Category Archives: Living bread

bread and wine, bread of life, Holy Spirit's ministry, Living bread, manna

Godly Wisdom

Leave a comment

Godly wisdom

1 Kings 10: 1- 13. Acts 13: 1 – 13. John 6: 24 – 35.  RSV Bible

Have you had one of those conversations where you hear about a place where there is a movement of the Holy Spirit going on? The last one that I heard of was at ‘The Victory’ Church in Newport, Wales. Godly wisdom always checks out the information. I went on line to investigate. A number of people had been healed and hundreds of people were going to substantiate what they had heard.

The Queen of Sheba had heard of the Godly wisdom of Solomon she travelled from East Yemen to Jerusalem to find out first hand if the reports were true.

The Queen sought some answers to hard questions, the Jewish Midrash, suggests that these questions were riddles, but maybe they were the problems she faced, the things that would impact her rule over her kingdom.

We read that Queen Sheba noted Solomon’s wise administration of his kingdom, the way he structured his governing body of officials, their seating and dress code. The people were happy in their day jobs; she discerned they respected his leadership. She was pleased with the outcome of her visit; they exchanged gifts from their abundance of wealth: gold, precious jewels, and goods.

Our nation needs Godly wisdom at this present time. The outcome of the complexities of the ‘Brexit’ negotiations will I pray be fair and just.

Jesus remarked on the Queen of Sheba’s visit, she travelled far in order to hear the wisdom of Solomon. Significantly he said, ‘Someone greater than Solomon was here.’ Luke 11: 31

People in Jesus’ day flocked to hear his words and to see the miracles and healing.

In John’s gospel we read that Jesus questioned the spiritual integrity of the people as they were seeking signs from him.

The late Derek Prince said about Jesus, “In the Old Testament you will find prophets who healed and raised the dead, but Jesus was different he cast out demons, he did what no one else had previously done and so many wanted to see this new sensational ministry. He had a great following” YouTube Derek Prince “Spiritual Warfare’

Word of wisdom

“When you get tangled up in our own problems, be still, God wants us to be still, so He can untangle the knot.” Author unknown.

In Acts 13 Paul and Barnabas have been sent out to visit the synagogues with the good news proclaiming the resurrection and that Jesus was the Christ. On the island of Cyprus Paul and Barnabas were asked by the proconsul Serguis Paulus to visit him and share with him their message. At the meeting another man was present Jewish magician Bar Jesus and Paul discerned that he opposed their message, and tried to stop the proconsul from turning to faith. Paul responded and directed his words to disarm the spirit of the man. He found himself unable to see for a period of time. The proconsul when he saw what had occurred, for he was astonished at the teaching of the Lord.

Jesus’ word of wisdom

Jesus’ wisdom being greater than Solomon’s, for example: Jesus in conversation in the synagogue at Capernaum said, “Do not labour for food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life which the Son of man will give you; for on him has God set his seal.”

What kind of food perishes: the words coming from religions that promise eternal life through the sayings and teaching coming from idol worship, atheists are people who deny the existence of God and humanists who have their own ideals of a pinnacle of self -expression, a self- actualised state, they can fix everything themselves.

The food that lasts for eternity

“The food that endures to eternal life which the Son of man will give you”.

This ‘Food’ he refers to as the bread coming from God and not from Moses.

When Jesus said that he was the bread coming from heaven, the people listening took his words literally, when he said, “I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give for the life of the world is my flesh.” John 6: 51 He continued saying that they should eat his flesh and drink his blood was against all of the laws relating to food, ‘as food was spiritually part of them,’ as a result: some were appalled as they kept Kosher laws especially not eating the blood. So even some of Jesus’ followers couldn’t accept these words and didn’t follow him anymore. John 6: 52, 66

‘Spiritually part of them’  Paul wrote in his letter to the Roman church said that the law was holy and spiritual and we can understand this when Jesus fulfilled the law in himself. As a result where the law couldn’t change our nature, but through faith and grace his death and resurrection,  his indwelling spirit is in every Christian, the spirit of the law is written in the heart. Romans 2 29. 7: 12, 14. 8:10, 11. Hebrews 8: 10-12.

