APRIL 21: EASTER
BEYOND THE CONSUMMATION OF ALL PERFECTION
“I have seen an end of all perfection: but thy commandment is exceeding broad.” (KJV)
“To all perfection I see a limit, but your commands are boundless.” (NIV)
“Even perfection has its limits, but your commands have no limit.” (NLT)
- Psalm 119:96
BEYOND
Beyond perfection is GOD’S WORD
As Caleb shared: This is because God’s word is outside of time, it’s eternal, it has no end, it exists perfectly forever
“As for God, his way is perfect: The LORD's word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him.” - Psalm 18:30
“The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. 8 The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. 9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.”
- Psalm 19:7-9
WORD
WHEN GOD SPEAKS, IT NEVER RETURNS VOID
“So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” Isaiah 55:11
Let there be light, Let there be land, Let there be animals.
Gen 1: https://www.bible.com/bible/1/GEN.1.KJV
HIS WORD IS LIVING AND ACTIVE
“For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword,it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” - Hebrews 4:12
THE BIBLE IS A TESTIMONY, IT’S GOD’S WORD IN ACTION
“The New Testament is in the Old Testament concealed, the Old Testament is in the New Testament revealed” - Augustine
“17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.“ - Jesus (Matt 5:17-19)
28 After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.29 Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. - John 19:28-30
THE WORD BECAME FLESH
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. 8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word was made 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.” - John 1:1-14
This is why faith without dead’s are dead (James 2:1426)— because faith comes by hearing and hearing the living word of God (Romans 10:17), and when we don’t act in obedience to that word, we’re taking a living thing and stopping it in its tracks and shutting it down.
THE CLIMAX, MAIN POINT, SUBSTANCE OF THE WORD IS: THE GOSPEL
“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures” - 1 Corinthians 15:1-4
UNSPEAKABLE JOY
JOY COMES THROUGH SALVATION
Psalm 51:12 “Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.”
JESUS EXEMPLIFIED LIVING JOY
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” - Hebrews 12:1-3
Jesus was anointed with the joy, gladness ABOVE (beyond) all others because he LOVED righteousness and HATED wickedness
"You love righteousness and hate wickedness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.” Psalm 45:7
Jesus hated wickedness so much he was prepared to die
This is living in command mode
AS WE ENTER INTO COMMAND MODE, TAKE HOLD OF THE GOSPEL, WE EXPERIENCE UNSPEAKABLE JOY
“Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.” - 2 Corinthians 9:15
1 Peter 1: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+peter+1&version=TPT
COMMAND MODE
It’s God’s will for us to function in command mode
10 Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
For us, living in command mode will be directly dependent on the extent to which we love righteousness and hate wickedness, because joy comes from loving righteousness and hating wickedness
Romans 10:1-13 tells us there are two kinds of righteousness: self-righteousness and the righteousness of faith.
Pride originates in the heart, if our hearts are covered with the breastplate of righteousness of faith, we will not be focused on ourselves. And when we are covering our hearts with Jesus’ righteousness, our heart knows it’s part of a body.
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. - Ephesians 6:10-18
Why did Christ leave?
“Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.” - John 16:7
“2 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” - Galatians 5:22-23
If we are bearing fruit - who is the fruit for?
The greatest joy is to take hold of the Gospel and share it with others, because we will know the joy the angels know
Luke 15:10 “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
BID
Is your eternity secure?
Do you know joy? Unspeakable? That the angels know?