The Essential Jesus – Hebrews 1:1-4

You can read about the origins of this blog series on The Essential Jesus here and catch up on previous posts here.

Hebrews 1:1-4

My Father has always been speaking to humanity and throughout the ages, He spoke through His prophets. But in these last days, He spoke to you through me, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom He made the worlds. Instead of speaking through men, though dreams and visions, He chose to use me, His very own Son, as His mouthpiece and His representative.

For I am the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person. I uphold all things by the Word of my power. I, myself purged your sins and am now sitting at the right hand of the Majesty on high. I’ve been exalted above the angels, having inherited and obtained a more excellent name than they.

No longer do you need prophets to tell you the Word of the Lord – you have me and my words and the Holy Spirit to give you revelation on it. Before, my Father spoke in part and in mysteries and veiled images, but in me He spoke with resounding clarity and volume and fullness! For unlike the prophets, I share the very nature of God, His character and likeness. I am His glory and splendor and divine light all wrapped up and manifested to you in the flesh.

It is by my Word, by my power that the entirety of creation is held together and kept from crumbling into pieces. Without me, it would all fall apart and cease to exist. There is nothing in all of creation that can claim to have power or control over its life – for it is all within my hands. Everything depends and relies fully on me!

Yet, with all that power and all that glory, let me remind you that I chose suffering and death that I might completely eradicate and deliver you from sin! With this power I could have destroyed mankind or chosen an easier way to redeem it, but I didn’t. I wanted you to know and see my love for you and that I am not a cold-hearted, distant, all-powerful deity that has no concern for his creation. No! I am God and therefore I am all-powerful, but I am also love incarnate and I willingly sacrificed myself for you because my heart is alive and full of passion and affection for you!

I am even now sitting at the right hand of my Father, with my scars as a vivid reminder of the blood I shed for your sins, as I act as your Mediator and Intercessor. It is my joy to sit next to Him, working in partnership with Him, for your good. There I am seated, higher than any majestic or powerful angel, higher than all rulers or principalities. Only to me has there been the name given of King of Kings and Lord of Lords!

There is no being who can compete with my excellence in my identity and nature and position beside my Father. I am superior in every way – especially in the depths of my love for you, my Bride! There is no other love like mine – there is none that can compare to me, none who can satisfy like I do!

The Essential Jesus – Isaiah 9:6-7 – His Government and Peace

You can read about the origins of this blog series on The Essential Jesus here and catch up on previous posts here.

Though I wasn’t due to write about Isaiah 9 for quite some time, I figured it was fitting to write about it during the month of December, as it is a key prophecy about the birth of Jesus. Since there was simply so much contained in just these 2 verses, I split it up into several posts that each focus on a certain phrase, with the last one being “His Government and Peace”. Merry Christmas!!

Isaiah 9:6-7

When I come into my Kingdom, the government of the earth will rest on my shoulders. I will gladly shoulder this responsibility and I am, in fact, the only one capable of doing so. I am the perfect leader and the burden of leadership over all of mankind is no burden at all for me!

My government is also an increasing one that began thousands of years ago and which is growing daily. The bounds of my Kingdom are ever expanding and its glory is ever shining brighter and brighter until it reaches its perfection.

The gates of hell will not prevail against my Church – it will keep reaching out and taking territory from my enemy. What joy I take in rescuing souls from the kingdom of darkness and conveying them into my Kingdom of light! My government and peace are relentless in their expansion, for I am relentless in my pursuit of the hearts of mankind! I am forever wooing and winning the love of my subjects and conquering sin and wickedness, that I might rule and reign in their hearts.

The more you submit to my leadership and rule, the more peace you will experience, for as my government increases, so does my peace. Allow me to govern your day, your thoughts, your emotions, your actions, your time, your words and watch the result of peace that will flood into your life! The more you say, “yes” to my Holy Spirit within you, the more you will be set free from fear and doubt and anxiety and striving.

