Tag: christianity

David Coffield, Featured Writers, Guest Post

Do we measure the goodness of God by how we feel?

Michael J. Weiss, Sr.

Written by Dave Coffield:

A friend asked me if I was encouraged.  I am encouraged to the degree that my eyes and focus are on Jesus.

David, the King, is encouraging.  There are days when he is in the pits, distressed, troubled, fearful, despairing.  There are also days when he is delighted, rejoicing, and grateful.

If we measure the goodness of God by how we feel in our circumstances in this life we will be forever on an emotional rollercoaster.  The tribulations with my neck and head pain in the last 9 months have led me to understand that God uses the pain and the suffering both for our good and His glory and we can rejoice regardless.

There is an element of Christianity that thinks that God wants you to be continually healthy, wealthy, wise, and successful.  Too bad it is not biblical.  Paul writes to Timothy and tells him to use a little wine for the sake of his stomach and his frequent ailments.  What?  Paul leaves Trophimus sick at Miletus.  Paul has his own issues with the messenger of Satan sent to torment him and beat on his body.

You can pack a church with prosperity gospel preaching.  Too bad it is not real life.  God is far more interested in our growth than our being happy.  I am ambivalent about that because I like happy.

If we want to be like Jesus, we should prepare ourselves to do a good job suffering.  The confidence that God is good when the sun is shining, and He is good when it is raining.  He is good when we feel well and when we are sick.  The words of Paul ring in our ears, “In everything give thanks for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus”.  Or “Do all things without grumbling or disputing that you may prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation…”

I like the way that the author of Hebrews says it, “Fixing our eyes on Jesus the author and perfecter of faith…”  Our Lord is amazing, wonderful, marvelous, spectacular and worthy of our thanks and praise day by day!

You remain daily in my prayers and on my heart,

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

Featured Writers, God Loves Us, Guest Post, Testimonies, Uncategorized

Complete Trust

Michael J. Weiss, Sr.

“He leadeth me.”  Complete trust in the Lord.

“God knows just when to withhold from us any visible sign of encouragement, and when to grant us such a sign.  How good it is that we may trust Him anyway!”  

In the classic devotional, Streams in the Desert,  Mrs. Charles E. Cowman shares this quote from C.G. Trumbull:  “He wants us to realize that His Word, His promise of remembrance, is more substantial and dependable than any evidence of our senses…Those who are readiest to trust God without other evidence than His Word always receive the greatest number of visible evidences of His love.”

How true.  The Great Cloud of Witnesses and the Heroes of our Faith in Hebrews Chapter 11 give testimony to this.

Written by Helen

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).

David Coffield, Featured Writers, God Loves Us, Guest Post, Jehovah, Jesus, Messiah, Testimonies, Yahweh, Yehovah

“but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven””

Michael J. Weiss, Sr.

I have a sticky note on my desk speaking of Luke 10.  It struck me as I was reading through the gospel.  Luke 10:17-20.  Jesus sends 70 out and He gives them power over demons and to heal.  It would be the equivalent of waking up in the morning and discovering you had the powers of Superman or Spiderman.  What you could do was astounding, amazing, spectacular.  You were above mere mortals.

To that Jesus responds (my paraphrase), “You guys think that is something?  I saw Satan fall from heaven like lightning”.  And then He says in verse 20, “Nevertheless do not rejoice in this that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven”.

Our value and worth to God resides in our relationship with Him as sons and daughters, never in our abilities or strengths or accomplishments.  We are to rejoice in who we are to God, not in what we can do.

All of our culture, all of our upbringing, most of our experiences teaches the opposite.  People have value because they are important, intelligent, wealthy, beautiful, productive.  We have a book in the country entitled “Who’s Who”.  We have sports competitions, quiz shows, Mensa, Suma Cum Laude, advanced degrees, etc.

I don’t have to perform for God.  Not only do I not need to perform but there is nothing in me that can accomplish His work.  The Holy Spirit is the One accomplishing the building of the Kingdom of God.  He gives salvation, understanding, motivation, the desire to participate with our Father in what He is doing.  It is His desire to bring glory to Jesus and He is good at what He does.  

It is wonderful to rest in our relationship with Jesus.  It has been granted us by grace.  It can’t be earned, it can’t be bought, it can’t be lost.  We can get misguided, confused, and led astray which Satan delights in and works at.  But we can’t escape the loving hand of our Savior.  May the Lord give us grace to maintain that focus!

You remain daily in my prayers and on my heart,

Your brother,

David

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

Called . . . Beloved . . . Kept

Michael J. Weiss, Sr.

Our couple’s study is working on Jude, and I was struck by verse 1.  “…To those who are the called, beloved in God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ.”  This verse says nothing about our responsibility or actions—only the sovereign work of our Father.

