Archive for works

All the Way Up! Rodna Epley

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Rodna Epley with tags , , , , , , , , , , on September 30, 2020 by paulthepoke

John 16:28 I came forth from the Father and have come into the world. Again, I leave the world and go to the Father.

Jesus went to be with the Father where He is today at the Father’s right hand—as the Father’s right hand. He is the King of glory siting on the throne of glory in the Kingdom of Glory—the Kingdom of Heaven. Everything that Jesus did along the way to His destination, the Father, was all a part of the Father’s plan to restore us to Himself by placing us in Christ.

Jesus is the way to the Father (John 14:6). He came down from the Father and went back up to the Father. He finished the work the Father gave Him to do (John 17:4). He lived a perfect, sinless, obedient life as a Man born under the Old Covenant (John 8:46). He restored the glory of the Old Covenant and released the glory of the New Covenant which is greater. He proved the Father sent Him and was working through Him by the words He spoke and the works He did.

As the Lamb of God, He took all of our sins and sicknesses upon His own body as He was crucified until death on the cross. He was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father. He ascended to heaven as our High Priest presenting Himself to the Father as the Wave Sheaf offering. He preached the kingdom of heaven on earth for forty days afterward. And then He ascended in His glorified body to the Father to sit at the Father’s right hand where He is now. Those of us who put our faith in Jesus are there now too with Him where He is. Not if or when we die, but now.

From the position of the Father is where Jesus poured out the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of the Father upon us and gave the same glory He had with the Father since the foundation of the world to make us One with the Father as He is One with the Father (John 17:5, 22-23). When we know that we are seated in Christ and Christ is with the Father, we can operate in “greater works” which come from the Father. We do the works that we see Jesus do and greater works because He is with the Father (John 14:12).

Our minds are being transformed into the image of the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 3:18). We are promoted from one level of glory to another level of glory as we overcome one suffering to another turning all darkness that we face into light as we are taught and led by the Holy Spirit in each experience (Romans 8:18). So, learning to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit and to “separate the precious from the vile” is extremely important (Jeremiah 15:19, 2 Timothy 2:15).

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Straight Talk, Glory Kitchen Menu Specials… Rodna Epley

Posted in Rodna Epley with tags , , , , , , on October 26, 2018 by paulthepoke

Rodna LightNow imagine for a minute if any of us in the church could only do the first part of what Jesus said in John 14:12 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in Me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.

Just think of anything Jesus ever did. And that’s what He said we would do. After grasping that, we could move onto better understanding the greater works which should sufficiently blow your imagination wide open if you consider the menu list of the former. While I could have made a separate menu for the greater works, for this example I simply added it as the last item on the menu. I wanted to focus on the easier stuff first, like raising the dead and walking on water.

Remember, items on this Menu are all things that you will be able to do. Doing is eating in the Father’s House at the Father’s table. Pick out your favorite choices so the servers in heaven can have them on the table for you when you sit. Doggie bags are available so you can take food home for others who have nothing prepared.

Nehemiah 8:10 Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.

Menu template

Glory Kitchen Menu Specials:

  1. Turn water to wine (John 2:1-11)
  2. Heal the sick / oppressed (Matthew 8:14-15, Mark 1:32-34)
  3. Cast out evil spirits (Mark 1:21-27, Luke 4:31-36)
  4. Catch fish miraculously when no fish are around (Matthew 5:1-11)
  5. Make the paralyzed walk (Matthew 9:1-8, Mark 2:1-2)
  6. Stretch out withered hands (Luke 6:6-11)
  7. Calm raging storms on the sea (Mark 4:35-41)
  8. Heal blood issues (Matthew 9:20-22)
  9. Raise the dead (Matthew 9:18,23-26)
  10. Make the blind see (Matthew 9:27-31)
  11. Make the deaf hear, the mute speak (Matthew 9:32-34, Mark 7:31-37)
  12. Feed way over 9,000 people with only a few fish and several loaves of bread (Matthew 15:29-39; John 6:1-15)
  13. Walk on water (John 6:16-21)
  14. Pull money out of a fish’s mouth to pay taxes (Matthew 17:24-27)
  15. Heal dropsy, leprosy, being crippled (Luke 13:10-17; 14:1-6; 17:11-19)
  16. Anything else you want! A blank check! The greater works! (Matthew 18:19; 21:22; Mark 11:24, John 14:13, 15:7, 15:16, 16:23-24; James 1:5, 1:17; 1 John 3:22, 5:14-15)

 

Disclaimer: All ingredients and spices used in all recipes are totally organic, non-allergenic, non-racist and all that stuff. They include: peace, joy, love, hope, faith, favor, willingness to yield, treating others above ourselves, humility, wisdom, revelation, knowledge of God (aka, knowledge of the glory), et al.

