Ambassadors For Jesus - Part XIII: JC www.ambassadorsforJesus5.com The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. ~2 Cor. 4:4-6 After finishing their meal they ordered two cups of coffee and Alex continued on. "Only Jesus opens the eyes of the blind and the ears of the deaf…and not speaking just of physical healing or even seeing into the spiritual realm for true seeing and hearing comes from a heart connected to Father God's found in Christ; a heart awakened to Him and his love. Understand?” “Yes, I believe I do,” Sarah replied. "Are you familiar with football?" he asked. "I know the basics," she answered with curiosity. “That should do. We are all progressively growing up into the full stature of Christ. We won't get there on our own…we are parts to his body and need each other, teammates. Yet we can be like the blind man in the bible that needed two touches from Jesus because with the first touch he was seeing men as trees. So God first begins to open our eyes, we score a touchdown, then we can opt for another neighborhood that may look different on the outside and the cause may seem more noble but if we are not coming from abiding in Jesus by trusting in Him it is more of the same thing with a different disguise.” “I can see that Alex.” “Sarah, I'm not saying that we shouldn't leave, the Lord can show each of us where He wants us during different phases in the process. Remember, after the man received his sight Jesus sent him another way. Sometimes we do have to leave for a time and even sit the bench with Jesus before He calls us back on field, whether there or elsewhere. We just need to realize it is the same playing field, all of us falling short of the glory of God, and if we aren't remaining in Christ and his heart of love we won't rise above it all and we'll continue with the wrong plays. I personally think it may even be worse if from there we start looking down at our neighbors and commit a major foul by throwing stones at them. The mote and beam Sarah. We try and remove motes out of their eyes when we are blindsided by the beams in our own. A beam is so much bigger than a mote and it may just speak of the condition of our hearts. We think we've scored the grand touchdown that won the game but we actually fumble the ball when we don't keep trusting Jesus to do the work in and through us. Then we go and foul others.” “Romans 11,” Sarah offered excitedly as the pieces began falling into place. “That's right, Romans 11. I like to think of the football as the grace and faith that comes from God by which he works in our personal lives, and in the corporate body of Christ for his greater purposes. There is personal growth and corporate growth. In our personal lives we have personal enrichment where we become pro players in the NFL. Then there is growing up corporately into the full stature of Christ for his greater purposes, the Superbowl. For our personal lives we are told that grace is given to the humble, no humility no grace to see us through. Yet there's also grace for the corporate body and what God is doing to bring about his larger purpose. For instance, in Romans 11 Paul speaks of the remnant of Israel chosen and kept by God's grace. Corporately, all his chosen are still being kept by his grace and faithfulness for even if we are unfaithful He remains faithful to us and his goal which takes us to Romans 8. There we are told that God is bringing his children into his glory. We are being conformed into the image of Jesus and other scriptures tell us why. It isn't just for our benefit…God loves everyone dearly and He wants to display his glory through his chosen vessels so that all would see it and come to Him. That's the goal. Are you following me so far or shall I call a time out?" "No, no, I'm fine. I can see it," she was beaming. "Go on and make the pass to the receiver Alex because I'm receiving it." He laughed at her reply and enthusiam realizing she really was receiving it. "Very well...Romans 11 gives the game plan by which he achieves the goal. Jesus is our root, the vine that upholds the branches. As we continue to trust in Jesus to do the work in and through us his sap, the Holy Spirit, brings forth his fruits of the spirit: joy, love, peace, longsuffering…John 15 and Galatians 5. So God is both kind and severe in his love. Kind if we keep trusting in Jesus but He will use severe means if we fumble the ball. It's all filtered through his great love for us for God is love. The book of Hebrews tells us He is a consuming fire. He burns all the wood and hay we have come to trust in over Him. He's a jealous God ablaze with love and intent on having a bride refined in his fiery love where her love for Him will come out purified and whole-hearted. We need not fear the fire or waters for He has said He will walk with us and we will not be consumed. Just like Jesus saved us from an awful collision. Just like Jesus carried you threw that angry crowd. Just like Jesus was with Reuben as Reuben was partaking of his sufferings. In short Sarah, our journeys may take on different appearances but it's all the same if we haven't gone higher, or deeper if you prefer, into the heart of God, by grace through faith in Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. It is truly a humble position to know that we cannot do it without Jesus. That's humility and from that place we are given his grace to see us through. Our neighbor to neighbor relationships are suppose to help us relate to each other and as such we can be the royal priesthood that we have been called to be, bringing ourselves and each other before the throne of God. Unfortunately, rather than playing on Jesus' team we can end up blindsided and playing on the enemy's opposing team. He's always trying to intercept the ball and go on the offensive but we need not worry about him. If we will just continue to listen to our Head Coach Jesus and keep our eyes on him we will remain playing offensively instead of trying to gain ground from the defensive end. And the game is not just about us. Hebrews 11 and 12 tells us there is a great cloud of witnesses in the audience that have gone before us. They are awaiting the end of the game for only with us will they also attain the grand prize, perfection and co-heirs with Jesus Christ so we really need to rid ourselves of anything that hinders and entangles us. It's going to be a great wedding feast Sarah." As Alex was speaking Sarah saw JC coming to their table. He grabbed a seat on Alex's right and her left and was watching them. She caught her breath as she saw him face to face and recognized it was Jesus. It was Jesus! Verses began streaming to mind, ‘When two or three are gathered in my name there I am in the midst of them…didn't our hearts burn within us as He spoke?” Sarah then understood why every time He spoke the atmosphere within her changed and she was blessed. It was Jesus! It was Jesus!!! He then looked directly into her eyes, smiled and then disappeared but she knew He hadn't left them, He was still there in their hearts and she felt hers awakening to Him with greater measure. “Sarah,” Alex called, “Are you ok? You look like you've seen a ghost." Sarah didn't know if Alex would think she was crazy but she no longer cared as the moment was too precious not to share, “Alex, this may sound crazy but I just saw Jesus. He was right here and then he disappeared yet I know He is still here. I can feel Him in my heart,” she said excitedly. Alex then began to offer, “Where two or three are gathered…” and she joined him, “in my name there I am in the midst of them.” They laughed with the joy of the Lord in their hearts. “Sarah, I don't think you're crazy. You have a wonderful gift from God. You can see into the spiritual realm. Much of what you have shared regarding what you've seen confirm what I and some others have been discerning for some time.” “Oh Alex,” she cried out, “I know this is true, I just don't always understand it all. I didn't always understand it when you spoke his name but now I hear it clearly. It is Jesus Christ.” “Yes Sarah, the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End. It's all Jesus. He is our Head and we are all parts to his body and need each other.” She was so happy now and so was Alex. "Looks like we've scored a touchdown Sarah thanks to our amazing Head Coach Jesus." "Yes," she was breathless again but this time out of pure joy and excitement. "Thank you Jesus." Sarah continued to share the things she's seen and Alex gave her what he knew to help them sort it all out. He listened intently as she recounted it all. He loved speaking about the Lord and his ways, and was happy to see how much she was also enjoying it. Part XIV: Eclipse 　　　

