Category: Jesus

David Coffield, Featured Writers, Guest Post, Jesus, Yahweh

How do we measure spirituality? Discipleship?

Michael J. Weiss, Sr.

A letter from Dave C.

A metric is how we measure or evaluate something.  For age, it is about the passage of time, years, days.  For weight, it is usually about pounds.  For height, it is about inches.  How do we measure spirituality?  Discipleship?  What is our “metric”?

We used to work at the 7 basics of the Christian life—Quiet time, Scripture memory, Bible Study, Witnessing, Prayer, Application, Fellowship.  On my team we used to evaluate every week the quantity and quality of our engagement in those activities.  I often say that a Navigator would make a good Pharisee.  How do we evaluate if a person is a disciple?  It used to be the completion of the Design for Discipleship Series, the memorization of the TMS, regular participation in the group activities, and good progress in the basics.

Of course, John 8:31,32 is the only definition that Jesus gives of what it means to be a disciple of His.

Our couple’s study is looking at Luke 18 and I was struck hard by the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector in 9-14.

The Pharisee was at the top of his game in terms of religious performance.  The best of the best.  He was religiously righteous, and he knew it.  He was outperforming everyone around him easily.

The Tax Collector was the bottom of the Jewish culture.  A person working for Gentiles who was taking money from his fellow countrymen.  Abhorrent.  Tax Collectors and prostitutes got along well.  But the Tax Collector’s statement was, “God, be merciful to me, the sinner”.

The Lord’s conclusion?  “I tell you the Tax Collector went down to his house justified rather than the Pharisee.”  

I am beginning to think that our metric ought to be the humility of the heart and not the religious performance.  Pride is a terrible thing, and I suspect we are often blind to it.  I haven’t plumbed the depths of this, but I sense something profound and powerful lies here.  May the Lord give us eyes to see our own hearts and the hearts of those around us and to walk in humility.

Your brother,

David

God Loves Us, Jesus, Mental Health, Personal Reflections, Praying for America, Yahweh

Who Do You Want To Be United With Or Yoked To?

Michael J. Weiss, Sr.

“George P. Alexander is a Christian believer who grew up in India, which is considered the birthplace of yoga. He reveals that yoga poses are ‘offerings to the 330 million Hindu gods,’ and thus, each pose is an act of worship. Westerners believe they are exercising and breathing, but ‘to a Hindu, yoga is the outward physical expression of a deep spiritual belief. You cannot separate one from the other.’”

“. . . yoga’s foundation comes from pantheism, which elevates the worship of everything as god. The word yoga is derived from the Sanskrit root yuj, which means ‘to yoke’ or ‘to unite.’ The question is, what is one uniting with?”

Jesus invites us to take His yoke. “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. (Matthew 11:29)”

Who do you want to be “yoked” with, The Prince of Peace (Shalom), the One Who is Love, or another?

The above quotes were taken from https://ifapray.org/blog/the-new-age-is-infiltrating-public-schools/, accessed January 25, 2025.

David Coffield, Featured Writers, God Loves Us, Jesus, Messiah, Yahweh

Let’s Be With Father God!

Michael J. Weiss, Sr.

Matthew 11:28-30.  These are verses that I pray for myself and for a number of others as well.  I love the passage.  “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

I love that Jesus describes Himself as “gentle and humble in heart”.  It is the only place I know of where He describes His nature, His character.  There are lots of places where He speaks of His titles, His position, etc.  I can hang with a person that is gentle and humble in heart.  Very encouraging.

When He says, “take My yoke upon you and learn from Me” He is inviting us into a specific relationship.  It is a relationship where we are willing to do what He wants us to do, participate with Him in His work, keep our focus on Him.  He is inviting us to walk with Him in life day by day. 

We are invited into a daily relationship with Jesus that results in an easy yoke and a light burden.

It is possible to be mighty in the scriptures and barren in one’s relationship with Jesus.  The Pharisees lived it.  It is possible to labor mightily in the ministry and miss the leading and work of the Holy Spirit.  Matthew 7 speaks of a group that will consider themselves “qualified” based on their performance alone.

“Fixing our eyes on Jesus”, “seeking first His kingdom, His righteousness”, responding in love to the incredible invitation to walk with Him, to fellowship with Him, to learn from Him.  May the Lord so grant!

Your brother,

David

David Coffield, Featured Writers, God Loves Us, Guest Post, J3 Khai Ambassadors, J3 Khai Restoration, Jesus, Veterans, Yahweh

“God is interested in growing us up and it is going to be painful”

Michael J. Weiss, Sr.