As both the Root and Offspring of David, I will rule and reign upon the throne of David and over his kingdom, for my Father has given it to me and has set me on His holy hill in Zion. Where there has been chaos, I will order it and establish it, setting all things in their rightful place. I will be both a King and Judge and I will judge all things rightly with true justice.

In fact, I am the only one worthy to take the scroll from my Father, the title deed to the earth, and to open it and unleash its judgments. I am the only one able to judge the earth and its inhabitants perfectly with righteousness and equity, for I am the only one who was slain and who gave my very own life for mankind. I shed my blood and bore the wrath of my Father in order to redeem you to Him, which makes me the only one worthy to receive the power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing.

Just and true are all my ways, as King of the saints, for I alone am holy. I will reign from that time forward, even forever. My Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom and my dominion will never pass away or be destroyed. All peoples, nations and languages will serve and worship me, for it is from every tribe and tongue and people and nation that I have redeemed my chosen ones.

Not only will I reign as King of kings, but I will make my subjects kings and priests who will also reign with me on the earth. For in addition to being a King and a Judge, I am also a Bridegroom and you are my Bride and I desire to have you seated with me, ruling together with me, partnering with me in bringing my purposes to pass.

The zeal of my Father, the Lord of hosts, will perform this! My Father, who is the Lord Almighty, the Lord of the Armies of Heaven – He is jealous for His own honor, to bring to pass His word and to accomplish His purposes. The One who holds the heavenly hosts in His hands, who created all things, who has ultimate power and who commands an angelic army - He is passionate and filled with zeal to see me established on my throne. He trusts me explicitly to rule and reign in accordance to the desires of His heart and He is committed and determined to bring this to fulfillment.

All of this and more was being proclaimed and prophesied in my first advent and you will see it all unfold to its completion at my second advent. Surely I am coming quickly!

** This post was influenced by Matthew Henry’s Commentary on Isaiah 9 and David Guzik’s Study Guide for Isaiah 9 as well as the following scriptures: Isaiah 60; Matthew 16:18; Colossians 1:12-14; Revelation 22:16; Revelation 5:1-14; Revelation 15:3-4; Daniel 7:13-14; Ephesians 2:6-7; Revelation 22:20 **

The Essential Jesus – Isaiah 9:6-7 – Prince of Peace

You can read about the origins of this blog series on The Essential Jesus here and catch up on previous posts here.

Though I wasn’t due to write about Isaiah 9 for quite some time, I figured it was fitting to write about it during the month of December, as it is a key prophecy about the birth of Jesus. And since there is simply so much contained in just these 2 verses, I am splitting it up into several posts that each focus on a certain phrase, today’s being “Prince of Peace”.

Isaiah 9:6-7

I am the Prince of Peace. Of the increase of my government and peace there will be no end. I will sit upon the throne of David and rule over my kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of my Father, the Lord of hosts, will perform this!

When I come, I will bring an end to all war, strife, division and turmoil. I will bring an everlasting peace to the minds and hearts of the subjects in my kingdom. There will be no more anxiety, worry, contention, striving, or fear – just absolute peace.

But you don’t have to wait for that day to experience the peace that comes from me. Today you can choose to surrender your fears and anxieties to me and receive my peace that passes understanding, my peace which comes as a guard around your mind and heart. When I left the earth to return to my Father, I left my peace with you and gave it as a gift to preserve and keep you until I return for you. My peace is available for you when you feel troubled or afraid, that the trials of this life would not be able to shake you or overcome you.

For my peace is not a passive, weak gift, but it is a weapon of warfare against the schemes of the enemy, effective for fighting off his attacks. I am the God of peace who will crush Satan underneath your feet! I am your Prince of Peace who fights for you and I myself am your peace, so you will have peace by welcoming and embracing me. Hold fast to me and I will fill you with my peace by the power of my Holy Spirit.