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Straight Talk, A Diet of Works… Rodna Epley

Posted in Rodna Epley with tags , , , , on October 17, 2018 by paulthepoke

Rodna LightJohn 4:32-34 But He said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.” So the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought him something to eat?” Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work…”

Now let me tell ya about the food! You will forget protein shakes ever existed once you taste the food! Food in the kingdom of heaven is a full course meal where the kitchen is always open 24/7 for anyone who is hungry and knows how to GPS the location. FYI: the GPS location is very similar to the wedding garment because once you put it on…you’re there.

The Father’s kitchen has a name too. Well it does now that I named it. It’s called the “Glory Kitchen”. The food in the Glory Kitchen has already been paid for by the King (Jesus) and it’s anything you want.

Food Revati Upadhya

Photo: Revati Upadhya

Food in the Glory Kitchen is doing the Father’s works. Don’t slap the menu away just yet. That may not sound tasty to you until you hear what those “works” are. Jesus showed us what they are when He was on earth.

John 14:12-13 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in Me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

 

 

 

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Straight Talk… The Vine, Rodna Epley

Posted in Rodna Epley, Uncategorized with tags , , , , , , , , , on August 30, 2018 by paulthepoke

Rodna LightThis revelation came in to me recently by the Holy Spirit about the Vine pattern in the Word itself. It takes stepping back and looking at the Word as a whole. There is a much bigger picture that God has for us although all the contextual parts are also very important for focusing in on specific areas. I can see many topics that have this vine pattern from the holistic perspective, but since I love the glory topic and it’s the very purpose of the Gospel according to 2 Thessalonians 2:14 my focus here is the glory!

2 Thessalonians 2:14 To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Vine&Glory Rodna

From Yahweh in the old covenant to the prophecy in Isaiah, God would share His glory with only one other – The Messiah…

to Jesus demonstrating for all of us how to operate in the glory through the Father’s works He performed…

to Jesus giving us the same glory He was given by the Father before the world was, so that we could be restored to the Father through Himself…

to know the Father’s love…

to become one as a church…

to believe the Father sent Jesus, so that we could do the works He did including raising the dead, casting out demons, healing the sick, etc., and “greater works” than those too because “we abide in Him and His Word abides in us we can ask whatever we desire and it will be done” according to Jesus. Part of these greater works is taking dominion over creation itself which are the works of His hands.

And this all gives the Father glory Jesus said.

I love the Word ❤️. It’s simple and very complex at the same time. The knowledge of God is inexhaustible. The Lord has been working on opening up my imagination lately. This is necessary to enter the kingdom of heaven. Jesus said we all must become like little children. While we continue to grow in the knowledge of God, knowledge of His glory, we wholeheartedly believe that all things truly are possible. Learn to do the works that Jesus did and “greater works”. This is what it means to be part of being in the family of God, to be in His kingdom. His kingdom is saturated with the Presence of the Father’s Glory.

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Please… Please Listen to Grace

Posted in Uncategorized with tags , , , , , , , , , on June 10, 2018 by paulthepoke

Grace is the operating principle of how God interacts with believers in and through His Son. For those who have not accepted the gracious gift of Jesus Christ, they are still under God’s Law regardless of what they believe. Prior to the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, humanity was under the Mosaic Law. We are not saved under the Law. The Law points out the fact we are flawed sinners. The standard of the Law defines the fact we are in sin.

John 1:17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

Romans 6:14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.

With the cross work of Jesus Christ, things changed. He paid the price for sin. With the cross, there was a new program. And that program is grace. The undeserved gift is eternal life. We don’t deserve it. We cannot earn it. The grace of Jesus Christ is a free offering to anyone who will take it. The free gift is grace. Grace and free gift are synonymous.

Romans 5:21 so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

Romans 6:1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?