Jesus fulfilled the law: the bread of ‘Presence’ the Shrewbread that was baked for the priests to eat in the temple. Leviticus 24: 5-9.

Mark recorded hearing Jesus say that wasn’t what they ate that made them unclean in God’s eyes, it was what came from the heart, “What comes out of a man is what defiles a man. For within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, fornication, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. These are what defile a person. Thus he declared all food clean.’” Mark 7: 14-23.

God’s wisdom to Peter in the vision in Acts 10  

“And there came a voice to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” But Peter said, “No, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.”     
Soon after Pentecost the apostle Peter was staying at Simon the tanner’s house at Joppa. While Simon and Peter were preparing the evening meal, Peter had a vision, he saw the heaven opened, and something descending, like a great sheet, let down by four corners upon the earth. In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. And there came a voice to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” But Peter said, “No, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has cleansed, you must not call common.” This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven.

We read that Peter was perplexed as to what the vision might mean, while he was pondering the vision, three men called at the house asking for Peter. The Holy Spirit had spoken to Peter (in his inner ear), to go with these men. They told Peter that Cornelius a Centurion had seen a vision of an angel who directed him to send for Peter. Peter went with the three men to the home of Cornelius. On their arrival he remembered the words in the vision, “God has shown me not to call any man common or unclean,” he told all who had gathered there about Jesus, as he was telling them the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. Peter’s companions were amazed that Gentiles had received the Holy Spirit.

Following on we read, “Peter went up to Jerusalem and the circumcision party criticised him, saying, “Why did you go to the uncircumcised men and eat with them?” Peter began and explained to them in order.” When they heard this they were silenced, and they glorified God . . . “ Acts 11: 2, 3, 18.

Peter had discerned that the Gentiles he met had fulfilled the vision. Also we discern that Peter had been given the keys of the kingdom; here he used the second key to open the door of the kingdom to the Gentile, the other nation. At Pentecost with the first key he opened the kingdom to the Jewish nation.

Paul wrote about the law being written in the hearts of Gentiles, “When Gentiles who have not the law do by nature what the law requires, they are a law unto themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that what the law requires is written on their hearts, while their conscience bears witness on their conflicting thoughts accuse or perhaps excuse them”. Romans 14, 15.

God’s wisdom is hard to understand.

From my own experience when God gave me a word to start a pottery business for the church, my immediate reaction, ‘the church doesn’t have businesses.’ I asked two ladies to pray with me from my church and soon afterwards I found myself going to evening class on pottery at the local college. The end result was that I bought ready glazed china mugs and decorated them with floral transfers and Bible verses. I stepped out in faith and over ten years ‘The Decade of Evangelism,’ I worked voluntary full time any profits went to my church and local charities. The pottery was a success with 400 going into Londonderry Northern Ireland during 1994 when the peace process was going on.

God has set his seal of approval on his plan of salvation through His Son Jesus 

Jesus saying “He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me and me in him,” he was referring to the partaking of his sacrifice becoming one with him laying down his life for sin and the food laws.

Having been sealed with his atoning sacrifice by Jesus the bread that came from heaven sustains human life, through his death and resurrection.

Paul wrote in his first letter to the Corinthians;

22 Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 1 Corinthians 1: 22-24

At the Holy Communion the bread and the wine are symbols of Jesus’ sacrifice of his body and blood; it’s in the wisdom of God that we are reminded of God’s saving grace in the communion. 

Jesus pointed to his words as being living bread.
Jesus went on to say, “It is the Spirit that gives life, the flesh is no avail; (profits nothing) the words that I have spoken to you are Spirit and life.” John 6: 63.

The joy of giving and receiving the word of God spoken in love acted on by the Holy Spirit is the best thing ever, to see a person’s whole life change, their demeanour change, their manner, attitude and appearance, and conversation; it’s like a flower opening and their fragrance filling the air.

Barnabas, Elymas, Living bread, new covenant, Paul

The Messiah’s Secret – ‘Christ in You’ Part 2

Leave a comment

Evening Service following the Lectionary
The ‘Hovis’ advert on the TV is an interesting one, as it shows a young boy going to the shop to buy a loaf of bread. On his journey back home the streets he passes through are scenes from 100 years of our nations and the bakeries history.