But my peace isn’t only for you personally, it is for my Bride as a whole, for I came to bring oneness and unity in my Church by breaking down every dividing wall. In my flesh I abolished all enmity between Jew and Gentile, man and woman, master and slave, rich and poor, young and old. I came and preached peace, that you might know my heart for you and be empowered to release your offenses, your bitterness, your strife, your prejudices and love one another unconditionally. You are not all separate and disconnected from each other, for I came to make peace between you, creating one new man. As the Prince of Peace, it is my heart’s desire for there to be complete peace among my subjects, that my Bride would live in peace and remove every dividing wall, for I came to reconcile you to each other, as well as to my Father.

However, I did not come to bring peace as the world interprets it, but a sword. The sword is the instrument by which peace will be brought, for I will come with the sword to cut away all those things that are keeping you from peace. My wisdom is first pure and then peaceable, so as long as you try to hold on to those things which are impure, you can never have true peace.

Also, by proclaiming allegiance to me and picking up your cross and following me, it is a direct act of warfare with the world, so you must expect trials and persecution as a result. To embrace me and my peace will also mean that the people closest to you, in your own family, may turn against you. My peace doesn’t mean you will never experience difficult circumstances, but it does mean that you can experience internal peace in the midst of them.

For though I came to bring peace on earth and good will towards men, I also came with a sword to declare war on all sin and wickedness and injustice. To be friends with the world is to be my enemy, for the world advocates those very things that make true peace impossible. So you too must declare war on all things that are contrary to my ways, for as long as you hold onto them, you will find that you have unrest in your soul and will not be at peace with my Spirit who dwells in you. For my Spirit yearns jealously within you, for you to submit completely to my leadership in your life, as your Prince and as your King.

** This post was influenced by Matthew Henry’s Commentary on Isaiah 9 and David Guzik’s Study Guide for Isaiah 9 as well as the following scriptures: Ephesians 2:13-18; Luke 2:14; Matthew 10:34-39; James 3:17; John 14:27; 2 Thessalonians 3:16; Romans 16:20; Philippians 4:6-7; James 4:4-8 **

The Essential Jesus – Isaiah 9:6-7 – Everlasting Father

You can read about the origins of this blog series on The Essential Jesus here and catch up on previous posts here.

Though I wasn’t due to write about Isaiah 9 for quite some time, I figured it was fitting to write about it during the month of December, as it is a key prophecy about the birth of Jesus. And since there is simply so much contained in just these 2 verses, I am splitting it up into several posts that each focus on a certain phrase, today’s being “Everlasting Father”.

Isaiah 9:6-7

I am the Everlasting Father, for I am God, one with my Father, who is from everlasting to everlasting. I am the Father of eternity, the very source and author of everlasting life and of the great work of redemption. I am the Creator, existing for eternity past with my Father and the Holy Spirit, partnering with them both in the works of creation.

Eternity itself and time and the endlessness of time in both directions was my design and idea. I am the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End. I am eternal and unchanging, the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. I am He who is and who was and who is to come. I am He who called the generations from the beginning, ordaining the ages and setting in place the times and places of the events of history.

Before me there was no god formed, nor shall there be after Me. Indeed, before the day was, I am He, I am God, I am the Lord and besides me there is no Savior! I am the First and the Last; besides me there is no God. I inhabit eternity, for it belongs to me and eternal life is my gift to you.

I invite you to share eternity with me and to experience pleasures at my right hand forevermore! For this is eternal life – to know my Father and to know me – it is my joy to give to you the fullness of joy in my presence by spending all of eternity revealing my glory to you, the glory that I had with my Father before the world was.

I am giving you the ability to inhabit eternity with me and for everlasting ages I will satisfy your heart with the knowledge of Our heart, for there is no end to the glory and depths of wisdom and beauty in Me!

** This post was influenced by Matthew Henry’s Commentary on Isaiah 9 and David Guzik’s Study Guide for Isaiah 9 as well as the following scriptures: Revelation 1:8; Hebrews 13:8; Isaiah 41:4; Isaiah 43:10-13; Isaiah 44:6; John 17:2-5; Psalm 16:11 **

The Essential Jesus – Isaiah 9:6-7 – Mighty God

You can read about the origins of this blog series on The Essential Jesus here and catch up on previous posts here.

