Renew The Mind; Transform Your Life

A glorious chapter containing one of my favourite Scriptures of all time:
"Now on the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink! He who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, from within him will flow rivers of living water.” But he said this about the Spirit, which those believing in him were to receive. For the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus wasn’t yet glorified."

Now is the time of YHWH's favour.
Now is the acceptable time of the Lord.
Now is our year of Jubilee where God has come to tabernacle with us.

Rejoice that you've been born at a time after the outpouring of The Holy Spirit.
Rejoice that you have such ready access to the fullness of God's Word.
Rejoice that His favour rests upon you.

This chapter feels to me like the Whole Bible in One Chapter!

Jesus is redefining what we should expect of God and what He expects of us.  He has already demonstrated that the religious view of the Sabbath was in error - God was still working His works, even, or even especially, on the Sabbath.

After 400 'quiet' years between Malachi and the arrival of John the Baptist, I'm wondering how much prophetic and miraculous activity there had been.  Now, suddenly, we have this amazing Teacher demonstrating signs that God was very much living and active in the affairs of humankind.

In this chapter, first up the sick get healed.  Then we have three examples of transcendence over the laws of Physics.  Firstly, the miraculous multiplication of matter as Jesus feed the 5000.  Notice that He does this THROUGH His disciples.  They would have seen this multiplication at their own fingertips with their own eyes.  Can you imagine the sense of awe?  Then, to make the point even more powerfully, Jesus gets them to gather the leftovers after people are fully satisfied and have eaten all they desired.  This was a feast... like the feast of Passover.  12 baskets left over will be a sign that will stay in their minds... and I wonder what they did with the leftovers?

I love the way that Jesus regularly reconnects with our Father by going off to secluded places.  I can well imagine the disciples scratching their beards in confusion.  At least they were proactive and started travelling across the sea to the other side.  I find this utterly fascinating.  There was no sail used because the weather was so rough.  They had to row for many miles, which must have been exhausting.  Another great lesson is about to be revealed.  They are labouring against the storm.  It is toil - like Adam's toil under the curse.  Jesus, on the other hand, WALKS on the water... strolling through the storm.  I think I'd be bewildered and frightened, wouldn't you?
Look at the Physics: 1) multiplication of matter, 2) suspension of gravity, and then 3), the boat IMMEDIATELY arrives at where they were trying to get to.

Let's press pause for a moment.  Either this is the Truth, or it is utter nonsense.  If it is the Truth, and you and I are struggling, we are out of His Will.  When God is active in our lives, lack of provision is irrelevant because God can multiply our food.  When God is for us, toil should be a thing of the past - for He can still the storm, help us walk on the waves OVER THE CIRCUMSTANCES, and He can even transport us to where we need to get to.

Jesus spoke the Word without limit, He had the Holy Spirit without limit, and He was without sin - but this was all as a demonstration of what is possible for a son of man.

He finishes the chapter with COVENANT language - eating His flesh and drinking His blood.  Here, we have powerful encouragement that He will never lose us, and that what He experienced in covenant with the Father is what we should expect too.  This isn't a comfy christian club... it is the Church of the Living God!

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+5&version=WEB

The Chapter is too long to cut-and-paste here, thus I recommend that you read along as you hear the word, thereby doubling the sensory impact.

Every chapter of the Word is packed full of gems.
Reading this today, I was struck how being the child of God (Jesus as Son of God - making Him out to be His own Father) is regarded by the religious leaders as claiming equality with God.  There's one to meditate on!

I also found the Pool of Bethesda fascinating - the agency of an angel being applied to bring healing until Jesus came.

Jesus continues His reframing of what the Sabbath truly means.
Our ambition should be to see what the Father is doing, and what He is saying, through the Holy Spirit, and thus continue Jesus' ministry.

There is no doubt that the works that we do should act as a testimony to the truth of the Gospel.  This is a Living Faith just as the Word is the Living Word.  It has lost none of its power to heal, especially now that Jesus has sent the promise of the Father - the Holy Spirit.

I believe the text is too long for the allowance on here, so let me encourage you to look up John Chapter 4 in the World English Bible.

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+4&version=WEB

This begins with a delightful exchange between Jesus and a Samaritan woman, who had led an interesting and full life.  Culturally, we see the revolution that John is drawing our attention to.  Firstly, Jews and Samaritans were not on speaking terms.  Secondly, it was frowned upon for a man to speak to a woman in circumstances like this.  But as Jesus says in this chapter, "Don’t you say, ‘There are yet four months until the harvest?’ Behold, I tell you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, that they are white for harvest already."

There is a massive harvest field out there, ready to be harvested - but perhaps not where we might first be looking.  When we realise that this is the first major outreach, my heart jumps with delight that it is begun with an encounter that would have been looked down on by the religious professionals, and the revival is with the Samaritans - a race strongly disliked by Jesus' own people.

YHWH is great and gracious, and wants all peoples to come to repentance and thus to salvation.  Such is His patience.

