JC Blog

“In the case of a will, it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it, because a will is in force only when somebody has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it is living. This is why even the first covenant was not put into effect without blood” (Hebrews 9:16-18)

Obtaining a family inheritance only comes after the death of the family member and after the will is read. The will provides the guideline for how the inheritance is to be dispersed. The will’s originator is the one who dictates this by creating a last will and testament so that their wishes are known and honored. This is a legal binding contract and it is never put into effect before the death of the individual, although it exists in legal form before death. The same is true of the both the Old and New Covenants. They were put into effect after death, and always with blood.

This is an amazing truth about the Covenant we enjoy through Jesus. His death put the will of God into effect and made it legally binding and in operation. It is important for us to know what this Last Will includes so that we will understand what we have inherited through Jesus. To do this we must look at what Jesus said His mission, or God’s will for His life was. Luke describes this perfectly. “The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, and he began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” (Luke 4:17-20).

Jesus came to preach the gospel, free the prisoners, restore sight, release the oppressed and announce the Lord’s favor to mankind. This was God’s will concerning the life of Jesus. He came to bring us into fellowship with the Father through the gospel. The good news is that our sins are forgiven and paid for through Jesus, and that we have been redeemed and purchase back by His blood.

He has freed the prisoners. Jesus’ blood paid for the debt that sin held against us. He died as a ransom for us so that we wouldn’t (Mark 10:45, Hebrews 9:15). We have been rescued from bondage.

He restores the sight of the blind. This happens in a spiritual sense as well as in the physical, because we now can see and understand the Father by looking at Jesus (John 1:18, II Corinthians 4:6, Colossians 1:15;19, Hebrews 1:1-3). The fullness of God dwelt in Jesus and He has shown us an exact representation of God the Father.

He has released the oppressed. No longer are we subjected to the whims of the sinful nature, but we have been freed from it and given a new, born again spirit, fashioned after Jesus’ in righteousness and holiness (Romans 6:6, Ephesians 4:23).

He was sent to announce the favor of the Lord. This was the message of the angels at Jesus’ birth, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.” (Luke 2:14). God was in the world, reconciling the world to Himself, no longer holding man accountable for his sins. Jesus’ entire life was a proclamation of this amazing truth!

Just as Jesus declared in the synagogue that this Scripture had been fulfilled at their hearing, Jesus’ death completed and put into effect the will of God. Eugene H. Petersen said it best in the Message version, “Like a will that takes effect when someone dies, the new covenant was put into action at Jesus' death. His death marked the transition from the old plan to the new one, canceling the old obligations and accompanying sins, and summoning the heirs to receive the eternal inheritance that was promised them. He brought together God and his people in this new way” (Hebrews 9:16-17 Message). Jesus’ death made God’s will and testament valid and in operation. He guarantees it with the precious blood of our Savior Jesus Christ, so that we who hope in God have received the inheritance eternally promised to us.

A lot of times we don't move forward sharing the Gospel with friends and family because we are waiting for a specific word from the Lord concerning that individual. The truth is God has already commanded and equipped us to go out and share the Gospel and make disciples to the ends of the earth. We don't need specific direction or a word from the Lord to do that, we already have his blessing and the word to go.

Paul is a great example, he went around and preached the Gospel everywhere he went. When the got done in one city he turned and walked to another. We have accounts of the Holy Spirit forbidding him to enter certain cities, but don't see the Lord giving specifics about what cities to go to when. Paul already knew God's will to share the Gospel to the ends of the earth so he just went. The provision to receive the Gospel was already there when he got there because he was in the will of God.

Paul had always longed to go to Rome. And no wonder as it was the epicenter of the known world. He longed to share the message of Jesus to the ends of the world. In Romans 1:10, Paul is saying that he purposed many times to travel to Rome but had been hindered up until this point. In Romans 15:22 it tells us the reason that he had so many times been hindered from going to Rome. "Rather, as it is written: "Those who were not told about him will see, and those who have not heard will understand. "This is why I have often been hindered from coming to you." ( Romans 15:21-22 ) He was hindered because there were so many places in between him and Rome that needed the gospel too, so it delayed his trip to Roman.

Paul's desire was to go to Rome and he knew that it was in the will of God so he prayed and prepared to do so, but as he did, he didn't only look forward to the time when he would go. He was faithful and busy doing the work of his Father where he was currently at.

As the Lord is preparing you for greater things to come, remember that where you are right now is the best opportunity to be doing the will of God for your life. Remember the parable of the talents, when the master found the servant had been faithful with what he had been given, Jesus said, "Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!"