Ambassadors for Jesus

Committed to Learning and Growing in Him

Part XIII:

JC

www.ambassadorsforJesus5.com

The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.

~2 Cor. 4:4-6

After finishing their meal they ordered two cups of coffee and Alex continued on. "Only Jesus opens the eyes of the blind and the ears of the deaf…and not speaking just of physical healing or even seeing into the spiritual realm for true seeing and hearing comes from a heart connected to Father God's found in Christ; a heart awakened to Him and his love. Understand?”

“Yes, I believe I do,” Sarah replied.

"Are you familiar with football?" he asked.

"I know the basics," she answered with curiosity.

“That should do. We are all progressively growing up into the full stature of Christ. We won't get there on our own…we are parts to his body and need each other, teammates. Yet we can be like the blind man in the bible that needed two touches from Jesus because with the first touch he was seeing men as trees. So God first begins to open our eyes, we score a touchdown, then we can opt for another neighborhood that may look different on the outside and the cause may seem more noble but if we are not coming from abiding in Jesus by trusting in Him it is more of the same thing with a different disguise.”

“I can see that Alex.”

“Sarah, I'm not saying that we shouldn't leave, the Lord can show each of us where He wants us during different phases in the process. Remember, after the man received his sight Jesus sent him another way. Sometimes we do have to leave for a time and even sit the bench with Jesus before He calls us back on field, whether there or elsewhere. We just need to realize it is the same playing field, all of us falling short of the glory of God, and if we aren't remaining in Christ and his heart of love we won't rise above it all and we'll continue with the wrong plays. I personally think it may even be worse if from there we start looking down at our neighbors and commit a major foul by throwing stones at them. The mote and beam Sarah. We try and remove motes out of their eyes when we are blindsided by the beams in our own. A beam is so much bigger than a mote and it may just speak of the condition of our hearts. We think we've scored the grand touchdown that won the game but we actually fumble the ball when we don't keep trusting Jesus to do the work in and through us. Then we go and foul others.”

“Romans 11,” Sarah offered excitedly as the pieces began falling into place.

