The Bread of Life

The Bread of Life

“I am the bread of life.” John 6:48 NKJV

Jesus’ declaration of being the Bread of Life (John 6:22-71) created quite a stir among the Jews and His disciples and it still creates quite a stir in the Church today. There is some misunderstanding about the discussion that He had at that time still today and therefore some bad teachings about it.

This is a study about what Jesus was saying and how we should understand and apply it to our life.

First what do Jesus and the Bible say?

In the gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke they record Jesus’ temptation and the very first challenge the devil gives Jesus after 40 days of fasting is to turn a stone into bread, Jesus response is, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of GOD.’” This is a quote from Deuteronomy 8:3, “So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD.” This was after 40 years of living in the wilderness and eating manna for most of that time. Now Israel was going to enter the Promised Land and GOD was giving them a review of His faithfulness and the promises and curses of obeying or disobeying Him.

In John 4:4-42 Jesus ministers to the people of the city of Sychar Samaria through the woman at the well. When His disciples offer Him food He tells them, “…I have food to eat of which you do not know…My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.” :32 & 34

“Therefore do not worry, saying ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your Heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the Kingdom of GOD and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Matthew 6:31-34

“When He called all the multitude to Himself, He said to them, ‘Hear Me, everyone, and understand: There is nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him; but the things which come out of him, those are the things that defile a man. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!’ When He had entered a house away from the crowd, His disciples asked Him concerning the parable. So He said to them, ‘Are you thus without understanding also? Do you not perceive that whatever enters a man from outside cannot defile him, because it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and is eliminated, thus purifying all food?’ And He said, ‘What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man.’” Mark 7:14-23

The Bible has a lot to say about the mouth, the heart, food and life following are a few scriptures that deal with the natural life and the spiritual life.

 “A man shall eat well by the fruit of his mouth, but the soul of the unfaithful feeds on violence.” Proverbs 13:2

“Then he said to them, ‘GO your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our LORD. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.’” Nehemiah 8:10 This was after many Jews had returned from their captivity to Jerusalem and the priest had just read the Law of Moses to them.

 “Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.” 1 Timothy 6:6-9

“Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:11-13

“Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil; for the Kingdom of GOD is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to GOD and approved by men.” Romans 14:16-18

So it is clear that eating is normal but our life is not about eating and living after the natural things of life. Rather we should be seeking GOD’s Kingdom and doing His will and let Him provide for our natural life as He wills.

All that said, so the meat of the matter is that Jesus is the Living Word of GOD, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with GOD, and the Word was GOD…And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth…For the Law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” John 1:1, 14, 17

“And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, ‘Take eat; this is My body.’ Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s Kingdom.’” Matthew 26:26-29

So Jesus is GOD and the Living Word and we are to live by every Word from the mouth of GOD, this makes Jesus the Bread of Life which comes from the Father! When we take communion it is symbolic of Jesus’ body and blood given as a living sacrifice for the remission of sins for the whole world.

When we seek GOD‘s righteousness and Kingdom by doing His will for us individually and as His body in the earth; as we study and live by His written Word; as we yield to Holy Spirit to instruct and gift us; then we are eating His Living Word and receiving our spiritual life plus He is providing what we need for our physical life.

Religion and the Church

Religion and the Church

As I was praying for the Church The Spirit of GOD (Holy Spirit) caused me to think of the woman caught in adultery and then the Samaritan woman at the well of Jacob. He showed me that they both were victims of false religious teaching and practice.

The Samaritan woman was divorced five times and living with a man she was not married to; this was adultery and/or fornication; since we do not know the details of her marriages and divorces.

We do not know the details of the woman caught in the very act of adultery; was she married or single, was the man married or single or even who the man was since he was not present for judgment and punishment along with the woman.

The Samaritans were mixed Jews in both blood and religion, whatever her sins the woman at the well knew both and was able to talk with Jesus bringing up both points in her conversation. What Jesus did was speak truth to her and reveal Himself as the coming Messiah. While we do not see her asking for forgiveness for her sins we do see that she became a believer and immediately went into the town where she lived and started testifying about Jesus as the Messiah. This led to the citizens of the town coming out to see Jesus and inviting Him to stay and teach them. The result was that in two days the citizens of this Samaritan town became believers in Jesus as their Messiah.