I doubt if the rich and favoured of our own age are any more open to the 'Good News' than the rich of Jesus' earthly ministry were.  However, it's a sobering thought to also wonder if the religious professionals of our own time are as off-target as the pros in Jesus' time of earthly outreach.  Who are our 'Samaritans'?  Where is the harvest?

The last part of the chapter has the wonderful "Healing-by-Word-alone" of the Nobleman's son.  At least one rich and favoured guy who got it right and took Jesus at His Word.  There is hope!

Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. The same came to him by night, and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do, unless God is with him.”

Jesus answered him, “Most certainly, I tell you, unless one is born anew, he can’t see God’s Kingdom.”

Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?”

Jesus answered, “Most certainly I tell you, unless one is born of water and spirit, he can’t enter into God’s Kingdom.That which is born of the flesh is flesh. That which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Don’t marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born anew.’ The wind blows where it wants to, and you hear its sound, but don’t know where it comes from and where it is going. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

Nicodemus answered him, “How can these things be?”

Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and don’t understand these things? Most certainly I tell you, we speak that which we know, and testify of that which we have seen, and you don’t receive our witness. If I told you earthly things and you don’t believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven but he who descended out of heaven, the Son of Man, who is in heaven. As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God didn’t send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through him. He who believes in him is not judged. He who doesn’t believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God. This is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their works were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the light, and doesn’t come to the light, lest his works would be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his works may be revealed, that they have been done in God.”

After these things, Jesus came with his disciples into the land of Judea. He stayed there with them and baptized. John also was baptizing in Enon near Salim, because there was much water there. They came, and were baptized; for John was not yet thrown into prison. Therefore a dispute arose on the part of John’s disciples with some Jews about purification. They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified, behold, he baptizes, and everyone is coming to him.”

John answered, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given him from heaven. You yourselves testify that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent before him.’ He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. This, my joy, therefore is made full. He must increase, but I must decrease. He who comes from above is above all. He who is from the earth belongs to the earth and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all. What he has seen and heard, of that he testifies; and no one receives his witness. He who has received his witness has set his seal to this, that God is true. For he whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for God gives the Spirit without measure. The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into his hand. One who believes in the Son has eternal life, but one who disobeys the Son won’t see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”

Proverbs has 31 Chapters.
It is the Management Development Manual for life in the Court of the King. The lessons are timeless.
I match the chapter number to the date, thus beginning this recording sequence on the 29th March, I start with Proverbs chapter 29!
All the verses are powerful, and today's stand-out verse for me is v18:
"Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint;
but one who keeps the law is blessed."

In the King James Authorised Version, it says,
"Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he."

Now is a time where our Nations need vision.
Now is a time when we need to seek for and hear from God.
Now is a time when we need God's Rhēma - His Revelation Knowledge spoken transformationally and creatively into the circumstances.

Proverbs 29 World English Bible (WEB)

He who is often rebuked and stiffens his neck
will be destroyed suddenly, with no remedy.
When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice;
but when the wicked rule, the people groan.
Whoever loves wisdom brings joy to his father;
but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth.
The king by justice makes the land stable,
but he who takes bribes tears it down.
A man who flatters his neighbor
spreads a net for his feet.
An evil man is snared by his sin,
but the righteous can sing and be glad.
The righteous care about justice for the poor.
The wicked aren’t concerned about knowledge.
Mockers stir up a city,
but wise men turn away anger.
If a wise man goes to court with a foolish man,
the fool rages or scoffs, and there is no peace.
The bloodthirsty hate a man of integrity;
and they seek the life of the upright.
A fool vents all of his anger,
but a wise man brings himself under control.
If a ruler listens to lies,
all of his officials are wicked.
The poor man and the oppressor have this in common:
Yahweh gives sight to the eyes of both.
The king who fairly judges the poor,
his throne shall be established forever.
The rod of correction gives wisdom,
but a child left to himself causes shame to his mother.
When the wicked increase, sin increases;
but the righteous will see their downfall.
Correct your son, and he will give you peace;
yes, he will bring delight to your soul.
Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint;
but one who keeps the law is blessed.
A servant can’t be corrected by words.
Though he understands, yet he will not respond.
Do you see a man who is hasty in his words?
There is more hope for a fool than for him.
He who pampers his servant from youth
will have him become a son in the end.
An angry man stirs up strife,
and a wrathful man abounds in sin.
A man’s pride brings him low,
but one of lowly spirit gains honor.
Whoever is an accomplice of a thief is an enemy of his own soul.
He takes an oath, but dares not testify.
The fear of man proves to be a snare,
but whoever puts his trust in Yahweh is kept safe.
Many seek the ruler’s favor,
but a man’s justice comes from Yahweh.
A dishonest man detests the righteous,
and the upright in their ways detest the wicked.

