The Golden Scepter

The other day I was asked to do a teaching on at my church for a Wednesday night. As I prepared and delivered that message God popped something out to me. Jesus did again for me what He did for those here in this verse:

Luk 24:45-48 ESV  Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures,  (46)  and said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, (47)  and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. (48)  You are witnesses of these things.

I was doing my teaching through a part on Esther. I will not bother you with what my teaching was about. But what I do want to share with you is what I saw about Christ Jesus there!

let us read this together now:

Est 5:2-4 ESV  And when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, she won favor in his sight, and he held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. Then Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter.  (3)  And the king said to her, "What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? It shall be given you, even to the half of my kingdom."  (4)  And Esther said, "If it please the king, let the king and Haman come today to a feast that I have prepared for the king."

Question 1. In verse two, what did the King hold out to Esther?

A short little back ground here. I hope we all know how Esther got to this point. But if not let me recap for you. King Ahasuerus and his right hand man Haman decided to bring death, destruction, and to annihilate all of the Jews. that was the first of the two death sentences on Queen Esther.

The second death sentence over Esther was when she went before the King without being summoned. look:

Est 4:11 ESV  "All the king's servants and the people of the king's provinces know that if any man or woman goes to the king inside the inner court without being called, there is but one law—to be put to death, except the one to whom the king holds out the golden scepter so that he may live. But as for me, I have not been called to come in to the king these thirty days."

We see here that death was to be given to those whom the King did not send for. though there was an exception to that rule.

Question 2. What does the King hold out that the person may live?

So you see Queen Esther had two death sentences out on her life....

This is where the story gets bad for you and I.... are we not like Quest Esther? We have sin upon sin in our life. We have a death sentence upon death sentence. We all have walked in some kind of bondage to habitual sinning.

But there is good news! God, the King has mercy on us! He has grace for us! He has love for us! He sent His Son to us so that He may be the payment for our sins! That He may take the full wrath and punishment for us, so that we do not have to! Now that is love!

In our story of Esther and the King. We see a beautifully picture of Jesus' work on the cross for us. Just as King Ahasuerus lowered his golden scepter, so our God has lowered His golden scepter to us! Jesus is that golden scepter! We have already found favor in God's eyes, He sent His son do die for us.

Question 3. According to Est_5:2 what must we do be given life?

Just as Esther touched the golden scepter, so we too must touch Jesus! Jesus' finished work on the cross is where we find life! Jesus said that He came that He may give life, and more abundantly Joh_10:10!

To bring this to a close. I want to look at one final thing. Where is God? Where does He sit?.... That’s right on His throne. So how could we ever think to come before Him in His throne room? Look at what Hebrews says about this very thing:

 Heb 4:16 ESV  Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

But how is this so? How can we come boldly? look:

Heb 10:19 ESV  Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus,

We come near to Father that we may touch Jesus (the Golden scepter) that we may be given life! That we may bring our cares to Him. Because He knows us! Hebrews 4 said this too:

Heb 4:14-15 ESV  Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.  (15)  For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

This story from Esther though Christ's coming, and the writer of Hebrews has remained the same! It truly is good news that we cannot keep to ourselves! We always hold true to his confession of Christ Jesus and His finished work on the cross. Isn’t that what we really do here as mentors? We are that living proof that Jesus is a life given! And because of Him we now have the "boldness" to come into the throne room.

What if we looked at this a different way. because we have a sure confidence to come before God, what if we didn’t come alone? You see we are told to be in the world but not of it. We are to be a light to the world. A picture of what Christ can do! Our students and those we live around maybe lost with a death sentence upon a death sentence. It is our job to walk with them, living out the love we have been shown, and bringing them into the throne room before God. That just as the "Golden scepter" was extended to us, that it may be extended to them. When we bring men before God we are in need of grace and mercy, yes for us, but for them as well. We all can come boldly because of what Jesus did on the cross!

