Month: April 2013

The Reality of Immanuel

Iris Godfrey

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy birthed us from above into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, into an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, being kept in the heavens into us who by the power of God are being guarded through faith, into a deliverance to be uncovered in the last time.” (personal translation)1 Peter 1:3-5

This inheritance being kept in the heavens into us is being guarded, by the power of God, through faith…. What a magnificent promise! When we begin to see the lack of distance and separation (there is none) between those birthed from above and the substance that is above, we begin to open to the reality of Immanuel. The very prophetic word of the prophets has come to pass. His being in us is the reality of that promise. He abides in us and brings to us all the Father, Son and Holy Spirit is. Nothing is lacking in us as we live in this life through this inheritance of heaven placed in us – here.  

As we trust (have faith) in our unity in Him and our fellowship with Him, then this reality of oneness in Him begins to shape our thinking and our way of seeing our world. Many of our circumstances change as we view them from the “heaven” view. We all have been trained to be separate (in America we call it “individualism”) from all. Yet, our yearning for unity with others is simplified when we understand all that yearning is the reality of what is in our fellowship in Him. 

The word “fellowship” as used in the New Testament, means “a sharing, a co-participation.” We often boil it down in our minds to communion. Yet, even though our communion is a celebration of that, it is not its essence. Its essence is our daily lives, lived in Him, through Him, and by Him. 

All this is by and through faith – a substance that is based in belief and backed by confidence. So as we lean and trust, these matters begin to be real – not just promises of something to come. What we will experience later, does not diminish the reality of the sharing now. It is all of Him. Learning to share in Him is still a journey for us but it is the reality of Immanuel! 

Inheritance Into Us

Iris Godfrey

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy birthed us from above into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, into an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, being kept in the heavens into us who by the power of God are being guarded through faith, into a deliverance to be uncovered in the last time.” (personal translation)1 Peter 1:3-5

 

In addition to being birthed into a living hope, we are also birthed into an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, being kept in the heavens into us…. Again I have translated a small Greek word (“EIS” written in English) as its primary meaning “into.” Other words such as “for us” are more common in this passage. However, note how changing that to “into” keeps it anchored in us and not in the “heavens” somewhere out there. This inheritance is in us as we sit in the”heavenlies.” It is not something stored up for receiving when we get there at some future date. 

This inheritance is the result of our birth. We have been born into the family of God and nothing now separates us from our Lord. In the words of Francois du Toit, “Jesus Christ has eliminated ever definition of distance between us by abiding in us.” So very true. So we are in Him and we exist with Him. He lives in us and exists within us. The unity of this fellowship is complete. Both Ephesians and Colossians attest to that fact. 

So this inheritance that is ours, that is by the power of God guarded through or by faith, is into us – not in a storage vault somewhere. Jesus is our inheritance and we live in Him, so the reality of that inheritance is now. 

I think so many of us separate ourselves from Him so much that we see everything future. Hence we as a church (worldwide) have not seen the closeness of our fellowship. He longs to visit with us and share Himself in fullness. 

When a child of a wealthy person begins to live as an adult, they already share in some aspects of the wealth they will inherit. Their training, their education, their lives are marked with the social aspects of those who will inherit. 

So it is with us. Because of our Father, we have the best possible spiritual training and education – if we wish. All is in fellowship in Him. Paul said,”I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Gal. 2:19-20 HCSB That was not a “wish” Paul had, but that was the way he lived his life here. 

So we too, are so deeply included in the fellowship of Jesus, that He lives and moves within us and we in Him. This inheritance, then that is guarded by faith, is in His presence and being within us. 

Lord, thank you for beginning to teach us how close to us you always are and that you always bring all into us now. It is almost too much to really conceive of in our minds, but Lord we are so willing to receive in spirit, in heart, in mind.

 

Birthed into Hope

Iris Godfrey

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy birthed us from above into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, into an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, being kept in the heavens into us who by the power of God are being guarded through faith, into a deliverance to be uncovered in the last time.” (personal translation)1 Peter 1:3-5

“… according to His great mercy He has birthed us into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” All of this greeting is linked organically together with each expression being dependent upon the next expression upon the next… you get the idea. They are all concepts of truth linked by their shared nature in Jesus Christ. To understand one is to open for the understanding of the other. Sometimes in teaching, in an effort to help reach for a fuller understanding of one, it can become an isolated thought instead of a piece of the whole. As we read and study, let’s reach for each without loosing sight of the whole. This we often call, “keeping things in their context.” It is one very important to understand. We can often misunderstand a portion of Scripture if that portion is not held in oneness with its surrounding portion. 

 

 In His great mercy – that which is out of Him, through Him, in Him, – He birthed us into a living hope. Our birth in Him (often called “born again” – best understood as “born from above) is into a living hope. First notice it is “into” not just “in.” There is a huge difference in the words. We are being born into something. Like being born into a family. In this family we are born into a living hope. Something living, eternal, never fading and the substance of this living thing is hope. Biblical hope is “confident expectation.” It is not a wish, as we might think in today’s usage. 

We are always expecting Him and all His promises to unfold goodness and righteousness before our eyes and in our hearts. Hope is a vital element in continuing to live for without it the human spirit will quickly grow discouraged and begin to die. Hope is living in Jesus and it is in mercy, precious mercy and love that this is given and given in abundance. 