Proverbs 28 World English Bible (WEB)

The wicked flee when no one pursues;
    but the righteous are as bold as a lion.
In rebellion, a land has many rulers,
    but order is maintained by a man of understanding and knowledge.
A needy man who oppresses the poor
    is like a driving rain which leaves no crops.
Those who forsake the law praise the wicked;
    but those who keep the law contend with them.
Evil men don’t understand justice;
    but those who seek Yahweh understand it fully.
Better is the poor who walks in his integrity,
    than he who is perverse in his ways, and he is rich.
Whoever keeps the law is a wise son;
    but he who is a companion of gluttons shames his father.
He who increases his wealth by excessive interest
    gathers it for one who has pity on the poor.
He who turns away his ear from hearing the law,
    even his prayer is an abomination.
Whoever causes the upright to go astray in an evil way,
    he will fall into his own trap;
    but the blameless will inherit good.
The rich man is wise in his own eyes;
    but the poor who has understanding sees through him.
When the righteous triumph, there is great glory;
    but when the wicked rise, men hide themselves.
He who conceals his sins doesn’t prosper,
    but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.
Blessed is the man who always fears;
    but one who hardens his heart falls into trouble.
As a roaring lion or a charging bear,
    so is a wicked ruler over helpless people.
A tyrannical ruler lacks judgment.
    One who hates ill-gotten gain will have long days.
A man who is tormented by life blood will be a fugitive until death;
    no one will support him.
Whoever walks blamelessly is kept safe;
    but one with perverse ways will fall suddenly.
One who works his land will have an abundance of food;
    but one who chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty.
A faithful man is rich with blessings;
    but one who is eager to be rich will not go unpunished.
To show partiality is not good;
    yet a man will do wrong for a piece of bread.
A stingy man hurries after riches,
    and doesn’t know that poverty waits for him.
One who rebukes a man will afterward find more favor
    than one who flatters with the tongue.
Whoever robs his father or his mother and says, “It’s not wrong,”
    is a partner with a destroyer.
One who is greedy stirs up strife;
    but one who trusts in Yahweh will prosper.
One who trusts in himself is a fool;
    but one who walks in wisdom is kept safe.
One who gives to the poor has no lack;
    but one who closes his eyes will have many curses.
When the wicked rise, men hide themselves;
    but when they perish, the righteous thrive.

World English Bible (WEB)
by Public Domain. The name "World English Bible" is trademarked.

Proverbs 30 World English Bible (WEB)

The words of Agur the son of Jakeh; the revelation:
the man says to Ithiel,
to Ithiel and Ucal:
“Surely I am the most ignorant man,
and don’t have a man’s understanding.
I have not learned wisdom,
neither do I have the knowledge of the Holy One.
Who has ascended up into heaven, and descended?
Who has gathered the wind in his fists?
Who has bound the waters in his garment?
Who has established all the ends of the earth?
What is his name, and what is his son’s name, if you know?
“Every word of God is flawless.
He is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
Don’t you add to his words,
lest he reprove you, and you be found a liar.
“Two things I have asked of you.
Don’t deny me before I die.
Remove far from me falsehood and lies.
Give me neither poverty nor riches.
Feed me with the food that is needful for me,
lest I be full, deny you, and say, ‘Who is Yahweh?’
or lest I be poor, and steal,
and so dishonor the name of my God.
“Don’t slander a servant to his master,
lest he curse you, and you be held guilty.
There is a generation that curses their father,
and doesn’t bless their mother.
There is a generation that is pure in their own eyes,
yet are not washed from their filthiness.
There is a generation, oh how lofty are their eyes!
Their eyelids are lifted up.
There is a generation whose teeth are like swords,
and their jaws like knives,
to devour the poor from the earth, and the needy from among men.
“The leech has two daughters:
‘Give, give.’
“There are three things that are never satisfied;
four that don’t say, ‘Enough:’
Sheol,[a]
the barren womb,
the earth that is not satisfied with water,
and the fire that doesn’t say, ‘Enough.’
“The eye that mocks at his father,
and scorns obedience to his mother:
the ravens of the valley shall pick it out,
the young eagles shall eat it.
“There are three things which are too amazing for me,
four which I don’t understand:
The way of an eagle in the air,
the way of a serpent on a rock,
the way of a ship in the middle of the sea,
and the way of a man with a maiden.
“So is the way of an adulterous woman:
She eats and wipes her mouth,
and says, ‘I have done nothing wrong.’
“For three things the earth trembles,
and under four, it can’t bear up:
For a servant when he is king,
a fool when he is filled with food,
for an unloved woman when she is married,
and a servant who is heir to her mistress.
“There are four things which are little on the earth,
but they are exceedingly wise:
The ants are not a strong people,
yet they provide their food in the summer.
The hyraxes are but a feeble folk,
yet make they their houses in the rocks.
The locusts have no king,
yet they advance in ranks.
You can catch a lizard with your hands,
yet it is in kings’ palaces.
“There are three things which are stately in their march,
four which are stately in going:
The lion, which is mightiest among animals,
and doesn’t turn away for any;
the greyhound;
the male goat;
and the king against whom there is no rising up.
“If you have done foolishly in lifting up yourself,
or if you have thought evil,
put your hand over your mouth.
For as the churning of milk produces butter,
and the wringing of the nose produces blood;
so the forcing of wrath produces strife.”