Though I wasn’t due to write about Isaiah 9 for quite some time, I figured it was fitting to write about it during the month of December, as it is a key prophecy about the birth of Jesus. And since there is simply so much contained in just these 2 verses, I am splitting it up into several posts that each focus on a certain phrase, today’s being “Mighty God”. In this one, Jesus got a bit more personal with me, so I’ll include my own name in here, but you can replace it with your name and ask Him to speak to you about the issues that are closest to your heart.

Isaiah 9:6-7

I am the Mighty God. I am the One who stretched out the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth. I am the Commander of the armies of heaven, riding victoriously. I hold everything together by the power of my Word, by the strength of my right hand. I am mighty in battle, a fierce warrior and judge to my enemies, and I am also mighty to save, demonstrating my power on behalf of the weak and lowly and repentant, to rescue them from the grip of sin and death and oppression.

I am a mighty man of war, coming in my zeal and wrath against wickedness, sickness, bondage, deception, poverty, murder, and oppression of every kind. I am coming to show my power and strength to rescue and deliver the sick and broken, to rescue those in chains – both literal and spiritual, to break the power of every lie of the enemy, to break the back of poverty and bring the poor into great abundance, to deliver the innocent lives from death, and to set free every person being exploited, abused, crushed or taken advantage of!

There is no foe, no enemy, no stronghold, no demon, no principality that is beyond my ability to defeat and soundly destroy! I have the power to end human trafficking, abortion, wars, famine, cancer, epidemics, unjust governments, homosexuality, divorce, infertility, murder, atheism, Islam, every cult and false religion or god, and even the sin and compromise in my own Church. There is NOTHING that can stand in the face of my zeal and my love. I am mighty to tear them down and to bring healing and restoration to every one who has been victimized by them.

Jacquie, I am your Mighty God. I am mighty in battle on your behalf. I am stronger than your every weakness and failing. Every thing in your life that looks impossible is nothing to me. I am jealous for your heart and I am mighty to finish the work I have started in you.

I am powerful to deliver you from shame and to set you free from fear.

I am mighty to save your loved ones – their hard hearts will be my joy to soften and unlock and transform before your very eyes.

I am mighty to overcome the pain and hatred and deception in that broken relationship – I am more than able to bring restoration and healing where it appears impossible.

I AM going to heal your jaw – trust me – and know that I take great joy in you as you keep asking me with your mustard seed of faith – don’t give up!

I want to confront and tear down every lie and every accusation that the enemy has made about me to your heart! He would make me out to be weak, uncaring, and incompetent, but I want you to know me for who I really am! I want to demonstrate my power that is working in you, for you and for those you love.

Don’t believe his lies!! Don’t try to protect your heart from disappointment or embarrassment by planning for or expecting the worst (that I won’t answer your prayers) and barely hoping for the best. Believe me and what I tell you! I AM MIGHTY!!! My strength and power is beyond anything you could possibly imagine! My abilities would blow your mind and captivate your heart if you had the courage to fully believe them and put your faith and trust in me.

I give you permission to tear down the idols that you have made out of your fears and problems, for you have set them higher than me.

Look at the confidence and boldness that David had in me and my power when he faced Goliath. He was full of faith and courage because he knew my heart and my strength from the place of intimacy with me. It’s not a false hope or hype or prosperity gospel I’m asking you to embrace – it’s ME! Those who know their God will be strong and do mighty exploits. Don’t be afraid of the giants in your life or let them intimidate you with their lies.

Do you want to confront the giant of abortion and the plight of the orphan in your city and nation? So do I! I realize it’s way bigger than you and you can’t battle it alone, but you’re not alone! I am with you! I am backing you up!

Do you dream of making a difference, making an impact and inspiring and equipping people to pray and intercede? So do I! Are you small, lacking in resources and knowledge? Well, I’m not! I have all the strength, money and wisdom you could ever need and more!

