Then if we read verse 18-21 we are told that "God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself, no longer counting people's sins against them. And He gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ's ambassadors. God is making His appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, come

back to God! For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Him". NLT

 

This is certainly good news, that God can take us "As Is", and make us into a completely new person by His marvelous grace. All by a simple choice on our part have you done that yet? And if not why not? God always leaves the choice up to us, so I would suggest you take Him at His Word!!

Sincerely submitted.

Dave Jamer                                                                                                                                     01/12/14

 

 

 

 

 

True Love

TRUE LOVE

 

In the daily devotional in ODB today Oct. 31, 2014, the author Bill Crowder called it "What Love Is", and he used a line that caught my attention "Real love has a lot to do with sacrifice". This word "love" in our English language can be used in a number of different ways with completely different meanings. For example we might say "I love pizza", or "I love my dog or cat", or "I love my new car", or we can say "I love God". This one little word can be used for all these different examples, but we are limited to this one word. The Greek language that most of our NT scriptures were written in had several different words for "love", for example [Agape] and [Eros]. These two words in Greek were both translated into English as love, although their meaning is quite different. Agape is used in (1 John 4:7-8) where we read "God is Agape". Every time John uses love in these verses the Greek word was always Agape.

 

The best example of "Self sacrificing" love is what we see in (John 3:16-17) or in (Rom 5:8) where our Creator God loved us so much that He allowed His own Son Jesus to become "The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world"  (John 1:29). This is the type of love that we as followers of Jesus should be continually showing towards the other members of the "Body of Christ". If the world around us saw more of this type of "self sacrificing love" operating in our churches, I'm sure they would be more interested in knowing more about the Good News of the "Gospel of The Kingdom of God" that we are to represent! As part of the true Church that Jesus said He would build (Matt 16:18), we who are followers of Jesus and part of this true Church, often referred to as the "Body of Christ" have our work cut out for us.

 

How do you suppose we could improve our witness to the world around us, to show them more clearly the change of heart that happens to us when we are "born again" and become a child of our Father? I think we need to give this some serious thought, and do as Peter commands us in (1 Peter 3:15) in the NLT version "Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it". That doesn't sound too difficult does it? The main thing is to be showing sacrificial love to others in the Body of Christ that will cause others to notice, and ask you the question "why are you doing that"? Then tell them!!

Sincerely submitted.

Dave Jamer                                                                                                                                   31.10/14