John 7:25-29 "Are You Sure You Know God?"

John 7:25-29

25So some from the people of Jerusalem said, “This is whom they are seeking to kill, is it not? 26And look! He speaks freely, and they say nothing to Him. Perhaps the rulers came to know that this One is truly the Christ? 27But this One-we know from where He is. But when the Christ shall come, no one knows from where He is.” 

28Then Jesus cried out in the Temple, teaching and saying, “Both know Me and know from where I am. And of Myself I have not come, but the One having sent Me is dependable, whom do not know. 29Know Him, because I am from Him, and that One sent Me.”

Good Day Child of God! "Father? Your Will Be Done!" A confession is due from me to the various Christian Religions that teach Jesus was born in Bethlehem. Of course I get upset when the various sects don't get down to business and teach seriously about the Father and His Will, but one thing is sure; All these folks standing around arguing with Jesus and then the watchers saying nothing yet trying to come to conclusions is a good way to not know God. Jesus makes that as plain as can be.

Be assured that you have one thing they didn't have, a Bible. No one had any of the New Testament, it wasn't written for nearly one hundred,100, years after the fact. The Old Testament or Scrolls, were for only the Religious Leaders or the wealthy, so the average Joseph and Josephine were left out. Having little to no parchment, and only a few people educated to the minimum to be able to read and write, scribes, few would expect to have access to Scripture in the least of the Israel population. In this day and age, with all our various tools to look at the past and decipher much of what had gone on, Jesus is talking to those of you right here and now, who go to Church to worship Him, and yet don't know the very basics of God's Plan. He was telling you that you don't know Him! Scary thought.

Today's easy lesson: Lets put ourselves back about 2000 years ago, standing with the group listening to all that is going on. We don't have to be close to the front. Have you ever heard middle eastern men talk to one another. Even when it is friendly, it is loud, confrontational in its demeanor, and nothing like we are used to in our society. Jesus is now getting annoyed, and the Pharisees and Sadducee's, maybe some scribes, that are challenging Him changes His actions from normal high volume communication to flailing arms and hands, accusing them of not even knowing God. This is a serious point that Jesus is making, because like important and known Christian leaders we have today from your local pastor to the Pope, this group should know what they are speaking of and they don't. Even the pew sitters are confused and try to make a decision so they know how to worship. The Blind leading the Blind. The Temple is now abuzz with various conversations, teachings, and voices raising higher and higher to compete with what is going on in one small group against the Son of God. Amazing when you put it in its place.

How does this help you in your daily walk with the Father? Have you noticed that you have never been asked to worship Jesus? How do we start our Studies? "Father?" When Jesus walked and taught, comforted and healed, did He ever take credit? The answer is NO. He did not come to make a big statement of His Life, He came to obey in every way the leading of the Father. Even when the Father thought it unimportant to give Himself credit, to show the religious Jews that He was watching them, and that their heart wasn't in the right place, Jesus sent people to the Temple to tell the Priests of their Blessings. As people in the world see it, they want to puff up their chests and scream "Victory!" and other self indulgent words like "Look at me ain't I so very good? I caught the ball and now I am great!" God's way is opposite. That's why He is so hard to understand. You don't get credit for doing the right thing, and when you do the wrong thing, He doesn't admonish you, He is there to help you find your way back to goodness. Humbly walk with confidence knowing that you, a Child of God, is always in God's favor, and your life is maturing to Life. Your Father is with you. Does it get better than that? Is giving Him a few minutes a day so hard that you cannot build that relationship with Him for your own good? If that is the Truth in your life, you don't know Him, you don't know what Love is, and you are in a very sad state. I am so sorry. The good news is you have a chance to get with the program and Live. Smiling is so much more enjoyable than concern and worry. Take the time, find your peace. Have a Grace Day! 

Brother Glenn
Complete New Testament Grace Studies link: http://gracehouseministry.blogspot.com/

"MOVING FORWARD. HOW? WITH A SMALL CHANGE!"

Good Day Child of God! "Father? Your Will Be Done!" Before we go into another Study, I need your understanding about the intention of these several times per week insights. There are three ways they can be presented: 1) A short (500 words more or less) Daily Devotional, 2) A Short (1000 words more or less) informational teaching/encouragement, and 3) A full teaching (1500 words more or less) with background, and encouragement.

The archives are nearly all done in the number 3 format, and at the average reading of 300 words per minute for an adult, they were quite deep, but it seems 5 to 6 minutes is too much for most. This year I started with the number 1 format which is difficult to do because it cuts out so much of the important background that is required if you don't know your Bible well. I know most of you don't know your Bible well. I have been doing this, that is leading Studies, teaching Studies, typing Studies and so on for more years than I care to count, and if only two minutes is spent in the Word, and even if you are very aware of what is in the Bible, the more you read it, the more you learn, then forget, so it becomes a matter of whether a small devotional is enough to help anyone.

Finally it gets down to the center of it all the Study styles, where it is not 2 minutes, nor 5 minutes, but around 3 minutes, understanding and focusing during the reading is of great importance. This mid-sized Study gives you enough background so that you can talk to a friend or your Father about it, and let it sink in. You can read first thing in the morning, or last thing at night as is my want, or at lunch when you need a break from the world. The point is helping you, the Student, learn as much as possible in the shortest time, is the goal, so we are going to go with the mid-range Study, around a 3 minute read. This way you can get a good taste of the verses, and what it was like at the time of the writing. It is my sincerest wish that you as a Child of God get to know who and what your Father is really like. The Bible is not just a group of stories put together by a group of men and woman to entertain. The Bible contains both a tremendous History, and the Word of God, and to understand it all properly we cannot run through it, nor go too slowly, pace is important. 

To that end, we will begin our Studies starting immediately, three per week, the Father Willing, more if He strengthens me, and your part will be to read them at a time and place that allows you to learn and appreciate what the Creator of all things is like, as much as He will reveal to us, and to you in particular. The next Study is already being prepared right now, and will be posted soon.

As for the Archives,  please use them, (excuse the small errors in spelling and/or grammer), and do not be afraid to write a comment back to me or ask a question, because I cannot read minds nor repair things I do not know about. This is a Blessed' work, and I want you to be Blessed by it, so also pray for the ministry, and again, please keep in touch. Have a Grace Day!

Brother Glenn