Someone should inform new believers (and probably old ones as well) that God is interested in growing us up and it is going to be painful.  The writer of Hebrews informs us that God “scourges every son whom He receives”.  What!?  That is child abuse.  A writer in Psalms says, “You Who have shown me many troubles and distresses…”

Why would God do that?

I can think of 2 reasons.  One would be that we need it for growth.  I was reading in Proverbs 17 this morning, “The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, but the Lord tests hearts”.  We don’t like the process of getting there but we like the end result.  The word “test” in this passage means that God is in the process of refining and developing our hearts.

When we come to Jesus, we are not ok as we are any more than a new recruit off the street is ok to deploy with an U.S. Army Special Forces team.  We are accepted as we are.  We are loved, embraced, and delighted in as we are but because God loves us, He wants to grow us up into the image and character of His Son Jesus.  The Christian life is about growth and growth means change.  We grow as we walk with Jesus.  It is what happens when we engage in a relationship with Jesus through the Word and prayer daily.

We also grow when God looks at our lives and decides to work on developing us.  Pain, trials, stress, troubles, sicknesses, conflict…it goes on and on.  Without the confidence that the sovereign hand of our loving God is ruling over it we can lose hope. [Note from Michael; and that he promised never to leave us for forsake us]

Another reason would be that it expresses God’s glory.  When you are suffering, and you rejoice—God receives glory, and the world sits up and takes notice.  When life goes poorly, and you give thanks—the world sits up and takes notice.  May the Lord give us the grace to give thanks in all things.

Your brother,

David

David Coffield, Featured Writers, Jesus

What’s my focus? Abiding or Fruit?

Michael J. Weiss, Sr.

Written by Dave Coffield

It is obvious as you follow my letters that I am focused on the relationship we have with God by grace as opposed to a focus on works or fruit.  However, I suspect that works will continue to be a strong emphasis of the body of Christ from what I have experienced.

My philosophy of ministry is found in John 14:12.  Jesus said, “Truly, truly I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do because I go to the Father.”

The word for “believes” could easily be translated “the one believing”.  It is speaking of a connected, abiding, ongoing relationship.  It is impossible not to do the works of Jesus if you have a believing, connected, abiding, and ongoing relationship with Jesus.

There is some debate about the works of Jesus.  Simply, He did what the Father gave Him to do.  Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”  The good works are a consequence or the fruit of our relationship with Jesus.  God gets to determine what they look like, when they are produced.

My first concern with my own life and with any believer’s life is whether they have a connected, believing, growing, abiding relationship with Jesus.

You can be involved in activities without bearing fruit.  Jesus continues with this theme in John 14.  “He who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”  It concerns me when our focus is on Christians “bearing” fruit, doing good works, and not on abiding.

Every day when I drive onto Ft. Liberty I ask the Lord that He would lead me in the good works which He has prepared beforehand for me to walk in.  But He gets to determine what those good works look like, when they are produced.  I suspect that much of what God does through us He does in a way that isn’t obvious to us so that we won’t become proud and take the credit.

May God give us the grace to abide in Him and believe in Him.

Your brother,

David

David Coffield, Featured Writers, God Loves Us, Guest Post, Jesus

God doesn’t need me…He wants me.

Michael J. Weiss, Sr.

The question was raised at the Tuesday night Bible Study on Ft. Liberty, “Once we are saved, why does God leave us here?”  The easy answer is for the advancement of His kingdom.  But I think that leads to the mindset that our value resides only in our labor for the Lord.

I think He leaves us here for our growth in our relationship with Him and all that comes with it.

Jesus defines eternal life in John 17:3.  “This is eternal life that they might know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ Whom You have sent.”  It is also Paul’s passion in Philippians 3:8. “More than that I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord…”.

I tell people on occasion that God doesn’t need us.  Navigators don’t like to hear it because we see ourselves as fulfilling a key role in ministry and the coming Kingdom.  I also occasionally tell Navigators that it is impossible to “make” a disciple, and they don’t like to hear that either.

Salvation is impossible without the work of the Holy Spirit.  A Christian desiring to grow in Christ in discipleship is impossible without the work of the Holy Spirit.  No one labors unless the Father moves them to do so through the work of the Holy Spirit.

God doesn’t need me…He wants me.  We have been adopted into His family precisely because it is a family.  I struggle with God wanting me because I know the dark parts of my life.  I struggle because all of my life performance has been the standard for acceptance and approval.  And yet it is true that He loves us and desires us apart from our performance.

God will on occasion advance His kingdom through us.  But it is never because of us.  If I read Revelation correctly Christians get run over in the tribulation.  We are triumphant in death, not overcoming in this life.  We have to go through the Antichrist and the tribulation to get to the return of our Messiah.