In John’s Gospel Chapter 6 the Jews ask Jesus for a sign like the one God gave Moses the ‘Manna’ that sustained their ancestors on their wilderness journey. This took place 1400 years before Christ. In response Jesus said to them, “ Their fathers ate manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that a man may eat of it and not die.” John 6: 49, 50.

The Jews were outraged at Jesus suggestion that he was the bread of life, coming from God. He went on to say, ‘unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood you shall not have life within you.’ Even some of his own disciples were upset by Jesus saying this and they ceased to follow him.
For Jesus to suggest that they should eat his flesh and drink his blood was against the laws relating to food.
Under Law they were not allowed to eat shell fish, pork and other foods that would make them unclean. No meat could be eaten without first draining the blood from it, because life is in the blood. The blood removed from the meat made the food spiritually sinless and clean. Food was spiritually part of them. Leviticus 11: 1-end 17: 11
What the Jewish people did not understand was that to enter into the New Covenant, the Old Covenant had to come to an end. Jeremiah 31: 31-36
Jesus’ body, his flesh would be the final sacrifice ending the laws relating to food. Mark 7: 19.

When Jesus said ‘unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood’ he was referring to them partaking of his death and resurrection, his sacrifice, the final sacrifice.

The Messiah’s Secret page 93
“At the last supper Jesus introduced the New Covenant through his body and his blood, his life laid down for the final atonement, for sins against a Holy God. When a Jewish person made a sacrificial offering for sin, an offering of an animal, fowl, or meal, was brought to the temple, were the person would place their hand on to the head of the animal to be sacrificed, their sin was transferred by prayer into the sacrifice; its blood was then sprinkled upon the altar to make atonement, a covering for sin. This was repeated time and time again. Leviticus 1: 4. 3: 2
This offering would be accepted to make atonement, reconciliation, and pardon. This meaning of the word atonement is ‘to cover.’ The transfer of guilt to the sacrifice, brought forgiveness to the offender. The sacrifice was regarded as a person’s substitute for breaking the laws of Moses.”

Today, when we turn to Jesus in repentance saying sorry to him for our sins against God. Jesus becomes our substitute taking our sin upon him on the cross, so releasing us into the freedom of God’s forgiveness through his resurrection.

On the night of the Passover Jesus introduced the New Covenant.
The Bread
The bread is representing Jesus’ body.
Luke 22: 19 ‘Jesus took the bread, and when he had given thanks he broke it and gave it to them saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
The Chalice
The Chalice holds the wine representing the blood of Jesus, the blood of the new covenant.
Matthew 26: 27 ”Jesus gave thanks and said,’ Drink this all of you for this is my blood of the New Covenant which is poured out for the forgiveness of sins.’ ”

New Covenant”
It is the Spirit that gives life, the flesh is no avail; (profits nothing) the words that I have spoken to you are Spirit and life.” John 6: 63.
Signifying a change from being under law to grace which means undeserved giving from God.

John the Apostle in his first letter described Jesus as the word of God covered in flesh.
“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of life. The life was made manifest, and we saw it, and testify to it, and proclaim to you eternal life which was with the Father and was made manifest to us, that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you may have fellowship with us; and our fellowship is with the Father and with the Son Jesus Christ.” 1 John 1: 1-3
We are nourished and sustained by Jesus’ words becoming to us spiritual food.
The word, the ‘Bread of Life’ Jesus said “I am the bread of life.’

Christ in You
At Antioch the followers of Jesus were given the name of Christians meaning ‘Christ-like’ people.
St. Paul wrote in his letter to the Colossians, “The mystery hidden for ages and generations but now made manifest to his saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Colossians 1: 26, 27.

Paul knew personally the meaning of ‘Christ in You’. In his encounter with the Proconsul Sergius Paulus and the Jewish false prophet Bar-Jesus also known as Elymas the sorcerer.
On the first ministry tour Barnabas and Saul arrived at Cyprus. They proceeded to travel around the island preaching the Good News about Jesus. At Paphos they came upon a certain magician, a Jewish false prophet Bar-Jesus. He was with the Roman Proconsul Sergius Paulus, who was regarded as an intelligent man, sent for Barnabas and Paul because he wanted to hear the word of God. But Bar-Jesus or Elymas (which means sorcerer) withstood them, seeking to turn Sergius away from hearing their message. Paul said these words to Elymas, “And now the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind and unable to see the sun for a time. Immediately mist and darkness fell upon him and he went about seeking people to lead him by the hand.” Acts 13: 11.