In closing let me encourage us always bring this good news to our students. That is: That Jesus is the life giver! That His finished work on the cross gives life to them, and brakes the chains of bondage off! We do this by encouraging them, loving them, and bringing them to God that they too may touch Jesus and live.

Your Brother in Christ

Grace and Peace be with you

Nate Cook, Setting Captives Free Team Member

www.SettingCaptivesFree.com

And Jesus said to me:

Eze 3:10b-11a  "...Receive into your heart all My words that I speak to you, and hear with your ears, and go, get to the captives..."

Who is the Head?

This word is a fairly short one J. The other day I was doing my daily scripture reading when this verse stuck out to me:

Col 2:16-23 ESV  Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath.  (17)  These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.  (18)  Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind,  (19)  and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.  (20)  If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— (21)  "Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch"  (22)  (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings?  (23)  These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.

What really got me to stop and think about this for a minute was verse 23 where it says "they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh." As I read that I had to go back and look at what has no value to stop the flesh. I mean that is something that we struggle with so much! I wanted to know what would essentially be me "spinning my wheels." That is where I would like us to look at for a few minutes.

In verses 16-18 & 20-22 we see a lot of different things. I read these in a heart of prayer, seeking the Lord for a clear word. As I prayed this out the Lord showed me how this applies to us. Though before I write that I would like to look at those verses from the message version:

Col 2:16-18 & 20-22 MSG  So don't put up with anyone pressuring you in details of diet, worship services, or holy days.  (17)  All those things are mere shadows cast before what was to come; the substance is Christ.  (18)  Don't tolerate people who try to run your life, ordering you to bow and scrape, insisting that you join their obsession with angels and that you seek out visions. They're a lot of hot air, that's all they are. (20) So, then, if with Christ you've put all that pretentious and infantile religion behind you, why do you let yourselves be bullied by it?  (21)  "Don't touch this! Don't taste that! Don't go near this!"  (22)  Do you think things that are here today and gone tomorrow are worth that kind of attention?

I am sure that we have all seen and/or heard people go off on all kinds of tangents about angels and demons, about how one day is better than the other, that one must speak in tongues to be saved, how to pray on the armor of God, etc... I am sure you get the idea. I have been guilty of many of these things. Running on all kinds of tangents within the church. Saying that this, or that is vitally important! Though verse 23 says that "they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh" and that they “have indeed an appearance of wisdom.”

            Question 1. What are some of the “rabbit hole” wisdom(s) either you have ran on, or have heard others harp on?

If this so called wisdom doesn’t stop the flesh, then what is able to stop the indulgences of the flesh?... That’s right the one verse we have not looked at yet J.... So let’s look now:

Col 2:19 ESV  and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.

The "Head" is Jesus! So many times it is so easy for us to run away with church doctrine, saying this is right or that is right. But so many times on these "rabbit holes" we do not hold fast to our Head, Jesus Christ!!! It is when we lose hold of Him, when we lose eye contact with Him we run into a false wisdom, that has "no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh." This verse is fitting here:

Rom 13:14 NKJV  But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

.... Now I am not saying that all church doctrine is bad, or that topics within the church are not important. The point of all off this is to see how to arm ourselves to stop the indulgences of our flesh! The only answer is to "hold fast to the Head" Jesus Christ!

            Question 2. In light of our ministry, how have you held fast to Jesus?

So what is able to "stop the indulgences of the flesh"? Paul told us in a few verses above in Col_2: let us take a look:

Col 2:6 ESV  Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him,

How did we receive Him? We  were told in a few verses above:

Col 2:13-14 ESV  And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,  (14)  by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.

Do you see that?! It was because of Christ Jesus' work on the cross that opened the door for us to walk in liberty from the "indulgencies of the flesh". I am sure we have all see this verse before, but it fits so well :).

