Father Is Pleased

by Eric Reeder

Mark 1:11 

When Jesus arrived at the river, He was the manifested Word sent from Father to shape and form a new creation in the earth. As the Counsel of Heaven brought forth creation in the beginning, there was water and darkness and depth. This seemed to be the canvas from which the process of creation emerged. At this turning point in history, the fulfillment of redemption, the scene was similar. Water, darkness, depth. The Jordan was flowing, the Mosiac Covenant had dimmed down and they couldn't even identify the Promised One walking among them. They were deeply entrenched in law and tradition and had become the old wine skin. In this setting, Father released the Word and once again Spirit was hovering. A new creation was happening. Jesus was the incarnated revelation of Father and the revelation that came in the Jordan is that Father is pleased. In other words, this new creation was GOOD. Like in Genesis, Father saw what was formed through Jesus and said it was good. He was pleased. The Father, Son, and Spirit had again brought forth goodness from the water, the darkness, and the deep. Father wanted His heart to be seen immediately within this new creation. He wanted the revelation that He is pleased and happy to be the bedrock of how He would be known. He wanted it well confirmed that He was Father and not an angry avenger. The statement that this was His Son made it known He was a Father. Even before Jesus stated He was Father when asked how to pray, that was the premise He set. We are to know He is a Father who is pleased. We are told through Paul that anyone who is in Christ is this new creation. Created sons and daughters are in the Uncreated Son and it so pleases Father. In Christ, we are sons and He is well pleased.

Wilderness Time in the New Covenant

by Eric Reeder

Mark 1:12

Jesus wasn't in need of knowing Father was pleased with Him. He never walked in the deception that Father was unpleased. At 12, Jesus was already revealing Father in mind blowing ways. The scene at the Jordan in Mark 1:11 wasn't about what Jesus needed, it was what humanity needed. Mankind needed to know truth that would incarcerate the deception that He was angry and out to get us. From the deception-shattering moment when the heavens opened and revealed a pleased Father, Jesus was then sent to the wilderness. Holy Spirit guided Him into a 40 day season of gaining. Fasting was the disregarding of the demands of His humanity to show that wasn't to be our source of life. We are told we don't live by bread alone, but by the word coming from Father's heart (Matt 4:4). Jesus didn't have to fast to remove something out of order in His life. He was going into a time of gaining from Father and what His heart had to share.

For those of the Superior Covenant, the wilderness isn't about "wondering". It's about discovery. The wilderness is time with Father not time circling your desert. Often times, people say a time of struggle, loneliness, heartache, or confusion is a "wilderness". That is old covenant thinking and needs not to be participated with. Spirit didn't drive Jesus into a time of wondering or struggle. Spirit lead Him into a deep time with Father. Hard times are just that; hard times. Our wilderness is Spirit leading us deeper in knowing Father. That is always good times. Even in the midst of struggle we can know Him more deeply which is goodness prevailing over the struggle.

Notice and take note of how Spirit is causing you to see more of Father, His goodness, and that He is pleased. This is the wilderness; the unrestricted place of knowing His heart. Enjoy it. Enjoy living from what comes from His heart instead of living from the demands of your humanity.

Changing Things
by Eric Reeder

Mark 1:1-7

There was a beginning to the declarative era about the good news of Jesus. That beginning started with a "voice" that didn't fit into the mode of that moment. John, who taught a baptism of repentance, made some of the most challenging and radical statements ever made for those that heard him. He was announcing the requirement to change and go a different way. The call was to turn from everything they knew and embrace something totally different. Repentance is not the precursor to forgiveness. It's the result of forgiveness. John was announcing forgiveness was being made available.  Because of that, things would be done differently.  He was telling those of the Old Covenant that there was coming a cancelation to their debt of sin. Mark 1:4 states John proclaimed a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. Looking at Young's Literal Translation, we get a better picture. Look at this; ..."proclaiming a baptism of reformation — to remission of sins."  John was calling for a reformation.  The gospel was requiring a new form. Reformation is defined as the process of reforming a practice. This good news was their current practice (the way they did things) was changing. Primarily the process/practice of dealing with the debt of sin. 

Most translations write verse 4 to say "a baptism of repentance FOR the forgiveness of sins."  This can cause a couple challenges:
1) Is baptism required FOR forgiveness?
2) Is repentance a required step to obtain forgiveness?
I stated previously that repentance isn't a precursor for forgiveness but the result of forgiveness. We know forgiveness was achieved at the cross as Jesus stated, "it is finished". Romans 2:4 shows us it's the goodness/kindness of God that LEADS us to repentance. His goodness displayed in His forgiveness CAUSES our hearts to want to change direction (repent). 