So today, may God find you faithfully about his business right where you are!

In today's passage, Paul is encouraging us that when we join with the Holy Spirit in intercession we can be confident that everything will work together for good. This is because God is a partner in our labor. As we work together, the Spirit intercedes for us and we release His power to operate on our behalf. Since this power works in accordance with God's will for our life, His will for his church and his will on the earth, we can rest assured that good will come out of it no matter what the circumstances are.

But notice that for good to result there is a few prerequisites to this statement. First of all Paul is tying this back to his previous statement about our active involvement in intercession with the Holy Spirit. When we pray, the Spirit intercedes for us, searches our hearts and makes supplication to God on our behalf. To do this is an act of faith, however reminding ourselves, when we pray, that all things work together for good helps will help us step out in faith and partner with the Holy Spirit making intercession.

Secondly, for all things to work together for good, we must love God. This wonderful promise does not extend to everyone. This amazing promise is for those who love God. Love is not a passive thing, love is an action. John reminded us to show our love, "Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth" ( I John 3:18 ). Love is more than a feeling, love propels us to do as the Lord directs. Love is what drove God to send Jesus to die for us. So, in the same way, for all things to work together for good we must love God and be willing to go and do as he directs.

Lastly, for all things to work together for good, we must be called according to his purpose. No matter what circumstances come our way, God is able to make all grace abound. When we are operating in God's will then we can be confident that He will work it out in the midst of the situation. We can know what God's will is by finding this expression in His word. The Bible is full of His desire for you and for His church. We can also find God's specific will for your life by listening to the Holy Spirit. He will guide and direct you in all things. When we know and operate in this will then we can be confident in the good that will result.

We have been called into a wonderful partnership with the Lord. As His church we are His footprint in the world today. We have been commissioned and set apart for this specific purpose. We can know God's will for our lives and we can operate in accordance to that will through the power of the Holy Spirit. As we do this, we can constantly remind ourselves, "... that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose" ( Romans 8:28 ). Today I praise God through Jesus that we have this sweet and precious promise to cling to in this midst of trials. I praise God that he partners with us to do wonderful works upon this earth. I am so thankful that God is able to bring about good in all things. May this revelation bless you today, Amen!

While on this earth Jesus did not seek that of his own interests, instead he was about his Father's business. We see this theme running throughout the gospels dating clear back to when he was twelve and his parents found him in the temple listening and asking questions. When they finally found him after searching intently, they asked why he had treated them in such a manner. He answered, "Why were you searching for me? Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?" ( Luke 2:49 ). One way to put it was that it was necessary for him to be in His Father's house and occupied with His business. His parents didn't understand this at the time, but thankfully for us Jesus was consumed with the Father's will and accomplishing it on earth.

Today's passage is a reminder that we are to consider Christ, who looked not to his own interest or to pleasing himself, but instead looked to pleasing God. David prophesied about the Christ when he said, "for zeal for your house consumes me, and the insults of those who insult you fall on me" ( Psalm 69:9 ). Christ faced much opposition in this life but he gave no thought to these things. He was focused and on His mission the entire time. He was intent on doing the redemptive work that the Father gave him. Love and fervor for His house consumed him. This is evident in the things that Jesus said and did. He constantly reminded the disciples that he only said what the Father said and he only did what he saw the Father do ( John 5:19 ). He said that the works he did testified to the fact that he came from the Father. ( John 10:25 ). He was consumed with his mission and showed us the Father by who he was. Hebrews says, "The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being" ( Hebrews 1:3a ). Everything that God is can be seen and understood by knowing Christ; he is the exact representation of the Father for us. This was accomplished because looked not to please himself but to please God and do His will.

As believers we are to follow Christ's example. Romans 15 begins by saying, "We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: "The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me." ( Romans 15:1-3 ). When we are seeking the interests of God and His kingdom we are building up each other in the truth because we are operating as God operates. Not only will we encourage our brothers and sisters in living this way, but we are showing Christ to the world. I John 4:17 says, "In this world we are like him", the King James Bible says it this way, "because as he is, so are we in this world". Just as Christ was the exact representation of God to the world so that we could understand him, we are the exact representation of Christ in this world. This likeness was deposited in our born again spirits so if we live out of this new nature then the world around us will see Christ and know the Father by our actions.

What an amazing truth to know and understand. We should not look to our own interests but we should be looking to God and operating in his will for our lives. We should be consumed with His house and busy about His business. We are to consider Christ as our example and pursue the kingdom in everything we do building up and encouraging the body and showing God's love to the world.