Rom 5:8 ESV  but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

While we walked in whatever our flesh desired, be it alcohol, food, sexual sins, etc... you name it, Jesus out of love for us came to us. living among us, in complete perfection, and holiness. In His perfection, He was called a criminal, taken into custody, persecuted, beaten, spit upon, and sentenced to death on the cross. Where He took the full wrath of God wave after wave. and when it was finished, He died! raising again after three days, and proceeding back to the right hand of God! where He now sits at the propitiation for our sins, and our greatest advocate.

Do you see now? See how Christ and His finished work on the cross has the power to stop the "indulgences of the flesh"? Because of His work there we must hold on to Him as our Head, Leader, and Savior

            Question 3. How has holding onto Christ and His work at the cross kept you from sinning in your flesh?

In closing let me encourage you to keep your eyes, your focus, and your ministry on what can stop the indulgences of the flesh… Christ and Him crucified!

Your Brother in Christ

Grace and Peace be with you

Nate Cook, Setting Captives Free Team Member

www.SettingCaptivesFree.com

And Jesus said to me:

Eze 3:10b-11a  "...Receive into your heart all My words that I speak to you, and hear with your ears, and go, get to the captives..."

"My Stretch Marks...His Scars...'They were worth it!'"

The other day my wife and I were in the car heading on a short day trip with our kids. Praise the Lord

our car didn't break down. With our windows down (because the air conditioner doesn't work), kids sleeping, and simply enjoying each other we had a good talk.

My wife who has birthed our two kids began talking and dreaming about our upcoming move to Texas. We talked about much, but one of the things that stuck out to me was when she talked about how her body looked after birthing two kids. She said this, and it really spoke to me:

"...Yes my stomach may have stretch marks, but when I look at our kids my heart grows with joy, and I say that ‘it was all worth it’..."

I had to stop her right there. And share these thoughts with her, just as I am sharing them with you now.

Isn't that what our Lord Jesus does with us? Though we may act a fool sometimes. Completely walk in our flesh and do right the opposite of what He tells us. He looks at His birthing scars and says "I love them... they are completely worth it."

How can I say this? Because Christ on that cross, born our sins, shame, guilt, and took on the full wrath of God so that we would not have too! And allowed us to become His children! Just look at this:

Gal 4:5 ESV  to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.

Eph 1:5 ESV  he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,

As He took our sin and shame on the cross, paying and making the way for us to become adopted sons of God, He was still filled with joy over us!...

Just look:

Heb 12:2 ESV  looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

While He hung there on the cross enduring all that He had too for us, He saw us and had joy... and even now when He looks to His scars He says "They were worth it!"....

So let us praise the Lord that:

Rom 5:8 ESV  but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

There is no real end to this writing, but one of encouragement! Know that today as you come to the Father, the Son, and the Spirit, that they three in one look at Jesus bears and says:

"He was worth it!"

Please feel free to share any thoughts.

Your Brother in Christ

Grace and Peace be with you

Nate Cook, Setting Captives Free Team Member

www.SettingCaptivesFree.com

And Jesus said to me:

Eze 3:10b-11a  "...Receive into your heart all My words that I speak to you, and hear with your ears, and go, get to the captives..."

Old Lump

I want to take a quick look at what God has recently spoke to me through my daily reading.

1Co 5:6-8 ESV  Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?  (7)  Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.  (8)  Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

This whole chapter Paul is talking about sexual immorality. There is some pretty strong teaching in there. I would encourage you to read the whole chapter. It is only 13 verses :)... To keep the light on sexual immorality and these few verses, I want to look at two things. 1. The lie that we can have just a little of whatever we "like", will not hurt us. 2. That we play a part in walking in purity. I don’t know how many times I have preached on Luk_9:23 but these verses solidify this teaching (as if Jesus needed solidifying...) It is so easy for us to become complacent in our purity walk that we can easily get side lined with desire, leading to temptations, and ending in sin. So what’s the catch? how do we stay pure? We remove all of the "old leaven", we remove the flesh! We make no provisions for the flesh to fulfill its lust Rom_13:14! We die to the flesh daily! We do this that we may be new in Christ Jesus! For He was/is the Passover lamb for our sin/flesh! We do this because we love Him more then we even love our self!

