S7E11 - It Is Humbling When...
Fourthstream - Finding Hope
If humility is the key to the Door of the Kingdom (and we think it is) then a few things must be considered. Jesus is clear that He is the Door to His Father and His Kingdom. The keys to the Kingdom were given to the right person. This has nothing to with church authority and everything to do with Peter's magnificent followthrough in his imperfect faith. Peter promised never-ending allegiance to Jesus. Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of Me this night, for it is written, 'I will strike down the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.' But after I have...
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S7E10 - I Bow My Knees
Fourthstream - Finding Hope
So Jesus said to them again, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly." John 10:7-9 Jesus spends much time explaining His Kingdom. He is the Door of the Kingdom, of course, but we enter through this Door through the reality of humility. Let's take a look at part of this woven thread!...
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S7E9 - Deep Calls To Deep
Fourthstream - Finding Hope
We thought it was a good time for a deep dive into who is really in control. Let's follow the thread. The evil one manipulates us with fear. "Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives." (Hebrews 2:14-15) God's perfect love casts out fear. "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who...
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S7E8 - The Joy of Forgetting
Fourthstream - Finding Hope
As humans we cannot help but carry our own amount of weights. Disappointments. Bad memories. Unfulfilled hopes. Critical words. Jesus commented on the weight He places upon His followers: “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”(Matthew 11:28-30) The word yoke encompasses the idea of weights and balances. If you have every contemplated Proverbs you have encountered how God feels about "just"...
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S7E7 - Full of Joy
Fourthstream - Finding Hope
As you know, at Fourthstream we are all about following, knowing, and applying the woven threads of the God Story. Today we are talking about joy - which is a major thread! There is a strength which comes from God and is powerful in very practical and amazing ways. We will do our best to consider the panoramic specifics of what joy brings into the world - and into the heart and life of a Jesus follower. The Source of Joy - Nehemiah 8:10 The Jews had returned from a long and painful captivity. Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther were raised up to encourage joy among those who...
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S7E6 - Forever True
Fourthstream - Finding Hope
The concept of forever is tough to grasp. Everything about being human eventually runs into limitation. "As for the days of our lives, they contain seventy years, or if due to strength, eighty years. Yet human pride is only labor and sorrow, for soon it is gone and we fly away. Who understands the power of Your angerand Your fury, according to the reverence that is due You? So teach us to number our days, that we may present to You a heart of wisdom." - Moses in Psalm 90 There are a couple of important keys to unlocking a life of hope. The first is...
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S7E5 - Hand of God
Fourthstream - Finding Hope
When God's hand moves His will is done - on earth and in heaven. His authority backs up His intentions seamlessly. There is no hesitation. There is nothing that can stop it. He thinks and His hand moves and His will is done. In Mary's prayer of praise to God in Luke 1:49-52 she says: “For the Mighty One has done great things for me and holy is His name. His mercy is upon generation after generation toward those who revere Him. He has done mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their heart. He has brought down...
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S7E4 - Wickedness
Fourthstream - Finding Hope
The wickedness thread from the God Story is extensive. Here are a few of the central elements. The word itself is tied to "working at things which are not just" so there must be distinct departure from the truth to become a "worker of wickedness." This differs from the sin which is endemic to the entire human race. Sin is our condition of rebellion and separation from our Creator. Wickedness is our choice to reject God and subjugate others. When one thinks about wicked people usually some sort of injustice comes to mind. Oppression. Human trafficking. Abortion. Taking the life of another....
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S7E3 - Over Our Heads
Fourthstream - Finding Hope
Humanity has been and continues to be a slippery group. Our propensity to blame and accuse others, to consider ourselves greater and others lesser, and to justify our own acts toward others is epic. "But at the evening offering I arose from my humiliation with my garment and my robe torn, and I fell on my knees and stretched out my hands to the Lord my God; saying “O my God, I am ashamed and embarrassed to lift up my face to You, my God, for our iniquities have risen above our heads and our guilt has grown even to the heavens. “Since the days of our...
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S7E2 - Love Your Neighbor
Fourthstream - Finding Hope
The Hebrew word for neighbor means companion or friend. It focuses His people on our identity as sons of Adam. By caring for and about our neighbor(s) we are carried into God's world. This is a central thread in the Word of God, so it is key to our spiritual success. When Jesus quotes the Law of Moses to the man who wanted to know the greatest commandment: "One of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all our heart, and with all your soul, and with all...
info_outlineThe wickedness thread from the God Story is extensive. Here are a few of the central elements. The word itself is tied to "working at things which are not just" so there must be distinct departure from the truth to become a "worker of wickedness." This differs from the sin which is endemic to the entire human race. Sin is our condition of rebellion and separation from our Creator. Wickedness is our choice to reject God and subjugate others.
When one thinks about wicked people usually some sort of injustice comes to mind. Oppression. Human trafficking. Abortion. Taking the life of another. Leveraging impurity for perverted ends or to cause captivity of another fits here as well. Here is a little about the wickedness thread from God's Word.
Genesis 6:5:
Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. The Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. The Lord said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, from man to animals to creeping things and to birds of the sky; for I am sorry that I have made them.” But Noah found favor in the eyes of the great I Am.
Deuteronomy 9:4,5
“Do not say in your heart when the Lord your God has driven them out before you, ‘Because of my righteousness the Lord has brought me in to possess this land,’ but it is because of the wickedness of these nations that the Lord is dispossessing them before you. It is not for your righteousness or for the uprightness of your heart that you are going to possess their land, but it is because of the wickedness of these nations that I Am driving them out before you, in order to confirm the oath which the I swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob."
Psalm 5:4
"For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness and no evil dwells with You. Those who praise themselves shall not stand before Your eyes; You hate all who practice wickedness."
Psalm 14:4
"Do not all the workers of wickedness know, those who eat up my people as they eat bread, and do not call upon the Lord? These workers are in great dread, for God is with the righteous generation. You will put to shame by the counsel of those who afflict you, but the Lord is your refuge."
The prophets are loaded with this thread as well!
Hosea 7:2,3; 10:13; Joel 3:13; Habakkuk 1:13; Malachi 3:15
(evil criminals - who escape)
Mark 7:22 and Luke 11:39 describe the ways of evil work.
Romans 1:29 examines "malicious toil in what is evil"
Ephesians 6:12 mirrors "malicious toil in what is evil"
2 Timothy 2:19 speaks about "unrighteous injustice"
James 1:21 describes the "malicious intent" of wickedness
So - none of us can escape the reality or penalty of falling short of the glory of God. This is the condition of sin. We all share this condition. But wickedness appears to be very personal and involves our intentions and choices. When we live the life of a bully (oppressor) we do harm to our "brother." In turn we are held to these choices by our chosen cords of wickedness. This is what the work of the evil one is all about. He seeks to bind us by our choices for evil.
Idea: Make a quick list of what you have learned about the realities of your condition of sin since your eyes were opened. Then make another list of any wicked things you have done to others in your lifetime. Where have you confessed this to God and found forgiveness.
We are meant to be free from slavery to sin and to others and choose to be "bond slaves" of our great God!
Dave and Burnadette