Are you becoming more aware of your own struggle with the desire to pray? I am mighty to fill your inner man with strength and perseverance by the power of my Holy Spirit. Your weakness is no obstacle or discouragement to me, for it is my joy and delight to woo you and win your heart in the place of prayer and to produce joy in my house of prayer (in your own heart) and to give you my abundant grace to pray.

Are you aware of the power of my blood? My grace is sufficient for you in your weakness! My strength and might is made available to you through my blood shed on the cross.

I AM THE MIGHTY GOD!! This is my name by which I am called. It’s not just a quality I possess – it’s WHO I AM ALL THE TIME.

** This post was influenced by the following scriptures: Isaiah 48:13; Daniel 4:35; Revelation 19:11-16; Hebrews 1:3; Psalm 89:13; Psalm 24:8; Isaiah 63:1; Isaiah 42:13; Isaiah 61:1-3; Mark 10:27; Philippians 1:6; Daniel 11:32; Ephesians 3:16; 2 Corinthians 12:9 **

The Essential Jesus – Isaiah 9:6-7 – Wonderful, Counselor

You can read about the origins of this blog series on The Essential Jesus here and catch up on previous posts here.

Though I wasn’t due to write about Isaiah 9 for quite some time, I figured it was fitting to write about it during the month of December, as it is a key prophecy about the birth of Jesus. I’ve actually been in this passage for over a month already, as there is simply so much contained in just these 2 verses, so I will be splitting it up into several posts that each focus on a certain phrase, today’s being “Wonderful, Counselor”.

Isaiah 9:6-7

I can say without an ounce of pride or vanity that I am Wonderful! I am full of abounding and endless wonders that are available for you to search out. I want to show you the beauty of who I am, that your heart would be overcome with wonder and awe and amazement. I want to surprise and delight you with how wonderful I am!

Gaze at me and seek my face and allow yourself to be filled with the fear of the Lord, with reverence, astonishment and admiration, with worship and fascination. I want to wow your heart and captivate you with  my wonders and the mysteries hidden in me!

I am your Counselor. I am the wisdom of my Father and I came to teach and instruct you in His ways. In me are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, the depths of which are unsearchable, beyond finding out. The riches of our wisdom is limitless and we have never required direction, counsel, instruction or teaching from anyone.

Contained within me is all knowledge and understanding, which is why I can invite you to come to me and learn from me, for though I am wisdom incarnate, I am also humble in heart, which makes me a compassionate and tender Counselor.

Do you need direction? Do you need counsel? Are you seeking wisdom? Come to me. I want to show you the hidden riches of secret places that you might know me and my ways. If you seek for wisdom as for hidden treasure, then you will discover the knowledge of me, for I give wisdom freely to those who search it out. I love to speak knowledge and understanding to the humble seeking heart. It is my glory to conceal the secrets of my heart because I know that there is great glory and delight in store for those who will search me out.

And I have revealed my mysteries and the plans of my heart for you by my Holy Spirit. For my Spirit searches the deep things of my soul that are beyond finding out – He has full access to the deep wells of wisdom in my being and He knows my thoughts. This is why I also gave Him to you to be your Counselor, Helper and Teacher. Embrace my Spirit and ask Him to teach you about me and to give you my thoughts and reveal to you my emotions, my wisdom, my counsel to you.

For I have much to say, much counsel that I desire to share with you, if you would simply come to me, ask of me and take the time to listen.

** This post was influenced by the following scriptures: Romans 11:33; Isaiah 40:13-14; Matthew 11:29; Isaiah 45:3; Proverbs 2:4-6; Proverbs 25:2; 1 Corinthians 2:9-13; John 14:26 **

The Essential Jesus – Isaiah 9:6-7 – A Son is Given

You can read about the origins of this blog series on The Essential Jesus here and catch up on previous posts here.

Though I wasn’t due to write about Isaiah 9 for quite some time, I figured it was fitting to write about it during the month of December, as it is a key prophecy about the birth of Jesus. I’ve actually been in this passage for over a month already, as there is simply so much contained in just these 2 verses, so I will be splitting it up into several posts that each focus on a certain phrase, today’s being “A Son Is Given”.