So what does this mean for us, the mentors/ministers of the gospel? Paul also addresses this a few chapters over:

1Co 9:24-27 ESV  Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.  (25)  Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.  (26)  So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air.  (27)  But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

I am sure that we have all read, and heard teachings on this before. Though what is very interesting about this is verse 27. look at it again:

(27)  But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

We as ministers even more than those who do not preach the gospel of Christ, should work to keep the flesh dead, by daily dying, and removal of the old life. James said this:

Jas 3:1 ESV  Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.

So what are we to do? Begin each day new! There are many ways where I still allow my flesh room to live. This word was for me more than it was for any of you! Seeing that any area of my life in which I allow my flesh to feast, is an open door for the enemy to rule! I have seen how things that are innocent and "good" have caught my desire, lead me in temptations, ending in sin Jas_1:14-15. God is giving grace to me, and to you. That we may apply His word to our lives, in order to continually purge the flesh from us, that we may live in Him, in Spirit and in truth!

I say all of this to bring about a reminder for us in our ministry to remain pure. Yes we know this. And yes we preach this... But if Paul (and others) preached on this many times, it is worth looking at again...

Question 1. In what ways have you (do you still) allow life to your flesh?

            These may not all be sexual things... It can be anything that allows your flesh to feast.

Question 2. How can we as a group pray for you?

Your Brother in Christ

Grace and Peace be with you

Nate Cook, Setting Captives Free Team Member

www.SettingCaptivesFree.com

And Jesus said to me:

Eze 3:10b-11a  "...Receive into your heart all My words that I speak to you, and hear with your ears, and go, get to the captives..."

I Have Good News!!!!

God forbid, but if for some reason you were to die tonight, are you absolutely certain you would go to heaven? We have all done wrong in God's eye who is perfect. In other words we have all sinned and fall far short of what God wants. We are all born into sin naturally rebelling against God by choosing to do things our own way rather than to rely on God. What is man?... Is man good or bad?... Are we naturally good, with good intentions, and thoughts? Look at a child, do we have to teach them how to lie? Or steal from another child? Do we have to teach a kid to be a bully?  In other words we have all sinned and fall far short of what God wants.

God is holy and perfectly righteous and cannot tolerate sin. God is good and because He is good, He is just. By that I mean that He has to punish sin. If He did not, then He would not be good. If we have fallen short with people and relationships, then how much more have we fallen short against a holy and just God? And one day you and I will be judged by Him for the things that we have done in this life. In fact, if we are honest with ourselves, we are guilty of not only murder, but theft, adultery, blasphemy and so on! We are all sinners.

Therefore, because we are sinners we cannot be in God’s presence in our natural state. That is not good news for us because that means we are under judgment and we will be punished. The simple fact is when we stand before God when we die, we will have to give an account for all those "bad" things we have done. I have good news for you! The Bible tells us that "we can know that we have eternal life." He loves us too much to not give us a way to be reconciled back to Him. My friend, the love of God for you, could not have been expressed any better, than in sending His Son, Jesus Christ to die on a cross for your sin and my sin. God is good and because He is good, He is just. By that I mean that He has to punish sin. If He did not, then He would not be good. But Jesus, who had no sin, took upon Himself our sin.  He sent His Son Jesus to us for this reason. He (God) sacrificed His only begotten son, Jesus the Christ to redeem us.  I will tell you that Jesus came fully man, but did not sin! He never told a lie, stole, bullied, etc... He was perfect. He spoke the truth, and the showed the way that one must be saved. He said that "The only way to the Father is through Me.... I am the way, the truth, and the life..." Because Jesus is perfect having never sinned and being worth so much more than all of His creation, His life was more than worthy as a sacrifice to redeem ours

How can this be?