This is what happened to Paul on the Damascus road after he saw the vision of Jesus and heard the Lord’s words to him. When he arose from the ground he could see nothing; so the soldiers led him by the hand and took him to Damascus.
In that situation with Elymas coming against the Christian message, Paul saw himself in those early days were he came against the disciples and followers their message about Jesus. Now through Jesus Christ being in him, he imitated Jesus.

The words Paul used, he put the hand of the Lord upon Elymas, 1400 years before Moses had used those same words when he approached Pharaoh asking him to let the people of Israel go and he refused. The animals of the Egyptians were hit by a plague but the animals belonging to the Israelites were not touched by the plague. Pharaoh was seen as an rival of God.
Paul saw Elymas as an opponent of God when he tried to turn Sergius Paulus away from hearing their message about Jesus. In Paul’s words he was making the path of the Lord crooked. I do not believe that God penalized Elymas, just as in other instances were blindness was used by God to show the works of God. John 9: 3
Paul was seen as an opponent of God when he rounded up the Christians and put them in prison and when he was consenting to the stoning of Stephen. Steven forgave him and all those involved in his death. Acts 8: 3. 7: 60
Paul was visited by Ananias who prayed for him: to receive his sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.

From reading the Acts and letters we do not know if Elymas became a Christian.

In the next chapter of Acts Paul and Barnabas were witnessing to the crowd at Listra where we read a crippled man was healed. Acts 13: 8-20
Paul and Barnabas were applying the Christ-like ministry giving the bread of life to the people listening to their message about Jesus. One man in particular caught the eye of Paul. He saw that this crippled man had faith to be healed. Perhaps Paul saw in his mind this man standing and walking.

From the perspective of the man who received healing, he had accepted the good news about Jesus. This meant that he was entitled to all the blessings of the risen Christ.
Jesus’ body had not been corrupted by all the sickness and disease that he bore on the cross, ‘the uncorrupted bread of his risen body.

Matthew realised the significance of what Jesus did for us on the cross, in his death and resurrection. Jesus has redeemed us from the causes of sickness and disease and through faith in him healing and wholeness comes as the application of the word that is acted upon by the Holy Spirit.
“That evening they brought to Jesus many who were possessed with demons; and he cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick. This was to fulfil what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah, “He took our infirmities and bore our diseases.” Matthew 8: 16, 17. Isaiah 53: 4

Paul shouted to man, “Stand upright on your feet.” and the man sprang up and he was healed.

2,000 years ago the Holy Spirit acted upon the word spoken by Paul about Jesus that bringing healing to the crippled man.
In 1978 I was healed as the Holy Spirit acted upon the words spoken by Harold Oldham Minister of Winton Baptist Church about Jesus, followed by prayer and the laying on of hands.

“Jesus Christ is the same today, yesterday and for ever.” Hebrews 13: 8

The Messiah’s Secret page 148 The Ministry of the Holy Spirit after Pentecost.
“If a man loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make their home with him.” The apostles and followers were the first fruits of Jesus’ resurrection having received from Jesus the Holy Spirit. The combination of Jesus, the Father and the Holy Spirit made those who believe ‘Christ-like,’ Christ in you this was the mystery that Paul spoke of in his letters through faith in Jesus; God has made those of faith sons and daughters, children of the living God.
Jesus said to his disciples,” Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in me will do greater works than these will he do, because I go to the Father. What ever you ask in my name, I will do it, that the Father may be glorified in the Son; if you ask anything in my name, I will do it.” John 14: 12, 13, 23.
Love, joy and peace are the nature of Jesus Christ. We are called to abide in his love that his joy and peace may be in us. The promises that are made by Jesus are part of the divine nature of God. A Christian empowered by the Holy Spirit manifests the life of Christ in the world. The graciousness of Jesus, abundant kindness, patience, humility, gentleness, longsuffering and faithfulness.”