“Called”.  Funny that I have never heard a group of Christians calling themselves “the called”.  It emphasizes the sovereign work and choice of God.  God doesn’t call those who are worthy because there is no one worthy.  He saves sinners.  We will be sinners until we stand in His presence and this body of flesh is done away with.  It is not about my works or efforts but about His mercy and grace.

“Beloved”.  This describes our relationship with our Father.  For some inscrutable reason, He has chosen to love us.  He can’t love us more than He does or less than He does.  He loves us perfectly and deeply.  We are always on His thoughts and in His heart.  I think we do a sad disservice when we teach people that our sin separates us in the relationship and causes the Father to be angry with us.  We end up living as Pharisees constantly concerned that we are not good enough and striving to do more and be better.

There is nothing good about sin.  Romans 6 gives 3 reasons not to be involved in sin.  1-We are dead to it.  2-God has provided something better.    3-Sin produces crap and who wants crap?  But if we live thinking that less “sin” (whatever that looks like) makes us more like Jesus we are deceived.  Walking with Jesus makes us more like Jesus.  We won’t walk with Jesus if we think He has something against us or if we think we aren’t good enough.

We can’t move out of the state of being beloved by the Father.

“Kept”.  People lose things all the time.  If you are a professional athlete, you know that you are only secure as long as you can perform adequately.  There is always someone younger, faster, stronger, etc.  We are held in the hand of the Jesus, and we are forever secure, not because we can perform but because He loves us.

Letter from David Coffield.

Featured Writers, God Loves Us, Jehovah, Jesus, Mental Health, Messiah, Recommended Reading, Sylvia Gunter, Yahweh

God is Able

Michael J. Weiss, Sr.

You can sign up to receive Sylvia Gunters weekly devotional at: https://thefathersbusiness.com/devotion/god-is-able/

Able is the Greek word dunatos, related to dunamis, meaning ability, abundance, capability, mighty works, miraculous power, prevailing strength. “God is able” means God has the mighty power to do a miraculous work out of His abundance and strength. Romans 16:25 says God is able to establish you. Listen to the richness of the verse when read with its full definition “God has mighty power to do a miraculous work out of His abundance and strength to establish you.”

Bring your inability to the ability of God. As you read these verses drink in the bigness of God as you replace “able” with “has the mighty power to do a miraculous work out of His abundance and strength.”

God is …
Able to give much more. 2 Chron 25:9
Able to deliver from fire. Dan 3:17
Able to raise up children of Abraham from stones. Mat 3:9
Able to give sight to the blind. Mat 9:28-29
Able to destroy in hell. Mat 10:28, James 4:12
Able to perform what He promised. Rom 4:21
Able to graft in the Gentiles. Rom 11:23
Able to make you stand. Rom 14:4
Able to establish you. Rom 16:25
Able to make a way through temptation. 1 Cor 10:13
Able to make all grace abound to you. 2 Cor 9:8
Able to do exceedingly beyond all your asking. Eph 3:20
Able to subdue everything under His control. Phil 3:21
Able to keep all we have committed to Him. 2 Tim 1:12
Able to help the tempted. Heb 2:18
Able to save from death. Heb 5:7
Able to save completely, to the utmost. Heb 7:25
Able to raise men from the dead. Heb 11:19
Able to keep you from falling and to present you before His presence without fault and with great joy. Jude 24

To the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power, and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen. Jude 25

Be blessed in the name of God who is able.

© Sylvia Gunter, 2016, Prayer Essentials For Living In His Presence Volume 1,

David Coffield, Featured Writers, God Loves Us, Guest Post, Jehovah, Jesus, Messiah, Testimonies, Yahweh, Yehovah

How God feels about us is unshakeable.

Michael J. Weiss, Sr.

Dear Mike,

How God feels about us is unshakeable.  It is never dependent on how good we are or how poorly we behave.  

God looks at His children, clothed in the righteousness of His Son, and He is forever delighted.  Not a delight that I have ever deserved or earned or ever could deserve or earn.  Those who think they can merit God’s pleasure have no idea of His holiness nor their sin.

It leaves us in a wonderful place of being able to rejoice in our Father’s love and pleasure without worrying about our performance.

Does God engage with us to help us grow up?  Yes.  Does sin produce death?  Certainly.  Is all of our sin paid for on Calvary?  Yes.  I can never sin my way out of my relationship with Father.  I can affect the way that He deals with me.  He is always about growing us up into the image of His Son Jesus.

Hebrews speaks of “fixing our eyes on Jesus the author and perfector of faith”, Paul speaks of “not being drawn away from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Jesus.”  

Despite my brokenness, despite my failures, despite my weakness, foolishness, stupidity—I am deeply loved by my Father.  It leaves me in the posture of rejoicing in God’s love for me, settled and confident in who I am to my Father (regardless of what others or my performance is saying), and free to move forward in love.

Your brother,

David