In love, God had His son, Jesus Christ pay the price for our sin! Because out of love for you and me, Jesus was accused of crimes He never committed. He was sentenced to death, carried His cross, was nailed to it and began to die! He was crucified!  God's Son, took our punishment on the cross. God began to poor out His wrath on Jesus, wave after wave! Jesus had become our sin to the point that God could not even look at Him, and Jesus cried out "My God, My God why have you forsaken Me?"  God had His son Jesus Christ, pay the price for our sin! And paying the penalty that we rightfully deserved. When God was done pouring out His wrath on Him, Jesus knew it was done, and said "It is finished." Then He died! He paid the full price for our sin, and not for ours only, but for everyone’s,  which was and is DEATH! Jesus Christ had to die for our sins, to give us that gift of eternal life. He humbled Himself and died for us. He died, and was buried. He went into the depths of Hell, and remained there for three days, then He rose again from the dead! 3 days later He rose from death conquering death once and for all. Jesus rose again from the grave. God was completely satisfied with what His Son did on the cross.

Jesus came to life!

The power of sin was no match against the power of God, for Jesus Christ arose from the grave and was seen by over 500 people.  He ascended back into Heaven with God! Where He now sits at God's right hand, as our appropriation for sins!

What must we do to be saved?

The Bible tells us that if we will confess our sins to God, and sincerely surrender our life to Him. Because of this, if we are willing to entrust ourselves to Jesus Christ and accept the price that Jesus paid for us on the cross, then we no longer are going to be punished. Thankfully, the shed blood of Jesus Christ is so powerful, that it atones for our sin, thereby freeing us from the penalty of sin. Jesus said that we must confess, and repent of our sins. Meaning turn from our old, and bad ways, and turn to Him. We must believe that He did what the bible says He did, by taking our sins, our judgment, our punishment, dying for us, and being raise again on the 3rd day. That He came to the earth in human form, born of a virgin to live among us as a man, subject to the same temptations and suffering that a human is subject to. If we trust and acknowledge Jesus as our Lord and Savior then are made right before God. Sincerely surrender our life to Him by asking Him to come into our heart to be our Lord and Savior, then we can be saved. Jesus had promised to also send the Holy Spirit to live in all those who confess Jesus as their savior.

Then we must take up our own cross daily, and follow Him. He said that if anyone should desire to come after Him they must do that, for one cannot live in his own way of the old life, but must be made new. Jesus said no one can enter into the kingdom of God unless He is born again. The Holy Spirit living in us a "Christian" can be transformed from a natural sinner to a person who can reject sin and be filled with the love that God has for us. 

Can you buy eternal life?  No.  Can you work to gain eternal life?  No.  It is a free gift of God being offered to you right now by God’s grace. May I encourage you to receive this amazing gift of eternal life today! What that entails is this:  (1) Placing your trust in Jesus Christ to save you, (2) Confess your sins to God and repent (which means to turn away from them) and follow Jesus Christ. If you are feeling the guilt and shame of the bad things you have done, and realize your need of a savior, let me encourage you to: find a quiet place where you can pray to God, coming to Him in need of Jesus the savior. Confess your sins, admitting that you have not only wronged people, but God too. Call out to Him to save you, believe that Jesus did die for you, and ask that Jesus make you new. Then let me encourage you to get a bible, and begin reading from the book John. Then make your way to a church, and tell them that you gave your life to Jesus, and begin talking with them. Become His child. The Holy Spirit convicts us of sin and provides us with the desire and strength to obey God. 

Our time in short so please do not wait! Go to God today seek forgiveness for your sins, through Jesus Christ!

Now that is good news!