“That's right, Romans 11. I like to think of the football as the grace and faith that comes from God by which he works in our personal lives, and in the corporate body of Christ for his greater purposes. There is personal growth and corporate growth. In our personal lives we have personal enrichment where we become pro players in the NFL. Then there is growing up corporately into the full stature of Christ for his greater purposes, the Superbowl. For our personal lives we are told that grace is given to the humble, no humility no grace to see us through. Yet there's also grace for the corporate body and what God is doing to bring about his larger purpose. For instance, in Romans 11 Paul speaks of the remnant of Israel chosen and kept by God's grace. Corporately, all his chosen are still being kept by his grace and faithfulness for even if we are unfaithful He remains faithful to us and his goal which takes us to Romans 8. There we are told that God is bringing his children into his glory. We are being conformed into the image of Jesus and other scriptures tell us why. It isn't just for our benefit…God loves everyone dearly and He wants to display his glory through his chosen vessels so that all would see it and come to Him. That's the goal. Are you following me so far or shall I call a time out?"

"No, no, I'm fine. I can see it," she was beaming. "Go on and make the pass to the receiver Alex because I'm receiving it."

He laughed at her reply and enthusiam realizing she really was receiving it. "Very well...Romans 11 gives the game plan by which he achieves the goal. Jesus is our root, the vine that upholds the branches. As we continue to trust in Jesus to do the work in and through us his sap, the Holy Spirit, brings forth his fruits of the spirit: joy, love, peace, longsuffering…John 15 and Galatians 5. So God is both kind and severe in his love. Kind if we keep trusting in Jesus but He will use severe means if we fumble the ball. It's all filtered through his great love for us for God is love. The book of Hebrews tells us He is a consuming fire. He burns all the wood and hay we have come to trust in over Him. He's a jealous God ablaze with love and intent on having a bride refined in his fiery love where her love for Him will come out purified and whole-hearted. We need not fear the fire or waters for He has said He will walk with us and we will not be consumed. Just like Jesus saved us from an awful collision. Just like Jesus carried you threw that angry crowd. Just like Jesus was with Reuben as Reuben was partaking of his sufferings.

In short Sarah, our journeys may take on different appearances but it's all the same if we haven't gone higher, or deeper if you prefer, into the heart of God, by grace through faith in Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. It is truly a humble position to know that we cannot do it without Jesus. That's humility and from that place we are given his grace to see us through. Our neighbor to neighbor relationships are suppose to help us relate to each other and as such we can be the royal priesthood that we have been called to be, bringing ourselves and each other before the throne of God. Unfortunately, rather than playing on Jesus' team we can end up blindsided and playing on the enemy's opposing team. He's always trying to intercept the ball and go on the offensive but we need not worry about him. If we will just continue to listen to our Head Coach Jesus and keep our eyes on him we will remain playing offensively instead of trying to gain ground from the defensive end. And the game is not just about us. Hebrews 11 and 12 tells us there is a great cloud of witnesses in the audience that have gone before us. They are awaiting the end of the game for only with us will they also attain the grand prize, perfection and co-heirs with Jesus Christ so we really need to rid ourselves of anything that hinders and entangles us. It's going to be a great wedding feast Sarah."

As Alex was speaking Sarah saw JC coming to their table. He grabbed a seat on Alex's right and her left and was watching them. She caught her breath as she saw him face to face and recognized it was Jesus. It was Jesus! Verses began streaming to mind, ‘When two or three are gathered in my name there I am in the midst of them…didn't our hearts burn within us as He spoke?” Sarah then understood why every time He spoke the atmosphere within her changed and she was blessed. It was Jesus! It was Jesus!!! He then looked directly into her eyes, smiled and then disappeared but she knew He hadn't left them, He was still there in their hearts and she felt hers awakening to Him with greater measure.

“Sarah,” Alex called, “Are you ok? You look like you've seen a ghost."

Sarah didn't know if Alex would think she was crazy but she no longer cared as the moment was too precious not to share, “Alex, this may sound crazy but I just saw Jesus. He was right here and then he disappeared yet I know He is still here. I can feel Him in my heart,” she said excitedly.

Alex then began to offer, “Where two or three are gathered…” and she joined him, “in my name there I am in the midst of them.” They laughed with the joy of the Lord in their hearts.

“Sarah, I don't think you're crazy. You have a wonderful gift from God. You can see into the spiritual realm. Much of what you have shared regarding what you've seen confirm what I and some others have been discerning for some time.”

“Oh Alex,” she cried out, “I know this is true, I just don't always understand it all. I didn't always understand it when you spoke his name but now I hear it clearly. It is Jesus Christ.”

“Yes Sarah, the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End. It's all Jesus. He is our Head and we are all parts to his body and need each other.”

She was so happy now and so was Alex. "Looks like we've scored a touchdown Sarah thanks to our amazing Head Coach Jesus."

"Yes," she was breathless again but this time out of pure joy and excitement. "Thank you Jesus."

Sarah continued to share the things she's seen and Alex gave her what he knew to help them sort it all out. He listened intently as she recounted it all. He loved speaking about the Lord and his ways, and was happy to see how much she was also enjoying it.

Part XIV: Eclipse 　

jo@ambassadorsforjesus5.com