Isaiah 9:6-7

To you a child was born and to you a Son was given.

I am the child who was born. Though the Mighty God, I became a helpless infant. Though the Everlasting Father, I stepped out of eternity and into time. I took on flesh and took on Your nature, humbling and emptying myself to be born into your world. For you, that day, I was born and came as your God and your Savior. Though in the form of a baby, my identity and name was unchanged – Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

My Father gave me to you as the most precious and valuable gift that has ever been or could ever be given. He did not keep me only to Himself, but considered it worth the cost to give His only begotten Son as an offering to and for you, that He could purchase you for Himself.

Yet, not only did my Father give me to you, but I gave myself to you. I came willingly and with great desire burning in me to show the depths of my love for you by giving myself completely to you, pouring my very life out for you, holding nothing back. I want you to know and to be confident in my love for you, because I am the Son who was given to you. I love to give myself to my Bride! I delight to give myself to you, to reveal myself to you, to serve you, to give my heart and love to you, holding nothing back . It’s who I am and what I love to do – to give to you!

But it didn’t stop there, for I also gave my very own Spirit to you, to be with you and to be your Helper, Comforter, Friend and Teacher after I returned to my Father. What a joy and delight to give my Spirit to you, for I love Him and take pleasure in my relationship with Him and I knew you would too! Besides my very own life and blood that I gave for you, there was no greater gift than to give you my Spirit. He loves you so deeply and He loves to give you gifts of His own. He loves to reveal my heart to you and to reveal my Father to you.

And that’s another incredible gift I could go on and on about – by giving me to you, my Father was truly giving to you the gift of Himself, for I came to show you the Father and to give you insight into His heart like never before. I came to give you His Word, His love, His mercy, adoption into His family – I came to give you the Father Himself, for we are all One we all give each other to you! We all love to give to you!

There are so many gifts in our heart for you – may you receive each and every one of them! For though I gave my body for you once, I have always been and will never stop giving myself to you.

** This post was influenced by the following scriptures: Philippians 2:5-8; John 3:16; Luke 11:13; Romans 5:5; 2 Corinthians 1:21-22; 1 John 4:13; John 17:6-8, 22-26 **

The Essential Jesus – Colossians 1:15-23

You can read about the origins of this blog series on The Essential Jesus here and catch up on previous posts here.

Colossians 1:15-23

I am the express image of my Father – I look just like Him! Though He is invisible, I became a visible likeness of Him for you to behold. Not so much in my physical appearance, but in my nature and character, I came to portray His heart to you. When you look at me, see Him! I am a perfect reflection of all that He is. I am His firstborn Son – though uncreated, I hold the position of firstborn over all creation and stand to inherit it all, since I am His image and one with Him.

As His very Word, it was by me that all things were created – everything in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible. I created every angelic and heavenly creature from the highest to the lowest and every thing on the earth from the mightiest king to the seemingly most insignificant insect. All things were created through me and for me and it is by me that all things are held together.

As I created and brought forth all of the universe and everything in it, I made it all for my pleasure and enjoyment. It all exists for me – you exist for me! I formed you and brought you into existence because I delight in you and enjoy you! You are for me! You are my Bride, my Church, and I am your Husband, the Head of my body.

Yet even as your Creator and as Head over you, I do not treat you as an overbearing master treats a slave beneath him. You do not need to fear my leadership, for though I am powerful, I am also meek. Though I fashioned the stars and planets, I am tender and kind and I care about your heart.

Not only am I firstborn over all my creation, but I am the firstborn from the dead – the first one to experience the resurrection of my human body to its eternal, glorified state! I am the firstfruits of those who have died, for this same new life is in store for you! I experienced death for your sakes, but I did not stay in the grave as every other man before and after me – I am fully alive by the resurrection power of my own Spirit and clothed in my glorified body, that in all things I may have the preeminence.