May the Lord grant us the same heart Paul had for knowing Jesus!

Your brother,

David

David Coffield, Featured Writers, God Loves Us, Guest Post, Jesus, Mental Health, Messiah, Testimonies, Yahweh

Rejoice that through faith in Jesus your name is written in the Book of Life.

Michael J. Weiss, Sr.

                                                                         

I get struck by things as I read.  Probably the Holy Spirit doing what He does so well.  In John 17:14 “I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world…”  I don’t want to be hated.  I want everyone to like me.   Not going to happen.  There is animosity between the world and God, between the world and the children of God.  It is probably why Jesus tells His followers that He is sending them out as “sheep in the midst of wolves.  Therefore, be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.”  A sheep is wolf food.  The wisdom of the serpent (from my point of view) is that you don’t see it, it is camouflaged.

Luke 10:17-20.  Jesus sends the 70 out with unparalleled power and they come back excited and rejoicing.  The Lord’s comment?  “Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven”.  I was speaking with my chiropractor this morning and we were discussing feeling loved and accepted by Jesus.  I told him that my lifelong struggle is embracing that I am loved and accepted by God just as I am, right now.  We are so performance oriented that it is difficult to believe that God accepts us unconditionally.  I continue to pray day by day, “Lord help me to believe that my value to you resides in my relationship with You as Your son and not in my labor for you.”

We were meeting with a couple yesterday and the wife is an incredible contingency planner.  She looks 10 years ahead or more.  The Lord ministered to me through Ecclesiastes years ago to help me settle in the day and enjoy it.  It is good to plan for the future, it is good to learn from the past.  However—this is the only day that God gives us.  The past is gone, and the future is forever one day out of reach.  5 times in Ecclesiastes it speaks of rejoicing in the day.

Your brother,

David

Charles J. Rolls, Featured Writers, God Loves Us, Jesus, Messiah, Yahweh

Infinite Love Is Revealed

Michael J. Weiss, Sr.

The Corn of Wheat

Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit (John 12:24).

Death, the experience which is fatal to most folk in destroying their influence, was to become the most forceful factor in promoting forever the prestige of Christ. The extent to which memory exercises its influence over the living is definitely limited. If a leader’s work is to develop extensively, it is not thought desirable that He should die in the prime of life. However, in this case it was otherwise. Because Christ as the Corn of Wheat fell into the ground and died, He became Administrator of the mightiest authority ever wielded over the minds of millions. He encountered the most odious instrument of death in the form of a crude Roman gibbet, but by virtue of that shameful death He overpowered the cruelest foe, the Devil, and overcame the strongest enemy, Death. Christ’s greatest honor arises from His deepest humiliation. He ascended from the zero of shame to the zenith of sovereignty.

Christ, crucified, has an irresistible attractiveness and has become the center to which all contrite hearts are drawn. His own application of this figure makes it crystal clear, “And, I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all unto Me. This He said, signifying what death He should die” (John 12:32, 33). Here infinite love is revealed stooping to die; immortal glory condescends to bear the blame of guilt; intrinsic holiness submits to being made sin for us that we may be made the righteousness of God in Him (2 Cor 5:21). When His body was buried in the tomb, it was not as the Romans considered it, a corpse, but what prophecy foretold, a seed; therefore resurrection was assured (Acts 2:27, 28). Likewise the sayings of the Savior when He was dying survive death and serve to stimulate all successive generations.

 Charles J. Rolls, The Indescribable Christ: Names and Titles of Jesus Christ: A-G (Loizeaux Brothers, 1984).

Speak this as a personal prayer back to Jesus;

Death, the experience which is fatal to most folk in destroying their influence, became the most forceful factor in promoting forever your prestige Messiah Jesus. The extent to which memory exercises its influence over the living is definitely limited. If a leader’s work is to develop extensively, it is not thought desirable that he should die in the prime of life. However, in this case, it is otherwise; because you, Messiah Jesus, are the Corn of Wheat that fell into the ground and died, you became Administrator of the mightiest authority ever wielded over the minds of millions. You encountered the most odious instrument of death in the form of a crude Roman gibbet (cross), but by virtue of that shameful death Jesus, you overpowered the cruelest foe, the Devil, and overcame the strongest enemy, Death. Your greatest honor arises from your deepest humiliation. Father God raised you from the zero of shame to the zenith of sovereignty. Jesus, crucified, you now have an irresistible attractiveness and have become the center to which all contrite hearts are drawn. Your own application of this figure makes it crystal clear, “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all unto Me. This you said, signifying what death you should die” (John 12:32, 33). Here your infinite love is revealed stooping to die; immortal glory condescends to bear the blame of my guilt; intrinsic holiness submits to being made sin for me that I may be made the righteousness of God in you (2 Cor 5:21), O wonderful Savior. When your body was buried in the tomb, it was not, as the Romans considered it, a corpse, but what prophecy foretold, a seed; therefore, resurrection was assured (Acts 2:27, 28). Likewise, what you said while dying survives death and serves to stimulate all successive generations.