The woman caught in adultery was brought to Jesus as a test of His adherence to the Jews interpretation of the Law of Moses. She was brought alone and accused of being caught in the very act, this meant that there should have been a man accused with her; according to the Law of Moses; both persons caught in the act of adultery were to be judged and stoned to death, not just the woman. Jesus spoke to her accusers and the crowd the truth of their sin: I have read an account of a Church leader in the early 20^th century who in a conversation with Christ where Christ revealed that during this confrontation what He wrote in the dust was the sins of her accusers. I have not had the LORD tell me this personally but I would not doubt the veracity of this statement because He told them, “He who is without sin cast the first stone.” After all of her accusers were convicted and left there was just Jesus, the woman and the crowd. Jesus knowing the truth did not ask her if she had committed adultery but, “Where are your accusers, has no one condemned you?” When she answered no He told her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.” Then He spoke to the crowd, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

Today we have too much religion in the Church and not enough light (truth)! Our doctrines come from religion not light, our lack of unity comes from religion not light, our structure comes from religion not light.

Jesus commanded us to do the will of GOD: which is to seek GOD and His Kingdom before everything else, to store up treasures in Heaven not on the earth, to love one another as He loves us, to love our enemies, to take up our cross and follow Him to the exclusion of everything and everyone else, to preach the gospel to all the world, to lay hands on the sick and see them recover, to cast out demons, to tread on serpents (demons), to raise the dead, to make His enemies His footstool, to make disciples of the nations of this world. Only some Christians are doing some of these in some places in the world.

Jesus did not call us to go our own way and do our own thing! He called us to be filled with His Holy Spirit and to do His will in the earth as it is in Heaven, where He has prepared a place for those who serve Him: not those who just say a prayer asking for forgiveness or those who serve GOD only doing what they want to do. As the heir of GOD’s Kingdom He came to serve the will of His Father not do His own thing. So as joint-heirs we are to be bondservants to Him doing the will of the Father in the earth as it is in Heaven!

Study the gospels, pay attention to the words in red! Don’t just believe what others tell you the Bible says, study it for yourself! There is a test, you will be held accountable, if you claim to be a Christian Jesus will expect you to prove it by how you live your life in the flesh. Lose it for His sake and save it for eternity, save it for your sake and lose it for eternity.

What Jesus said about riches, rewards and persecutions.

What Jesus said about riches, rewards and persecutions.

“Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, ‘How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the Kingdom of GOD!’ And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, ‘Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the Kingdom of GOD! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of GOD.’ And they were greatly astonished, saying among themselves, ‘Who then can be saved?’ But Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With men it is impossible, but not with GOD; for with GOD all things are possible.’ Then Peter began to say to Him, ‘See, we have left all and followed You.’ So Jesus answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time–houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions–and in the age to come, eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.’” Mark 10:23-31 NKJV (emphasis mine)

This follows the encounter with the rich young man who wanted to know how to inherit eternal life. Mark 10:17-22, also study Matthew 19:16-30 and Luke 18:18-30.

In all three accounts there is an emphasis on those who leave everything in this life to do the will of GOD that they will receive in this life many times more than what they left.

What is the will of GOD? It is not the giving of money to ministries so that you can receive more money in return. While this is a Biblical principle of sewing and reaping it is not doing the will of GOD! The will of GOD is to take up our cross and follow Jesus, leaving everything if necessary. Those who do this are not concerned about receiving in this life time rewards for they are committed to the will of GOD no matter the cost and understand that they are building up treasure in Heaven. Study Matthew 6:9-13, 19-21, 24, 7:21, 10:34-39; John 6:38-40; Luke 22:42; Mark 8:34-38.

Mark’s account is the only one to emphasize persecutions with the rewards in this life time, Matthew’s account emphasizes the special reward for the Apostles.