In every area, I am superior and outstanding in my position, my power, my authority, my purity, my beauty, my perfection and my nature. For it pleased my Father that all the fullness should dwell in me – that being fully man, I would also contain the fullness of deity. There is nothing lacking in me!

My Father was also pleased to reconcile all things to Himself through me – whether things on earth or things in heaven – having made peace through my blood that I shed on the cross. Heaven and earth will be brought back together into unity in me – all that was lost will be restored! And though you were once alienated and separated from us, our enemy in your mind by your wicked works, I have now reconciled you to my Father and to myself in the body of my flesh through death, to present you holy and blameless and above reproach in my sight.

Truly, my death was such a glorious thing in the power of what it accomplished! By my blood, I restored the relationship with us that was lost through sin in the garden. I snatched you from the kingdom of darkness, rescued you from the punishment of eternal suffering and separation from God, brought you into my very own family, and then purified and sanctified you, cleansing you from all your sin and every compromise that taints your love! No wonder my Father was so pleased, so overjoyed to reconcile you to Himself through me – it was a fantastic and wonderful work that we did!

And all you need to do is believe it and receive it by faith – it’s yours!

** This post was influenced by Matthew Henry’s Commentary on Colossians 1 and the following scriptures: Hebrews 1:2-4; John 14:7-11; Romans 8:29; 1 Corinthians 15:20; Ephesians 1:7-10 **

The Essential Jesus – Philippians 2:1-11

You can read about the origins of this blog series on The Essential Jesus here and catch up on previous posts here.

Philippians 2:1-11

I never have nor ever will do anything from selfish ambition or conceit. I am lowly of mind and I esteem others as better than myself. I am not primarily concerned with looking out for my own interests, but I am always thinking of others and how I can serve them. I am so consumed with love for people, so joyful in my communion with my Father and the Holy Spirit, and so full of affection and mercy, that I am compelled to lay myself down for the sake of others, even when it is painful to do so.

Though I enjoyed the majesty and splendor and glory I shared with my Father for eternity past, I did not by any means feel robbed or cheated to lay all of that down in order to become like a lowly servant. This is because I was already humble in heart and I loved to serve my Father and the Holy Spirit, and they love to serve me! I didn’t need to become a man in order to become humble, for I have always been lowly and selfless in all that I do.

Yet, it was my delight to reveal my heart for you and my character by making myself of no reputation and taking on the form of a bondservant and coming in your likeness. I came to show you the depths to which the High and Lofty One was willing to go for the sake of winning your heart. And I chose it willingly and voluntarily! It was not forced upon me, but I embraced it and chose obedience to my Father’s will and plan, even to the point of death on a cross.

Can you see it? Can you see my heart as I gave it all up? Can you see the delight my Father took in me as I joyfully received this honor of portraying His heart to you? Can you sense our excitement that you would finally see all that was burning within us towards humanity? Yes, there was an excruciating price to pay and real pain and anguish to endure, but we had full assurance in our plan and that the final result was worth the cost.

I realize that sometimes you are called to serve and to choose lowliness and meekness without the vision of the end result or even any guarantee of an earthly reward for your sacrifice, but if you can tap into our joy as we chose humility and if you learn from me, even that won’t matter and you will do it simply for feeling the delight we take in you!

Oh and my Father loved how I showed His love for the world! He could barely contain Himself, for as I humbled myself, He turned it around and exalted me and gave me gifts and lavished me with glory and honor. It makes me smile just to think of His joyful extravagance. He gave me the name which is above every name that at my name, every knee would bow – in heaven, on earth and under the earth – and that every tongue would confess that I am Lord, all for the glory of my Father. I did it all for Him anyways and my reward is that I receive you as my inheritance – which is a greater treasure than you realize!

And it will be the same for you. As you humble yourself and serve and put others before yourself in this life, your reward in the age to come will blow your mind with its extravagance! We love to give good gifts and to lavish you with all the treasures that are laying up in heaven. I promise you it will be worth the price you pay now, which will seem so small in comparison.

