Fresh Speaking
(Nancy's notes from Lord's Day, June 6, 2010)
"Speak, Oh Lord!" This would be our prayer. "Lord, speak something that would change us. Speak directly to me, that I would leave here today with a change within."
Matthew 13:44-46
"The kingdom of the heavens is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid, and in his joy goes and sells all that he has, and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of the heavens is like a merchant seeking fine pearls; and finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it."
Have we ever considered ourselves a treasure and a pearl to God? He is also the treasure and pearl.
We always say "I - I - I - ME- ME- ME" I'm so happy He died for ME. Consider what the Lord has done. What He did when He sold all and laid it aside. He gave it all! He was equal with God, yet He didn't treasure that, He treasured us! We are nothing but full of sin. We brush our teeth and wear deodorant so we don't offend others. We are so offensive. He gave up all. He emptied Himself of all that He is and became a slave. He became like us. He didn't come as a king, but as a slave; not having anything - no rights. He came as a lowly slave leaving everything that He had and everything that He was. I'm glad He came to redeem me, but we are a pearl to Him and He gave everything for this pearl. He died such a cruel death. He was crucified - humiliated - beaten, slapped, and whipped by man. This is the One who sold everything to gain us. This was His proving that this treasure meant more to Him than being equal with God.
We may not see this treasure, but God saw this treasure from the beginning to the end. He came and paid such a price for this pearl. He is the ultimate pattern for us. Jesus knew what would happen, yet He still came. In Gethsemane Jesus prayed - realizing that there would even be a separation from the Father.
Hebrews 12:2
"Looking away unto Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down on the right hand of the throne of God."
...for the joy set before Him. This is a pattern. Nothing will get in the way. I will run - for the joy set before me. He endured; despising the shame. He was mocked "Ha! Save Yourself!" Yet He didn't come down from the cross. He despised the shame. Even the Father had to turn away. Wow. He had been with Him all this time. Yet He saw something of great value. You are such a treasure - a great joy to the Lord. We want what God had in view to come to fruition. I want Him to get what He is after. If you don't see anything, you live your life as a blind man. No vision. But Paul saw something.
2 Cor. 4:7-16
'But we have this treasure in earthen vessels that the Excellency of the power may be of God and not of us. We are pressed on every side but not constricted; unable to find a way out but not utterly without a way out; persecuted but not abandoned; cast down but not destroyed; always bearing about in the body the putting to death of Jesus that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who are alive are always being delivered unto death for Jesus' sake that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So then death operates in us, but life in you. And having the same spirit of faith according to that which is written, "I believed, therefore I spoke," we also believe, therefore we also speak, knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and will make us stand before Him with you. For all things are for your sakes that the grace which has abounded through the greater number may cause the thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God. Therefore we do not lose heart; but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day."
As a man, Jesus allowed God to live through His being. Jesus asked the disciples, "Who do men say that I am?" Peter answered, "You are the Christ." Jesus told him, "You are blessed - the Father has revealed this to you." Jesus said "I will build My church." This is what is on God's heart - to build His Church. Then He told Peter, "You are a stone" - a part of it.
Jesus told the disciples it was necessary for the Son to be delivered up and crucified. Peter's reaction was not so good so Jesus rebuked him and said "let him deny himself and pick up his cross and follow Me."
What God does is eternal. Joy with suffering blent. To attain the highest, you must pay a price. Even in football, you pay a price to be good. To be good at anything, there is a price to be paid. To gain the highest for God, the Son came and paid such a price to gain the church, the treasure.
The apostles were special people, yet they tell us "be ye also as I am." - Practically; for the kingdom.
David was a man after the Lord's own heart. He took care of Goliath and brought in the kingdom. Yet he was an adulterer - a frail human being. All of Israel suffered because of his sin, and the sword still has not fallen from this people. Yet the kingdom and the temple were brought in through him. We would condemn him, but somehow God was able to bring about the kingdom through him.
Paul was arrogant and religious. He was consenting to Stephens's murder. He was committed with letters to bind all those who called on the name of Jesus. Many Christians were killed because of him. But the Lord intercepted him! God's mercy and grace go much further than we can imagine. It was Paul that brought the gospel to the gentiles!
I am so poor, but I'm not getting hung up on that. The revelation to Paul was - "My body is one. When you persecute My body, you persecute Me".
The Jews could not let go of the fact that salvation was only to them. The Lord broke down the middle wall of partition. Paul eventually saw in the church in Antioch - all nations were one! God doesn't treasure any one nationality church - He treasures the one new man! The enemy does everything to dilute this. We are the United Nations! Why do we meet as the church? We must have an identity that is one with God's identity. For this treasure to be produced, the Lord sent out apostles to raise up churches in each city to be in a realm of being built up together.
If I am offended, I'll just leave. The problems arise because we are not clear.
2 Cor. - was written to the church in Corinth. The church in Corinth was very peculiar. There was adultery, visions; they played with the gifts as playing with toys, etc. Paul knew he was to raise up the church. He would not give up. He would not let the enemy debase God's work. He would die for this.
(v.10) Filled up the sufferings of Christ. It does not happen unless there is the suffering.
(v.12) Death operated in us, but life in you. Life is how the Lord is able to finish His work.
(v.14) How encouraging, to stand with Him.
We need to fellowship more. This saves us and the ones we are with. What God desires must be the base of our lives and of our children's lives. (v.16) We do not lose heart. We do have this treasure! Our inner man is being renewed, as long as we stay in the realm of this treasure. Paul suffered imprisonment and many things. Was he unhappy?
Romans 12:5
"So we being many are one Body in Christ, and individually members one of another."
We are members one of another. How many really know me? It's not what people can do - but what is constituted within them. Do we see flaws? Yes. Do we become followers? No. But we are to take the leading ones as a pattern. The enemy has done everything to dilute what God is doing. We need to receive every believer, but not the things that divide. The Lord raised up the churches so that we can be stuck! This may be the worst brother I have ever met, yet I can't just leave. WE NEED THE CHURCH LIFE, WHERE WE CAN DIE TO OURSELVES AND GROW TOGETHER! We must see the same thing in order to stay in this living.
1 Cor. 12:26
"And whether one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or one member is glorified, all the members rejoice with it."
This is not a social life. Our being together is to get to know one another. The Lord is calling us to live a selfless life. Can we be involved? Where is our priority? What holds the first place? How about the saints around us? Would you give up what is rightfully yours to be with others?