We have been birthed into this marvelous expectation through the resurrection of our Lord Jesus from the dead. Once again, we are included in all He did. He did all not only for us but as us. This is a huge understanding that immediately enfolds us within.

Lord, thank you. We are so thankful to be included in You. As we enjoy today in You, may the emotional healing of belonging and inclusion in You begin to be our embraced placement in your heart with such living expectation of life.

   

Eternal – That’s Us

Iris Godfrey

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy birthed us from above into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, into an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, being kept in the heavens into us who by the power of God are being guarded through faith, into a deliverance to be uncovered in the last time.” (personal translation)1 Peter 1:3-5

Our English translations do pretty well with this passage, but I have chosen to translate it for this post so I can bring out some interesting things that might easily be missed.

The word used for “Blessed” is the normal one used for that word. In essence it means “to speak well of” and we get our word “eulogy” from it. Many translations use “praise” here instead,  and although that carries the idea, I think to understand that when I bless my Father, I am speaking well of Him in every way. Indeed it is praise, and then some. It is a verbal pronouncement of His goodness and love in every dimension. So Peter begins with what is burning in his heart by allowing the blessing of the Father be to the Father. Such things begin to fill us to overflowing in gratitude and love as we ponder who He is to us and for us.

The next phrase, “who in His great mercy,” is again another form of blessing. (Have you noticed that as you bless Him you feel it both directions? I bless Him, but that is in reference to how He has and is blessing me – so the circle of fellowship in the word is complete). This is the heart of the matter. This entire passage (which we will study for a bit of time) is really all about fellowship in Him, with Him and through Him. He is relational – everything here is about fellowship in Him. His great mercy, expressed through our Lord Jesus Christ is awesome. Mercy is an entire concept that we so often just read over.

Our Father’s great mercy is Jesus Christ – In Him He has given us everything Jesus Is. None of it based on us, except for the fact that He loves us. All of it is based on the love action of provision from our Father that we would have fellowship with Him. And not just fellowship, but a recognition that we originate in Him. We have been “born again,” or better put, “born from above.” The actual Greek word means “regenerated.” So now through Christ Jesus, we are sons and daughters of the Most High God through birth.

Think of the awesomeness of that – we come from Him. Ephesians 1:4 tells us that He chose us before the foundation of the world. He is now my beginning – and He has no such thing – so we have no such thing either. He has no end, neither do we. Being born from above means we are also as He is – eternal.

That is awesome to contemplate – especially when one is my age. However, age really has nothing to do with anything. This is not a “time” belonging (although a close examination of “time” in Revelation will reveal that it does not end – eternity is endless time), but an eternal belonging, fellowship, inclusion. WOW! Just preached myself happy!

More later.

Into Obedience

Iris Godfrey

1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ:

To the temporary residents dispersed in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,chosen 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father and set apart by the Spirit for obedience and for sprinkling with the blood of Jesus Christ.

May grace and peace be multiplied to you. 1 Peter 1:1-3 HCSB

(This translation does this verse quite well. With most English translations, although they were a bit more literal, the “theology” understanding of “foreknowledge,” “sanctifying,” etc., was getting in the way of understanding just what the Holy Spirit is telling us. My Greek text sent me hunting for something clearer). 

We are so loved and included by our Father! He has, through what He knows, provided all that is needful for us to be fully His. “Set apart by the Holy Spirit into obedience,” would even be better. As we “choose to be chosen” we are instantly set apart (true meaning of “to sanctify”) by the action of the Holy Spirit in our lives into obedience. Obedience is our natural-spiritual delight. This is in and because of the cleansing of the blood! Yes!

When obedience is hard, we need to re-do our thinking about that action. When I see what the Father see’s about that action, I begin to understand I have been placed “into” that action. It all comes down to how we think and what we are choosing to see. As we begin to allow the Scripture to determine what we think, say and feel – we are not eliminated. We are enriched. This is our true destiny – to be as He is in this world. (1 John 4:17c)

“His kindness (goodness) leads us to change our mind.” That is the meaning of 2 Corinthians 7:10. When we begin to eliminate our arguments and allow His goodness to overtake us in all things, we begin to choose what He has chosen. We find ourselves being placed “into” obedience. He has done what is needed. As we choose to believe that, even in our seeming lack, our agreement in Him begins to align our faith with His Word, and we begin to embrace His supply. It first comes about in our mind/heart. Then it becomes something we are able to rest in. All is of faith. 

The last phrase of this greeting is “May grace and peace by multiplied to you.” Literally, may grace (the total favor and provision of God) and peace (total rest and ceasing from stress and strive) be increased to you. Peter is extending to them and at the same time reminding them of the normal state of existence for the believer – wherever they live. We have the total favor in our Father, because of the work of Jesus on our behalf, so we relax and know He is delighted to be a part of our lives and there is no need that is not answered. Then we are empowered to rest without stress and anxiousness because of the peace He has brought. 

My heart longs for some “how-to” to make this easier to understand and to allow. The reality in Jesus is that it is all relational. He has known us long before the foundation of the world, created us to be who we really are, and provided every avenue possible to discover His love and power. He invites each of us to rest in Him a bit more today and allow our confidence in Him to rise and empower our lives. May we stop a few minutes and allow Him to rise in us and cover all we are called to do and be.  

These are the ways of the Kingdom. These are the ways of Heaven. Now, “may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” We choose for that to be true today in us – in you, Precious Lord Jesus!