But I pray that you will also know and experience the reward of our love and rejoicing over you in this age and that it will more than satisfy your heart! I really, really like you and enjoy you as I see the heart of my Father becoming more and more evident in you! We truly love this journey of being joined and united with you in heart and spirit and we trust our Spirit as He works in you in partnership with us. You can trust Him – He really likes you too!

** This post was influenced by the following scriptures: Isaiah 57:15; John 13:12-17; Matthew 11:28-29; Psalm 2:8; Ephesians 1:18; Matthew 7:11; James 1:17; Zephaniah 3:17 **

The Essential Jesus – John 1

You can read about the origins of this blog series on The Essential Jesus here and catch up on previous posts here.

John 1:1-18

In the beginning, I was. I am the Word of my Father and I’ve always been with Him and I am just like Him. I am with my Father, and therefore a distinct person within the Godhead, yet I also am God and share His exact substance. My Father and I are One – we are God and in the beginning, we were together, enjoying the depths of our perfect union with each other and our shared Spirit. As the manifestation of my Father’s Word, I was ever with Him, the perfect expression of His will and emotions.

Nobody knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God, yet my Father chose to reveal Himself to you by sending me as the Word to declare to you what He was thinking, and by sending you the Holy Spirit, that you might know what is on our mind. My Father is speaking to you through me! His thoughts, which would otherwise never be known, can be discovered and searched out by listening to me and to our Spirit.

I am still speaking today! Are you listening?

All things were made through me. Without me, nothing was made that was made. For when my Father spoke creation into being, I was the Word that went forth and accomplished it. All of creation is upheld and kept together by the word of my power – I sustain it all! Together, out of the depth of love in our being, we made you in our image, according to our likeness, and we delighted in the beauty of what we had created. We took great joy in forming mankind, that we might share the love and fellowship and communion we enjoyed in the Godhead with you.

For in me is life, and this life is the light of men. I am the true Light shining in the darkness, giving light to every man on the earth and darkness cannot overcome me. I am light and there is no darkness in me at all – there is no grip of sin that is able to take hold of me. The light of my countenance and the glory of my character completely shatters the darkness and causes wickedness to flee! I came to set you free from death, to expose and expel the darkness that exists in your own heart and to fill your being with my life and light.

If you will receive me, I will give you the right to become a child of my Father. If you believe in my Name, you will be His child, born of the Spirit by His will and desire. Through me, you are adopted into our family and you become my brother, my sister!

I became a man and took on flesh and dwelt right among you. I humbled myself and took on your weak and broken form, coming as a lowly servant. Yet, I showed you my glory as the one and only begotten Son of my Father, for I am the very brightness of His glory and the express image of His person. My Father has shone in your hearts to give you the light of the knowledge of His glory in my face! I, God, was with you, to see and to touch in a way that had never happened before! I revealed myself to you and walked among you and shared life with you, coming to you in grace and truth.

I gave the fullness of myself to you and allowed you to see God in me. For even though no one has seen my Father, I am dwelling in His very bosom – I am in the center of His heart, sharing His every thought and emotion – and I have declared Him to you! When you look at me, see my Father! Everything I do and say is to reveal Him to you.

I love my Father more than you can ever comprehend this side of eternity, so it is my greatest and deepest joy and delight to tell you why I love Him so much and to share with you the thrill and satisfaction of communion with Him. To know Him and to love Him and to be one with Him is the fullness of life – there is nothing greater than this!

I love to exalt my Father and He in turn exalts me – we can’t help but declare our love and honor for each other. But what’s truly wonderful is that we invite you to share in the joy and fullness of our love by the power of the Holy Spirit, whom I sent to you for this very purpose.

Will you?

** This post was influenced by Matthew Henry’s Commentary on John 1, as well as the following scriptures: 1 Corinthians 2:9-16; Genesis 1:1-3, 26; Hebrews 1:1-4; Proverbs 8:22-31; 1 John 1:5; Ephesians 1:4-6; Philippians 2:5-11; 2 Corinthians 4:6; John 14:7-11; John 17 **

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