Post script: “We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored! To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless. And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; being defamed, we entreat (exhort, encourage). We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now. I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you. For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. Therefore I urge you, imitate me. For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the LORD, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church.” 1 Corinthians 4:10-17 NKJV (emphasis mine) Study the whole chapter, Paul is making it clear that doing the will of GOD is not living the life of comfort and waiting. While it does not mean that GOD is calling all Christians to a life of hardship and suffering for Christ’s sake we should always be seeking His will rather than our comfort.

Jesus himself said that we would be hated and persecuted for His sake because they hated and persecuted Him because He proclaimed the Father and the Kingdom of Heaven. Read the Red!

The Bible

The Bible

Following is my undereducated but much experienced view of the Bible.

The Bible is the divinely inspired Word of GOD given to man so that we should know GOD and His plan (will) for His creation.

The Bible is the most controversial book in the history of the world.

The Bible is the most transcribed book in the history of the world.

The Bible is the most translated book in the history of the world.

The Bible is the most printed book in the history of the world.

The Bible is the most imitated book in the history of the world.

The Bible is the most powerful book in the history of the world.

The Bible is the most important book in the history of the world.

The Bible is the most misunderstood book in the history of the world.

The Bible is the most studied book in the history of the world.

The Bible is the most inspired book in the history of the world.

The Bible is the most read book in the history of the world.

GOD has given humanity His Word so that we would know Him.

GOD has given humanity His Word so that we would know how to live life according to His will.

GOD has given humanity His Word so that we would know His truth and not be deceived.

GOD has given humanity His Word so that we would live in His light not darkness.

GOD has given humanity His Word so that we would know that we are sinners.

GOD has given humanity His Word so that we would know of His plan of salvation for us.

All controversy surrounding the Bible is from people who do not want to follow GOD and live according to His will for humanity. So they question its origin, authenticity, authority and usefulness; that includes those who claim to be Christian or religious.

People question the veracity of the modern Bible because it has been translated and transcribed so many times by so many different people with so many different reasons and purposes.

People question the need for the Bible because they question the existence of GOD and believe that humanity can and will solve all of its problems itself.

People question the inspiration of the Bible because imperfect men wrote it and it has a lot of stories about the Jews and Israel.

People question the relevance of the Bible because so many have used it for their own purpose rather than for GOD’s will.

There is much controversy about the languages the Bible is written in; the Bible is 66 books written by about 40 different men over about 2000 years in at least 3 different languages. Some of the books that used to be part of the Bible are no longer considered to be inspired or doctrinal by some Christian groups. For centuries the Bible was transcribed by hand and many versions are not translations based on the original texts but interpretations based on personal opinion, experience, or goals.

The reality is that men have tinkered with the interpretation of the Bible and its doctrines, that it has been misused by many through history for greed and power. It has been used for evil and good but the good was not always the will of GOD. But, that does not change the Word of GOD it is still the GOD inspired revelation of Himself and His plan for humanity.

For all that humanity has done to the Bible it still has more information about who GOD is and His plan for humanity then we are able to fully understand and live by. The Bible is still the standard by which we are to interpret all other words and teachings that are supposed to be from GOD.

Never doubt the Bible, GOD has inspired men to write it and to print it and to make it available to everyone in the world. In fact that inspiration is still being exercised by GOD’s Holy Spirit where people do not even have a written language. There are men and women who are going to people who do not have a written language and learning their oral language, then inventing for them and teaching a written language and interpreting the Bible into their language so that every tribe and tongue will have the written Word of GOD.

Never just believe what anyone tells you or teaches about the Bible. GOD gave us His Word through much sacrifice by others so that we can read and study His Word for ourself. He expects us to know what His Word says and that will only happen as we read it daily, study it regularly and pray for His Spirit to help us understand and apply it to our life. You can only know the counterfeit if you already know the truth. If you have been taught a counterfeit and then read and study the Bible you will learn the truth and be able to apply it to your life thus discarding the counterfeit.

GOD does hold us accountable for knowing and living by His Truth.

What's Your Reason?

What’s Your Reason?

