#1JohnChallenge : Get Ready

The Apostle John wrote these words to the churches in and around Asia Minor, present-day Turkey, between 85-95 AD.  Passing along several bits of encouragement and reminders, in chapter 2 he writes,

"Little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming" (1 John 2:28).

John addresses his readers as "little children" many times, but don't think he is looking down on them.  And from their side, it is not an insult.  After all, he was a respected Apostle, one who had heard, seen, looked, and even touched the risen Jesus (1 John 1:1).  They were happy to receive this letter and the instruction with it.  One of the bits of instruction that John pointed to was their readiness.  It was a fact, Jesus was coming back.  At some point, he would appear again like he left (Acts 1:10-11).  When will this happen?  Only God the Father knows (Matth 24:36). We, those who live in the time until he does, simply need to be ready (Matt 24:44).  

How are we to be ready?  Continue in prayer (1 Peter 4:7), watch out for the misleading of false prophets (Matthew 7:15), ground yourself in the word of God (2 Timothy 3:14-17), and always be prepared to share the hope that you have (1 Peter 3:15).

Lastly, John uses the word abide several times throughout this letter.  Abide points to agreeing with a discussion or judgment.  So, in this case, when we abide in him, we are loving the way he loves, caring for others like he desires, presenting ourselves as different people, holy, righteous, and blameless at his coming.

This all begins when we have a relationship with God's Son, Jesus Christ.  If you would like to know more about how you can have that relationship, email me here.

Pastor Walt
Philemon 6

#1JohnChallenge: Just Walking Around

Towards the end of my reading this morning of the Apostle John's letter, in chapter 5, he writes:

"We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one" (1 John 5:19).

This is a reality that is easy to see.  Just look around.  The residue of the evil one, Satan, the Devil, Lucifer, the Father of Lies, the Great Confuser, is all around.  Even if we were to look past the current trending events of the world like war and governments that try to control, the evil one has had his fingerprints all over the creation since Adam and Eve took the first bite. 

Yesterday while the children watched an animated story about Job in our house, I was reminded about the evil one's activities.  As he appeared in front of God before he caused any havoc in Job's life, God asked him, 

"from where have you come?"  Satan answered the Lord and said, "from going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it" (Job 1:8).

Earth is his place.  It's where he does his work of confusion and temptation.  And, he has been given the right to be there by God himself.  Further evidence of this "dominion" over the earth is seen in his temptation of Jesus in the wilderness.  Luke records this account and writes,

And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, and said to him, "To you I will give all this authoriity and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will" (Luke 4:5-6).

The whole world does lie in the power of the evil one (1 John 5:19), which seems pretty bleak, but John points to the hope that we have as those who believe that Jesus Christ came to save us from the evil one.  John says its this way:

"Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who beleives that Jesus Chrsit is the Son of God" (1 John 5:5).

How can we overcome the evil one who is walking up, down, and around the earth (Job 1:8)?  Belief in a moment, and belief that continues until the day we receive "the promise that he made to us-- eternal life" (1 John 2:25). 

If you have any questions about this or want to know more about what it means to believe and be in a relationship with Jesus, email me here.

Pastor Walt
Philemon 6