+++

I am so excited right now! I asked 5 men to write in their own words the Gospel of Jesus Christ. To do it in the moment and put what was in their heart. They did it! What I shared with you is what I got from the men. Each color represents a different man speaking. Imagine 5 men standing and preaching the good news of Jesus to the lost (even to the “church”). When one finishes a breath, another picks up without hesitation… This goes to show that when we come together under the banner of Christ and Him crucified (1 Cor 2:2) and preach that, that we can be of one mind, and in unity! Thank you for taking the time to read this and share any thoughts, or questions you might have.

Your Brother in Christ

Grace and Peace be with you

Nate Cook, Setting Captives Free Team Member

www.SettingCaptivesFree.com

And Jesus said to me:

Eze 3:10b-11a  "...Receive into your heart all My words that I speak to you, and hear with your ears, and go, get to the captives..."

"You are not far from the kingdom of God"

Recently the Lord woke me up in the middle of the night. I cannot remember the last time He has done this. He woke me up with a dream, and kept me up for the next two hours. In short the dream had to do with me lending a hand to help a women in need. She needed some work done with fixing her roof. It was then that the Lord begin to speak to me. I was shocked at what He had to say.

You see for the last several months I have been getting pretty lose with how I speak to and reprimand my kids. While on our most recent vacation it all came to a head. No matter how sternly I spoke to my kids, how many times I spanked their butts, or how often they stood in the corner they simply would not listen. After God woke me up in the night, He made it clear that I had been going about this all wrong! You see I love my wife and kids. I even pride myself in saying that I am a family man. Though how I was acting you would not have been fooled. I had to repent for my behavior towards my wife and kids. Why? because there was not love there! How can I expect to live in Christ, and for Christ when I did not even show His love towards my wife and kids?...

Let me try and share with you what God shared with me. It starts in Matthew Chapter 6. After following God's leading to get out of the military, and do it in/on faith, He gave me this verse to begin living out:

Mat 6:33 ESV  But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

For several months now I have been praying and seeking God on what that means for me. How I live that out. Where and what does His kingdom look like in my life? Trust me there has been a world of things that have come to mind, but none have stuck. That is until He woke me up in the night!

God began to take me on a journey through His word, and lead me to several things. One of which was to begin walking in love towards my wife and kids. I must... it must start there!

Mar 12:28-34 ESV  And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, "Which commandment is the most important of all?"  (29)  Jesus answered, "The most important is, 'Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. (30)  And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' (31)  The second is this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these." (32)  And the scribe said to him, "You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him.  (33)  And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices."  (34)  And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions.

God gave me the word to seek Him, His kingdom, and righteousness first. We also know that He said to love God and others... what is catching is that when we begin do to this He tells us that "You are not far from the kingdom of God..." When God woke me up in the night. He showed me that I was in fact not walking in love towards my own wife and kids! WOW! what a word from God... right? If that will not wake up a person I don’t know what will!

We all know what love looks like. It looks like Christ, and Him crucified! If we dwell there for a moment, more will come into focus!... Paul helps by writing what love is:

1Co 13:4-8a ESV  Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant  (5)  or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;  (6)  it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.  (7)  Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.  (8)  Love never ends.

Yes we have all seen this before, and I am sure that we have heard it preached from pulpit to pulpit, from wedding to wedding. But let's keep this in light of what God is saying. That the kingdom of God is not far when we love God, and when we love others! So how can we love others "outside" of our family, when we have not loved our family first? How can I teach and grow fellow believers, when I have lacked to teach my children? How will my children learn to "love" like Christ, when they have not seen His love in me?... What a gut check!!!

Christ also goes on to show us just what this means, and how this kind of love should look like:

Joh 15:10-17 ESV  If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. (11)  These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. (12)  "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. (13)  Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. (14)  You are my friends if you do what I command you. (15)  No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. (16)  You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. (17)  These things I command you, so that you will love one another.

If we are called to love each other, friends, and neighbors, then how much more are we to love our wife and kids?

We as men are called to be the head of our house! We are to lead our family not only with words, but even more with deeds! We are to teach our children in the ways of God, and we are to do that by showing them with our actions!