There are different reasons that a person gets saved; they don’t want to go to hell, they want to be with loved ones and friends in heaven, they want victory over sin in their life, it makes them feel good about themselves, their family and friends are saved, they always went to church and just believe they are saved, etc.

Just as there is only one way to be saved there is only one reason to be saved. Jesus Christ and Him crucified! There is only one eternity that is in Heaven, “And this is eternal life to know You, the One True GOD and Jesus Christ whom You sent…Jesus is The Way, The Truth and the Life…Jesus is The Lamb of GOD that takes away the sin of the world…Jesus is The Resurrection and The Life and no one comes to The Father except through Him.”

The saved are to be Jesus’ body (The Church) in the earth doing The Father’s will in the world so that we will reign with Him in His eternal Kingdom of Heaven.

So what is wrong with the other reasons? Nothing if they lead to being born again because only those who are born again have their names written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. Those who are born again are those who stand through the trials and testing of being a son or daughter of GOD. They are those who rejoice in the tribulations and persecutions for doing the will of GOD. They are those who are compelled by the Love of GOD to do the work and will of GOD.

Here’s The Thing: GOD’s Word And Judging

Here’s The Thing: GOD’s Word And Judging

I teach what I learn from the Spirit of GOD and His Word. I speak against teachings that I understand are not true or not taught according to GOD’s Will. What I am not trying to do is speak (judge) against any other minister or servant of GOD. I know that I have not always practiced the grace of not judging those who serve GOD differently than I do. GOD has not called me or anyone to judge others’ ministries. He will judge each of us according to His Will for us.

In the 43 years I have been a Christian and tried to serve GOD as best as I knew and cared to I have had my understanding changed by increased knowledge and experience of GOD and His will. This happened as I heard or read the teachings of others that challenged what I believe, as I read the Bible for myself and as I sought the will of GOD for myself.

As my experience and understanding of GOD and His will has grown, matured and changed overtime so has what I share and teach. This means that I have taught things I no longer understand or believe as good and correct theology.

So here’s the thing: While I am responsible to teach what the Spirit of GOD and His Word teach as I understand it; GOD has not called me to judge anyone! To recognize their fruit but not to prune or cut them down for the fire, GOD is the pruner! He will do the judging how and when He wills, Paul is a perfect example.

Whose Side Are You On?

Today I heard a pastor on TV say something I’ve heard many times but today I felt Holy Spirit was telling me that it is not a true statement. The pastor said when GOD is on our side no matter what we will always be blessed. Putting aside the prosperity doctrine that he generally teaches this statement is still not true. GOD is not on any ones side, He does not take sides in sports, politics, religion, or life. He loves every person who has ever lived, is alive and who will be born. Jesus obeyed the will of the Father in their love for all of humanity by giving His life for everyone who has ever lived, is alive and who will be born; to deliver us from sin, death and hell so that we could live and serve in His eternal Kingdom.

We are supposed to be on His side! We are born in sin and destined for eternal hell but GOD offers everyone the opportunity to change sides, from death to life, from hell to Heaven, from self will to His will. The choice is ours that is the freedom of choice that everyone has. When we chose forgiveness and repentance we change to GOD’s side, the Body of Christ (the Church, the Royal Priesthood, the Army of GOD), there is only one body and Jesus Christ is its head. When we chose GOD’s side we give up our will for His will, Jesus calls us servants, friends and children of GOD (joint heirs, siblings).

Here are 4 statements made by Jesus when He was on the earth as the Son of GOD – Son of Man. “… unless one is born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of GOD…Your Kingdom come Your will be done in the earth as it is in Heaven…Seek first the Kingdom of GOD and His Righteous…not My will but Yours be done.”

Forgiveness we understand easily enough, repentance seems to have many misunderstood applications. Repentance is the changing from our side to GOD’s side, the changing from the world’s side to GOD’s side, the changing from the devil’s side to GOD’s side. Repentance is the process where we stop living and being for anyone or thing except GOD and His will. Jesus gave His Body one commission we call the great commission, but He gives each of us a commission or call to fulfill our part of the great commission.

So whose side are you on? As Joshua challenged the Children of Israel, "And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve,...But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."