Amazed and taken

"Amazed' is a powerful word when it's found flowing in the veins of commentary, yet today it seems to have little influence in the absence of miracles as such that Only God can perform. sw

I hope to set the tone for this blog entry by introducing the thought that Jesus was and is the ULTIMATE believer! Believer in what some might ask?

That He was the SON of God All mighty who actually DOES maintain and from everlasting to everlasting sustains all power and authority in Heaven AND on earth.

The question for humanity still remains open for most in that, "Who do we say that we are"? And that in relation to Christ"?

The next question should be, "Have we taken ownership of that response as Jesus also had to do whenever we try to consider what God has asked of us as believers in HIM"?

The word says that those that have ears to hear will only be those who are are also raised unto life eternal. I think it a good question that needs consideration today primarily among those stating they follow Christ.

I'm not talking about hearing your preacher, your father or mother, I'm speaking about distinctly hearing the voice of the Spirit of Christ as Your God and then responding? What does He tell YOU to do from one day or moment to the next?

Does the distinct sound of His voice break through the noise of this world? Have you trained your ears to hear His voice as opposed to the voice of your own soul?

Can you or have you heard the voice of God and with clarity enough that you can say with the utmost confidence you're being lead by His spirit in your daily affairs here on earth?

If "Yes", what if you also knew that declaration were going to be placed on trial at some point in your life?

We can say we know who Christ is, and we can say we belong to Christ but can we say in all truth we KNOW what eternal life is as if the same way we know Christ?

If we can accept the following at face value, what could we as said believers conclude we need to fine tune our spiritual ears to?

John 17:3
Now this is eternal life : that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
NIV

Is that food for thought, or the kind of food you haven't acquired a taste for "Yet"?

Who is this man in this story and what was he NOT willing to believe prior to the arrival of a greater need than he'd previously perceived?

The salvation of all men will always pertain to what Love is willing to and all that Love can do

John 4:47-50
When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death. 

"Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders," Jesus told him, "you will never believe ."  

The royal official said, "Sir, come down before my child dies." 

Jesus replied, "You may go. Your son will live." NIV

The man took Jesus at his word and departed. NIV


Matt 11:23
If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom , it would have remained to this day. NIV

Acts 13:12

When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord. NIV

If Christianity were only understood to be about faith "In Christ", should a unbeliever be amazed when they don't expect to see the evidence of the person being preached?

It was recorded of Pilate that he was "Amazed" yet it is NOT recorded that Pilate also believed in Christ.

Mark 15:4-5
So again Pilate asked him, "Aren't you going to answer? See how many things they are accusing you of."

But Jesus still made no reply, and Pilate was amazed . NIV

A person can be amazed as well perplexed at what they see, yet still not believe in the person of Christ Jesus. Believing in what if not for all that He is capable of ? Capable as though the full vested power of God almighty does rest on Him as God's Son. Did Pilate fail to acknowledge such power actually did rest on Jesus as did all others that failed to believe in Him up to that point?

Such divine power that was given to Him to dispense at His discretion yet He did not always find opportunity to use that same power at all times.

If the reader of the account(s) of Jesus were to take what was written about such instances WITHOUT additional commentary, what would You conclude prevented Him from performing as is the GOD you've only heard about and are being asked to believe in?

He had at both at His discretion not only because he had been given all power and authority, but also because He has been entrusted to act as does His heavenly Father and within the same limitations.

Many seem to enjoy talking about why He didn't do many more miracles and healing's than He did yet even fewer will express "WHY" He did do as much as He did as if they "Know" him, yet when a prayer doesn't get answered Nobody seems to know much about God all the sudden.

It's just to easy to say, His ways are higher than ours and we just can't Know why He does what He does. How does that square with a father and son or husband and wife imagery Jesus constantly uses as the metaphor of an intimate relationship?

I believe much of what people DON'T seem to want to Know about Christ can be found in those same cracks that seem to continually prevent is from having a intimate relationship.

I personally believe that as a good and thorough of a teacher that Jesus IS, the essence of the very things that continue to plague most marital and parent/child relationships will prove to be an exact fit as to everything that prevents man from KNOWING his God better than he presently does.

We're not where we are by accident and without reason, yet what do we know right? I mean we're all imperfect or at least that's what our default claim to fame is, yet what does that say about victory that can only come through Christ? That is unless we can do what we need to do on our own in order to be considered righteous?

I believe God has not left anyone with a relational problem that is WITHOUT a solution IF and When He is heard the way He needs to be heard.

I believe every single relational issue a family has the cure for whatever that ails it can be found somewhere in Holy scripture, whether between the husband and wife, father and son, mother and daughter or any mixture of all the above.

Jesus set these godly relational metaphors before all humanity as if "Prime" example's yet man still chooses to throw out the guidelines that cause those examples to manifest in his own life. He continually looks to rewrite the script that defines Godliness.

When the words of God become flesh and dwell among us, guess whose flesh those words have chosen to wear?

In terms of teaching and or making disciples, how can a man explain to another that God can be trusted when all other earthly explanations do nothing more than try to prove that God is as unpredictable and unapproachable as man is?