God says this:

1Co 11:3 ESV  But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God.

To be the man of the house is much more than being the boss! It is laying your life down at the feet of Jesus... daily! Taking up your cross and following Him Luk_9:23! For there, and only there can you see the love that He shared for you, and in turn begin to put Him on Rom_13:14, and begin to live in love towards others!

Look at it like this how can I build my house without Christ being the cornerstone Eph_2:20? He must be the rock on which I build my family! But none of this can be done without love! When we begin to walk in a Christ love, we (in His words) are not "far from the kingdom of God."

So let us all begin here:

Mat 6:6 ESV  But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Let us men, fathers, and husbands seek God with all of our heart in the secret places. Where no one is looking. Where God can deal with us, teach us, lead us, correct us.... love us.... For then and only then can we begin to be the head of our own house (which He has graciously given us to look after!). As our own house (and our actions towards them) come into alignment, we can then know how to practice and operate in Christ love towards others outside our family!!!!

Your Brother in Christ

Grace and Peace be with you

Nate Cook, Setting Captives Free Team Member

www.SettingCaptivesFree.com

And Jesus said to me:

Eze 3:10b-11a  "...Receive into your heart all My words that I speak to you, and hear with your ears, and go, get to the captives..."

Rabbit Hole Wisdom(s)

This word is a fairly short one J. The other day I was doing my daily scripture reading when this

verse stuck out to me:

Col 2:16-23 ESV  Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath.  (17)  These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.  (18)  Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind,  (19)  and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.  (20)  If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— (21)  "Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch"  (22)  (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings?  (23)  These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.

What really got me to stop and think about this for a minute was verse 23 where it says "they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh." As I read that I had to go back and look at what has no value to stop the flesh. I mean that is something that we struggle with so much! I wanted to know what would essentially be me "spinning my wheels." That is where I would like us to look at for a few minutes.

In verses 16-18 & 20-22 we see a lot of different things. I read these in a heart of prayer, seeking the Lord for a clear word. As I prayed this out the Lord showed me how this applies to us. Though before I write that I would like to look at those verses from the message version:

Col 2:16-18 & 20-22 MSG  So don't put up with anyone pressuring you in details of diet, worship services, or holy days.  (17)  All those things are mere shadows cast before what was to come; the substance is Christ.  (18)  Don't tolerate people who try to run your life, ordering you to bow and scrape, insisting that you join their obsession with angels and that you seek out visions. They're a lot of hot air, that's all they are. (20) So, then, if with Christ you've put all that pretentious and infantile religion behind you, why do you let yourselves be bullied by it?  (21)  "Don't touch this! Don't taste that! Don't go near this!"  (22)  Do you think things that are here today and gone tomorrow are worth that kind of attention?

I am sure that we have all seen and/or heard people go off on all kinds of tangents about angels and demons, about how one day is better than the other, that one must speak in tongues to be saved, how to pray on the armor of God, etc... I am sure you get the idea. I have been guilty of many of these things. Running on all kinds of tangents within the church. Saying that this, or that is vitally important! Though verse 23 says that "they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh" and that they “have indeed an appearance of wisdom.” If this so called wisdom doesn't stop the flesh, then what is able to stop the indulgences of the flesh?... That’s right the one verse we have not looked at yet J.... So let’s look now:

Col 2:19 ESV  and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.

The "Head" is Jesus! So many times it is so easy for us to run away with church doctrine, saying this is right or that is right. But so many times on these "rabbit holes" we do not hold fast to our Head, Jesus Christ!!! It is when we lose hold of Him, when we lose eye contact with Him we run into a false wisdom, that has "no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh." This verse is fitting here:

Rom 13:14 NKJV  But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

.... Now I am not saying that all church doctrine is bad, or that topics within the church are not important. The point of all off this is to see how to arm ourselves to stop the indulgences of our flesh! The only answer is to "hold fast to the Head" Jesus Christ!