(J3 Khai Restoration Ministries made Charles Roll’s devotion into a personal prayer.)

David Coffield, Featured Writers, Jesus, Testimonies

Jesus promised that He would build His church.

Michael J. Weiss, Sr.

I hear people say that they want to be “like Jesus”.  We hold as our belief that God is working to conform us to the image and character of His Son Jesus.  We want to become more like Jesus in our mindset and our lives.

Yet Jesus says in John 8:28, “…and I do nothing on my own initiative…”  It is a common phrase with Jesus, and it is repeated by Him a number of times.

I don’t know how to pull it off.  I don’t know how to live as Jesus lived.  All of our lives we are exhorted to show initiative, to make things happen, to be intentional.  It suits our sin nature, to take pride and ownership in our accomplishments, achievements, etc.  To proudly say, “Look what I have done”.

Jesus is utterly incredible.  His desire was to do what the Father gave Him to do, say what the Father gave Him to say, go where the Father sent Him to go, to bring glory to the Father.

I suspect that the ability to pull this off is tied to the depth of our walk with God on a daily basis.  Our willingness to choose to walk with Jesus rather than having a “do” mindset.  You don’t hear this much today if at all.  We are exhorted to reach the lost, help people grow, build the kingdom, fill the pews, etc.

God has initiative.  Jesus promised that He would build His church.  It is the purpose of God to add people to the kingdom and to grow up the people in His kingdom.

He is not about to send people to do things who are likely to claim the credit, build their own “thing”, seek their own glory.  God doesn’t need people who think they have it figured out that they know what the purposes of God are and how He will work.  We have one Commander in Chief and all are supposed to serve him.  He will use those who are connected with Him, who are delighting in the relationship, and seeking His glory.  He is well able to speak to such people.  

I remind myself daily that God doesn’t “need” me, He “wants” me.

Charles J. Rolls, Featured Writers, God Loves Us, Jehovah, Jesus, Messiah, Recommended Reading, Yahweh, Yehovah

The Confessor Before Pilate

Michael J. Weiss, Sr.

I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession; that thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 6:13).

Our Lord was brought before Pilate as One who had made a claim to kingship. Standing as a prisoner, condemned, and without any visible palace, such a claim seemed preposterous. Altogether devoid of stately robes and courtly attendants and minus even crown or scepter, He nevertheless affirmed emphatically, “I am a king,” “My kingdom is not of this world.” Christ disclaimed the vainglory of a temporal diadem, but He did not deny His claim to crown rights of a nobler royalty than that shared by earthly rulers. Although He was betrayed, accused and mocked, yet with unflinching, undaunted courage He remained uncowed and uncompromising before the Roman regent; and by patient courtesy and perfect control, He vindicated the essential truthfulness of His superior sovereignty. Remember that within the confines of His Deity this Confessor dwells in light which no one can approach unto and which no man hath seen nor can see (1 Timothy 6:16).

If He deemed it wise and worthwhile to acknowledge His claim and right, soldiers of the Cross should learn a lesson from their Captain. “Though it doth not appear what we shall be,” let us be prepared to bear witness to the truth of the King’s return. Paul the aged, as he termed himself, had borne the burden and brunt of battle and was seeking a successor for his trusteeship. He admonishes Timothy to stick to his business and stand by His witness while focusing faith on the great File-leader. Confession of our faith in the truth of God is our solemn obligation and responsibility, likewise also confession of faith in Christ (John 18:37; Romans 10:9, 10). Jesus Christ as a confessor of truth is now glorified, and this fact should stimulate all of us to faithfulness in witness. The Savior testified concerning His kingdom of spiritual truth, of sovereign power, of steadfast righteousness and of sanctified citizenship. Said He, “For this cause came I into the world that I should bear witness unto the truth” (John 18:37). Is this not the very cause and core of the campaign in which we are enlisted? Let us see to it, while our comrades march to face the foe, while our fighting forces shout in the field, and while our friends pray for us in all fidelity, that we often and openly commend and confess Him while the opportunity is ours.

 Charles J. Rolls, The Indescribable Christ: Names and Titles of Jesus Christ: A-G (Loizeaux Brothers, 1984).