Years ago I had a man ask me, "How do I know your God is the real God as compared to the God the Muslims and Buddhist try to tell me about"? He went on to suggest that my God was nothing more than words and stories as is the God(s) they worship and go into detail about.

Needless to expound it caused great pause within me....

What separates Jesus from all other God's? The fact that Jesus was real? The fact He IS real? The undeniable evidence He does have the authority to re-present God here in the earth?

If "Yes" then what would cause man to assume that Jesus would tell those that believe in Him to go and DO much more if they too didn't go with that same authority as if wearing the Signet Of "THE KING" as living proof?

People of God, "In exact and clear terms WHAT have we believed"?

What could frustrate such a suggestion though? The doctrines, traditions and opinions of men or being task with believing, given a commission to share that same Gospel without the power to go and do likewise?

Why would the mind oppose such a consideration? Because we know ourselves better than God? Because we've listened to what the "Man" has told us so that he too won't have this same expectation grinding on his soul?

Is the challenge what man can do or is what God can and is Willing to do when we find ourselves willing to go?

How can a man serve God unless God arrives at that location (address) first?

John 12:26
Whoever serves me must follow me ; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me. NIV

Surely Jesus fed thousand's yet did those thousands believe in Him to deliver them unto their eternal salvation because He fed them bread and fish or was this act of kindness simply the personage of Jesus on any given day? The act of kindness clearly understood as though able to attract the one common interest of hunger found within all mankind unto to Himself? Sound like a man feeding hungry pigeons?

If life after death is an eternal matter, how does feeding someone cause them to believe in Jesus for their eternal life as their only means for existing once their bellies are full? Hungry pigeons see no relevance beyond being fed in the moment do they?

Many say they teach about the Lord through giving, yet how amazed are those listening once they've received what has been freely given? What CAN be freely given that can NOT be duplicated and counterfeited that also has "Eternal value"?

Where is the economy today where something of this type of value can also be redeemed and realized here and now?

Are said believers in their deity of choice today only teaching that their God and Lord is impotent or that their God of choice only responds when He or She is in the mood to respond to ones prayers?

Could it be that what  man believes concerning His chosen God is only capable of performing equal to all that same man is willing to believe to be true about that same God?

What if believing in the One true God proves to be more than saying "I Believe"? What if all that is wanting to be considered to be found full of truth also has to prove that truth has value?

What if believing In the one true God requires the full investment of everything that a man is?

What if that full requirement is met only by way of believing in the One that same God sent so that he (man) could accurately address and believe in the One and only true God?

That to include what a man thinks, says and Acts upon as compared to all that God says is real though presently unseen. True yet said to be false at nearly every turn and everlasting only because Jesus as his savior is the only one that can deliver the reward contained in any promise made as one that's been kept?

What if man has not been placed in the judgment seat of his own earnest state of mind in his pursuit of God? What if God does know when a man is fully invested in his pursuit? What if when wrestling with God, he knows when a man has exerted his full potential strength?

What if the refiner does test the purity of such a substance? It being weighed as such which should be found to be more precious than gold, rubies and riches of this world? What could prove the value of such a substance and how could it be established? Could it be ones faith which heralds, "I believe"?

The state of mind of a man which then shows forth as if the end results of his own thoughts? Such a man whose efforts are compelled by the desires of God? Those same desires being defined Only by the very words of God which actually gives those desires shape & form as if substance which exist?

Thoughts that have nothing but respect for the unrelenting pursuit of God (seeking) as though Jacob wrestling with the angel of God? That same type of man that is unwilling to let go until he'd received his blessing from God?

Unless God renames any of us who say we believe, what have we truly become unless that same name we all share also be "Israel"?

(Israel means he struggles with God) NIV

Gen 33:19-20
There he set up an altar and called it El Elohe Israel .  NIV

(El Elohe Israel can mean God, the God of Israel or mighty is the God of Israel) (NIV)

Gen 32:26-28

But Jacob replied, "I will not let you go unless you bless me."

The man asked him, "What is your name?"

"Jacob," he answered.

Then the man said, "Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome."
NIV

As though the Glory of God that is being used in the tug-a-war between the opinions of men and the everlasting effects of words of God.

Heb 11:6
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists AND that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
NIV

The basis of our mutual struggle with sin is nothing new to this day regardless of any other justification that would have you to believe to the contrary.

Gen 4:7
If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door ; it desires to have you, but you must master it."
NIV

Instead man aided by the false testimony concerning God continues to try and reinvent the rules of engagement. A venue where man finds himself engaged in his own efforts of trying to find himself reconciled unto God (rejoined with God).

Where's the doorway back to God?

Accept the truth that if it were NOT for the mercy of God being extended towards him, mankind could have never found his way back to God because He is Holy and righteous. Why? Because God is all in!

Your creator and savior (Christ Jesus) has spoken it and has placed His word above all else that can be said about Him...

With that said, are you truly wrestling with God and what He says or are your still wrestling with what mere men assume they have to say about God?