Real Authority

"when Peter came to Antioch, I had a face-to-face confrontation with him because he was clearly out of line." - Galatians 2:11(MESSAGE)

Valid authority in the Church derives from following the truth.

Those aligned with God's word are to be honored and followed,¹ those who don't are to be resisted, sometimes even publicly, regardless of their name, rank, or history.

The apostle, Paul, wrote

"Let me be blunt: ... If anyone, regardless of reputation or credentials, preaches something other than what you received originally, let him be cursed ... If my goal was popularity, I wouldn't bother being Christ's" - Galatians 1:9-10a (MESSAGE)

This doesn't mean arguing every little point. The Brethren church has a wonderful saying,

In essentials, Unity;
In non essentials, Liberty;
In all things, Charity."

All valid authority comes from adherence to God's word, not an ecclesiastical or educational title.

- fritz

^{1 - 1st Timothy 5:17}

Righteousness like a Breastplate

[T]ake ... the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, ... having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;" - Ephesians 6:13-14a

The Bible lists eight essentials for withstanding evil days, warning us to take time now to prepare.

It takes boldness and confidence to withstand any adversity; any display of weakness or fear is an invitation for disaster. Spiritual adversity requires the boldness of being right with God - the Bible says "the righteous are bold as a lion."¹

We can't be bold by our own rightness for our best efforts are woefully inadequate but, thankfully, Jesus did the heavy lifting. He lived a righteous, sinless, life and offers himself to be our covering.

"For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ." - Galatians 3:37

It is the breastplate, strong, fit, and unwavering, that the enemy sees not how well or inadequately we are behind it.

- fritz

^{1 - Proverbs 28:1b}

Abraham's Blessing - Chased by Good

"Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, ... and I will bless thee..."- Genesis 12:1-2

Many years ago God appeared to Abraham and gave what is called "Abraham's Blessing". Passed down through the centuries it finally resides in Christ, Abraham's promised heir, and we, too, become eligible.

"Christ hath redeemed us ... That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ" - Galatians 3:13a, 14a

For us in Christ this has unique meaning.

There are six (6) things we get to participate in, not the least of which is the fact we no longer have to chase after the blessings we think we want.

When I follow Christ, God's blessings chase me!

This is precisely the meaning of Psalm 23 when it says,

"The Lord is my Shepherd ... Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life"

God is working all things for my good¹ as I love him and follow his call his blessings follow me.

- fritz

^{1 - Romans 8:23}

Abraham's Blessing - A New Nation

"Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house ... and I will make of thee a great nation ..." - Genesis 12:1-3

My affiliation with Christ enables me to participate in "Abraham's Blessing".¹

Part of that blessing is nation building - not a political nation, but a common bond of heart and soul that will culminate upon Christ's return to rule this earth.

Jesus told his disciples, "I will build my church".² The word, "Church" literally means "the called out ones." Called out of every nation and ethnic group are individuals who are to be part of his work in the earth. The call is generic in that anyone can participate if they desire to do so. It is specific in that only the ones tapped by God will say, "Yes!" Do you feel that draw to participate? It's him calling.

These are, collectively, the "Mountain that filled the whole earth" mentioned in the Bible's book of Daniel, chapter two.³ They are the temple of God building for his habitation.⁴ They are the "joints and ligaments" of the Body of Christ, helping it to grow into full maturity.⁵

Entering Christ has made me part of something bigger than myself, bigger than my nation, bigger than my time in history.

How cool is that!

-fritz

^{1 - Galatians 3:13
2 - Matthew 16:18
3 - Daniel 2:34
4 - Ephesians 2:22
5 - Ephesians 4:16}

Abraham's Blessing Like a Football

Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get ... unto a land that I will shew thee: And ... I will bless thee ... and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. - Genesis 12:1-3

Abram (later called Abraham) is significant for many reasons, not the least of which is his "Blessing". God made promises to Abraham which were to be passed from one person to the next.

His "Blessing" wasn't passed to all Abraham's children but to receivers who would carry it forward. Like a football, it was passed to Isaac¹ not Ishmael, to Jacob² not to Esau, down through the centuries until it was finally passed to Christ who passes it to us, both Jews and Gentiles, who accept Christ by faith.

Christ hath redeemed us ... That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ" - Galatians 3:13a, 14a

- fritz

^{1 - Genesis 21:12
2 - Genesis 28:3}

Algebra in the Bible

"[T]he kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it. - Matthew 13:45-46

In algebra class we were given word problems. We had to express them in terms of variables ("x", "y", and "z") then solve the equation. We considered them both enlightening and confusing - enlightening if figured correctly, confusing if our equation was wrong.

Jesus taught parables both illustrating and obfuscating reality, but they can be seen like heavenly word problems that, with the right correlation of variables, reveal their secrets.

Jesus, here, says there is a Merchant man, a valuable pearl, and currency to purchase it - "x", "y", and "z". He also tells us the merchant man, "x", is really the Kingdom of Heaven. What, then, could the currency of Heaven be? Not gold, that's paving material, the valuable God had was his only Son.

"Christ purchased our freedom [redeeming us] from the curse (doom) of the Law [and its condemnation]" - Galatians 3:13a (Amplified)

And the Pearl of great price, that would be you and me.

"... true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks." - Jesus (John 4:23b NIV)

Do you see yourself as a valuable pearl? God does.

- fritz