Grace is an interesting and intriguing concept. Grace makes no logical sense. The more one accepts and uses grace, the more grace multiplies and increases. The sting of sin pales in comparison to the power of grace. Sin is no match. Grace wins in a land slide. Accept grace…

Romans 5:20 Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more…

1 Timothy 1:14 and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

In 1 Timothy 1, grace is described as overflowing or ὑπερπλεονάζω/huperpleonazó. The prefix “hyper” is used to describe the amount of the number of grace. One cannot measure grace. It is so plentiful, grace cannot be counted. Grace is super, exceedingly abundant. Grace is hyper “cannot be counted”. Definition provided by Strong’s Concordance.

Grace wins…

 

Grace is the difference maker, not the individual. We are granted grace by God. It is not about us. Don’t get cocky.

Romans 12:3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.

Don’t forget, grace is a gift. There is no amount of good deeds or work anyone can do to earn grace. One can not work for an eternity to earn grace. God is not impressed with your effort. Humble yourself. Get over it because you are not that good. And you are not going to be good enough not matter what you do. Spare God your pride and arrogance. You did not die on a cross to pay for all the sins and transgressions (past, present, and future) of all humanity.

Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

 

 

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Isaiah 1:10-15 God Hates Religion

Posted in Isaiah with tags , , , , , , , , on October 4, 2010 by paulthepoke

Isaiah 1:10-15 Listen to the Lord’s word, you leaders of Sodom! Pay attention to our God’s rebuke, people of Gomorrah! “Of what importance to me are your many sacrifices?”says the Lord. “I am stuffed withburnt sacrifices of rams and the fat from steers. The blood of bulls, lambs, and goats I do not want.When you enter my presence, do you actually think I want this –animals trampling on my courtyards? Do not bring any more meaninglessofferings; I consider your incense detestable!You observe new moon festivals, Sabbaths, and convocations, but I cannot tolerate sin-stained celebrations!I hate your new moon festivals and assemblies; they are a burden that I am tired of carrying. When you spread out your hands in prayer, I look the other way;when you offer your many prayers, I do not listen, because your hands are covered with blood.

Religion is going through a ritual or performance. Religion can take many forms. Religion thinks these acts are going to score points with God or impress God. One can see God is not impressed with the religious acts of the Jews in Isaiah 1:10-15. Yes, the Jewish people were required to sacrifice according the Scriptures, but look at their attitude and their actions above. God makes it perfectly clear in  verse 14, “I hate …” Make no mistake, in the Hebrew the word means hate.

Look at the cynicism and sarcasm in verse 10. God refers to the leaders of Jerusalem as comparable to Sodom and Gomorrah. The level of sin had reached the point of their destruction.

Observe the list of “works” as noted by God in these verses. They include burnt sacrifices, offerings, burning of incense, new moon festivals, observance of the Sabbath, and prayer. Yes, even prayer can be “religious” and hated by God. In the next study, the origin of these “religious works” and specific verses will be discussed and defined in their appropriate context.

What is that motivates somebody to do something for “religious” purposes? Is one trying to impress others? Is one trying to draw attention to self for their glory?  Is one trying to get God’s attention or impress God? God is not impressed with “works”. He does not need them. One cannot work their way to Heaven. These Jews were doing what they were supposed to do. They were going to the synagogue on Saturday and burning incense. Does this sound familiar? The problem was ritual and they were going through the motions.

Fast forward to the New Testament, things had not changed much in the church in I Corinthians 11. People were showing up for the Lord’s Supper drunk. Yes, communion is a wonderful thing, but not if you have a bad attitude.

I Corinthians 11:20-22 Now when you come together at the same place, you are not really eating the Lord’s Supper. For when it is time to eat, everyone proceeds with his own supper. One is hungry and another becomes drunk. Do you not have houses so that you can eat and drink? Or are you trying to show contempt for the church of God by shaming those who have nothing? What should I say to you? Should I praise you? I will not praise you for this!

So what should our attitude be? Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. This is having confidence of knowing that what the Bible says is real. Knowing when God says that we should love one another (1 John 3:11b) that it is the truth. It is having the resolution and the confidence that God knows what is best for us. We are to do these works because God has deemed what is good and what is right. God created these good works for us to complete before the beginning of time (Ephesians 2:10). We do these works because we relate and respond to His Word. James 2:17 Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. So, if one’s works are not based in faith… pointless religion.

In today’s world, God is still not interested in misguided works. He is interested in relation and response to His Word. The world may say, “Well, that works for you.” And the answer is, “Yes it does”.  It is also true that God’s Word can work for all of us.

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