In the company of Christ

Friends,

Things go wrong in every man's life. But where do you turn? Do you retreat to the comfortable confines of the natural man? Or do you have the courage to go the family of Christ?

Proverbs 27:10 [NKJV]
Do not forsake your own friend or your father’s friend,
Nor go to your brother’s house in the day of your calamity;
Better is a neighbor nearby than a brother far away.

The family of Christ, in its current form, is yet being perfected. But it is headed by the Perfect Man.

The Lord Jesus has never erred in judgment, has only loved completely, and has never failed to comfort, strengthen and encourage. And if we place ourselves in the company of believers, then the love that Christ delivers is never far away.

Be encouraged, Jose

Let us each do a work

Friends,

Is predictability the hallmark of your gatherings? Do the same people contribute in all of the important ways?

1 Corinthians 14:26 [NKJV]
How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.

The Lord has gifted His people in many ways. And all are called ... even commanded ... to use and develop those gifts. So, when the Spirit calls you to bring forth a word, bring it forth. When you are lead to praise Him, then praise Him. Do not leave the whole burden of the work of the Kingdom to a weary few.

Be encouraged, Jose

We need each other

Friends,

Jesus could have gone to be with His Father much earlier than Calvary. He could have avoided the cross. The Father declared Him to be His Beloved Son, in whom He was well pleased. He judged Jesus to have fulfilled the covenant and earned eternal life.

But Jesus does not want to be alone. He went to the cross to gain an inheritance: us.

And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
Ephesians 1:22-23 [NKJV]

Christ Jesus is our head. But what is a head with no body?

We are His body. But what is a body with no head?

Without a bride, there is no bridegroom. And Christ knows this. He desires that we be His bride, that we be His body.

Sisters and brothers, walk in a manner that brings honor to our bridegroom. Do not rebel against the head ... follow where He leads.

Be encouraged, Jose

The greatest temple

Friends,

If you've ever studied the Tabernacle as it is described in the book of Exodus, you were likely struck by the beauty and splendor of it. Not on the outside ... note that it was covered in badger skins (Exodus 26:14). But on the inside, it was resplendent with gilded furniture, a solid gold lamp, garments of linen, silver sockets, and so much more. There have been recreations built of this structure in our country and they never fail to impress.

But, that is not the end of the story. It was never the Father's goal to have a great building for Himself.

‘The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former,’ says the LORD of hosts. ‘And in this place I will give peace,’ says the LORD of hosts.”
Haggai 2:9 [NKJV]

The temple, of course, is the dwelling place of the Most High God. And where does He dwell?

In the hearts of His people.

The Body of Christ is that latter temple. And it is more glorious than any building ever created. Are you part of that temple? Are you walking in a manner that does not defile it? Are you watching out for the other parts of the temple? Your brothers and sisters?

When Christ returns, may He find a dwelling place worthy of His holiness!

Be encouraged, Jose

A study of Haggai

Friends,

As you know, most of the content on Bible Study Audio is in the form of Bible studies that you can listen to. In order to make the content a bit more accessible, a written study has been added: the book of Haggai. This prophetic message to God's people is one of admonishment and great hope. In it, the Lord reminds you and I to resist the evil of this world, to beware of rationalizing worldly actions, and to look forward with genuine anticipation to the return of our Lord.

Remember that there is no physical building that can possibly compare to the splendor and majesty of the true temple of God ... the living, breathing body of Christ.

Be encouraged, Jose

Bring forth Unity

Friends,

There is one promise for all of our Lord's people. He has elevated each and every one of His followers to the same exalted position ... seated at His right hand.

...the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel,
Ephesians 3:6 [NKJV]

Too often, we exalt some ministries above others. Or we give favor to those who possess worldly credentials. And even more, we too often place our flavor of Christianity above all others, arbitrarily separating ourselves from the believers in the church down the street or around the corner.

Have you done this?
Has your church group done this?

The time is past for separatism in the Body of Christ. We are one Body, and it is time that we treat each other truly as brothers and sisters.

Be encouraged, Jose

Standing up

Friends,

Every so often, we hear of the blatant persecution of our brothers and sisters around the world. We in the US are blessed with the freedom to come together and worship the Lord in spirit and in truth, without interference from government.

But how often do we go to the King with a prayer similar to this ...

For how can I endure to see the evil that will come to my people? Or how can I endure to see the destruction of my countrymen?
Esther 8:6 [NKJV]

When the Lord called us into His Kingdom, we became citizens of a new, eternal nation. Our countrymen live on every continent, now. We are bound together by the same King, the same Law, the same Redeemer, the same Father. As such, can we possibly ignore their circumstances?

Today, lift them up before the Lord, that they be delivered from persecution and affliction, according to His will.

Be encouraged, Jose

One with Christ

Friends,

Have you been struggling to find righteousness?
Are you driving yourself hard to be sanctified?

And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.
John 17:19 [NKJV]

Do not ever forget that only Jesus can sanctify Himself. We do not have the ability, as earthen vessels, to sanctify ourselves. We respond to the Word of God. We seek to obey the Lord and to deny the flesh. But we cannot succeed perfectly.

But because Jesus has prepared Himself perfectly and completely, we are made ready to stand before Almighty God. Believers can make this claim because Christ has made us one with Him. And that makes all the difference.

Be encouraged, Jose

Under Christ's feet

Friends,

And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
-- Ephesians 1:22-23 [NKJV]

What has "He" done?

Paul, the writer of this letter to the Christians at Ephesus, is telling the believers about one of the most amazing works of Almighty God. Our Lord, our Father, has bestowed great power and authority upon His Son. In these two little verses, we see that Christ has been given complete dominion over all things. That means that every thing we see, and all of the things we do not see, are under the authority and rulership of Christ Jesus. Nothing escapes His sovereignty.

And we, the true church, are His body. We are the fullness of Christ, who fills us with His total presence. And therefore, we have that same authority, under Jesus and in submission to Him.

How are you exercising this authority? Are you using it protect and strengthen your fellow believers? Or are you using it just to make your own life a bit easier?

Use this power wisely, brothers and sisters. It is not to be abused. Nor is it to be hidden away. But it is to be used to advance the Kingdom of God and to defeat the power of hell.

Be encouraged, Jose

Seek fellowship

Friends,

Proverbs 18:1
A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire;
He rages against all wise judgment. -- [NKJV]

Too many of us have fallen prey to the lure of living life in isolation. We seek it out because, when we're alone, there's no one to examine our actions, question our motives, or to offer correction. Beyond a weekly service and -- maybe -- a weekly "small group", we go about our business; answering to no one but our own selves.

Judges 21:25
In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes. [NKJV]

You see, this is not a new habit. And so the consequences should not be a surprise ...

Proverbs 14:12
There is a way that seems right to a man,
But its end is the way of death. [NKJV]

Sisters and brothers, when we isolate ourselves from daily fellowship & intimacy with the Body of Christ, we are following a path that leads away from God. Even if we have the best of intentions, we have no shot at living a life that is worthy of our calling.

The answer is to be in the Body every day ... to have as our most important relationships the ones that are bound by the Name and the Word of God. It will not be easy on our flesh. But we will expereicne a strengthening of the Spirit within us that will shine for all to see.

Be encouraged, Jose