1.      What are some of the “rabbit hole” wisdom(s) either you have ran on, or have heard others harp on?

2.      In light of our ministry, how have you held fast to Jesus?

3.      How has holding onto Him kept you from sinning in your flesh?

Your Brother in Christ

Grace and Peace be with you

Nate Cook, Setting Captives Free Team Member

www.SettingCaptivesFree.com

And Jesus said to me:

Eze 3:10b-11a  "...Receive into your heart all My words that I speak to you, and hear with your ears, and go, get to the captives..."

Kingdom Life, Means a Service Life

The other day I was doing my daily scripture reading. During that time a scripture popped out to me. I would like to share that with you today.

Heb 1:14 ESV  Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?

That word "serve" really got to me. It got me thinking about service. I hope that I too can get you to think about service for a minute too. In this verse the Author is talking about the angels of God. He says that they are sent to "serve" those outside of the faith. To serve those who will “inherit salvation.” Isn’t that exactly what Jesus came to do too? Take a moment to think on the life of Jesus.....

This verse came to mind when I thought of Him and His work for us!

Mar 10:45 ESV  For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

That is what He came to do! Jesus came to serve!!! WOW! Chew on that for a moment... As you think on this, let me just show another example of service:

2Co 12:15a ESV  I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls…

This is just a very small picture of both Paul and Jesus life service. Though both of these verses show a clear picture that both Jesus and Paul's heart was to serve! You see Jesus was the first example. The first fruit into this new life. Jesus showed the way through a life of service, being obedient even through death! Paul (and the others) also saw and imitated this very same laying-down a life-in-service!

I showed Heb_1:14, Mar_10:45, & 2Co_12:15 to make the point that in the kingdom of God, service is a must! To simply say "I am a Christian" and go on about your day with nothing to show for it, is not a life in the kingdom. At all levels God has called His creations to serve, the Angels, His people, His Son (Jesus), and His adopted sons & daughters...

How do we walk in a life of service?... This verse again says it all, and can never be said to much:

Mat 22:37-40 ESV  And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. (38)  This is the great and first commandment. (39)  And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. (40)  On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets."

To love God, and to Love others will lead us into the appropriate actions to take in service! Living a kingdom life is not one of passiveness, but one of activeness!

If you cannot look at your life right now, and say "yes, I am in a life service..." (however that may look) then I would strongly encourage you to evaluate your walk with God! If it was fitting for God to ordain His angels, His Son, and those who carried the "new church" into world, then why would He NOT call you to service? The answer is He has called you!

You have been called to a life in Christ! In that life of Christ is one that ministers the gospel of the good news of Jesus' finished work on the cross! Be it through words or deeds! We are also called to labor and work with our hands to move the kingdom forward!... This life of service through faith in Jesus is the hallmarking trademark of a Christian!

Not that there is anything wrong with wearing a cross, or putting a "Jesus fish" on your car, or even getting "Godly" tattoo, to show that you are a "Christian." But what good do those things do? I mean really does adding all the more "Jesus" appeal to our life make a bit of difference? If we want people to know that we are Christians, then we should act like one, and live a life of service, a life of love, and a life willing to lay it down! If we want people to know our moral values should we hang another poster? Or should we live a gospel life, of service? I am sure you get the idea now J…

We are called to be in the world, but not to "look" like the world. And the only way to not look like the world is to live a life of biblical obedience, to live a life of service for those in the faith, and those "who will inherit salvation" through Jesus Christ!

With that let me ask you two questions:

If you are serving right now, how are you doing it?

If you are not walking in service then what is God laying on your heart to do?

Your Brother in Christ

Grace and Peace be with you

Nate Cook, Setting Captives Free Team Member

www.SettingCaptivesFree.com

And Jesus said to me:

Eze 3:10b-11a  "...Receive into your heart all My words that I speak to you, and hear with your ears, and go, get to the captives..."