John was given the assignment to go ahead of Jesus to tell everyone that the way sin was dealt with is changing, and the change that was coming was the REMISSION of sin. The Temple and sacrificial system of the Old Covenant didn't offer the remission of sins. Jesus was coming to handle the debt of sin and CANCEL it. This would cause hearts to respond in leaving those sins (confess/own up to the need for cancellation) and walk free in the debt cancellation. John's message caused hearts to no longer go to the Temple or priest or altar of sacrifice to deal with sin. They were out in the middle of the wilderness responding to the news their debt of sin was being cancelled so they no longer had to participate in the old system of covering sins. This was totally radical and a total reformation. 

Today, it's still radical. It's still an amazing wonder to consider we can't do anything to create our forgiveness, but it's our faith that embraces that forgiveness was set in Jesus and our debt is cancelled. We own up to having sin that needs cancelled, and we are overwhelmed in gratitude to already be forgiven. We are full of joy knowing we are so free to go forward leaving our sin behind (confess) and live in a new direction (repent) so His goodness shines through us (prepares the way).  This causes others to awaken to their freedom. Everyone wishes their debt would be cancelled. The present reality is your debt IS cancelled. His goodness prevailed (hope) and now your faith (actions according to belief) is settled on that. We have this hope so we are bold (2 Cor 3:12). We are not trying to obtain forgiveness. We are living from forgiveness. John announced the beginning of this good news of debt cancellation and Jesus finished it. Now we live it. 

This forgiveness results in relationship. We have no barriers keeping us distant from Father. Restrictions have been done away with. John said he baptized with water, but Jesus would baptize with Holy Spirit. Baptism is a representative seal. John's baptism was a sealing in a new way of having sins washed away/remission (water), and Jesus' baptism is a sealing in relationship (Spirit). The new way sin would be handled would prepare/clear the way for relationship with Father. The forgiveness of sins was a means to the end of being in relationship with Father. He wanted His sons and daughters and nothing would stop Him. This is the present hope we live.  This is the good news John proclaimed. This is the everlasting goodness that has an unending glory.

THRILL of HOPE - Day 15

“The thrill of hope, a weary world rejoices…..”

We are 10 days away from Christmas.  These blogs have been a blast to write and I trust they have strengthened our view of Father through Jesus.  He is a good Father that has always been reaching toward us.  All along His heart has been for us.  Jesus never came to create a holiday.  His Incarnation wasn’t so we could get a day off work or have a “black Friday” and save tons of money.  Jesus became the visible presentation of Father’s heart.  Jesus is the revelation of God with us, Emmanuel.  The nations of the earth get to rejoice.  They get to return to joy over and over as we ongoingly recognize He is with us.  He never left.  Even after all the mess and denial and rejection, and turning away we did, He wouldn’t relent in coming toward us.  Nothing we do will hold Him off.  He can’t be held back.  Hope was set in motion since before creation.  Hope is the unconditional assurance Father’s goodness prevails.  So before the Trinity even created, His goodness was set to prevail regardless.  Because of that we are those that are bold and rise in the earth to unveil that goodness and unlock glory.  This hope is the thrill His sons and daughters get to enjoy and live out.  No matter how dark the night, a Star shines.  No matter what death decree is enacted in a land, He preserves life.  Even if no one is making room for Him, there will be a breakthrough that sends the unexpected ones to be part of His revealing.  We are not at a loss.  We are not chasing hope.  Hope is here.  We live the thrill of never staying in ashes, but always assured beauty is emerging.  He came into humanity to reveal Father’s heart.  

Jesus said to pray His will be done on earth as it is in heaven.  We can recognize that the instruction was to invite the heart (will) of Father to be done in this realm.  At the moment when Jesus was asked to pray, He caused the most amazing revelation.  He said “Our Father”.  There it is!  When He was 12 He stated He was about His Father’s business.  The Father was causing the earth to see Him as Father.  

Today, we are those looking to see more of Father.  To know Him and not just about Him.  To embrace the thrill of hope that happens for sons and daughters.  We are bold enough to celebrate for the rest of our life. 

THRILL of HOPE - Day 14

“The thrill of hope, a weary world rejoices…..”

I’m having a Guest Author for today’s post.  Brian Orme is a new friend.  I am really enjoying the revelation he shares and his heart to remove the orphan nature.  He lives in Southern California and leads an awesome ministry.  He posted this on his Facebook the other day, and I really liked it.  I felt it had the heartbeat we are sharing in the THRILL of HOPE series.  See what you think. 

// Silent Night? //
By Brian Orme

At this point, I am sure you have heard the classic Christmas tune, Silent Night. This beloved song has crossed the ear drums of millions of people for many years. 

Yet, this song is not really accurate with what kind of night it was when Jesus was born. In Revelation 12 we see a very different picture. It's not a description of soft star light bringing a golden glow in a stable while the farm animals sway humming a hymn.

Jesus' birth was not a silent night. It was an act of war. While some heard the cries of a newborn baby, darkness heard the shouts of war. There is just something powerful about infants and their praise. In fact, Psalm 8:2 says, "Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. The stable wasn't a silent night, the caverns of darkness were being silenced.

The domain of darkness was crying much louder than baby Jesus was. Divinity collided with humanity that night. Son of God. Son of Man. The last Adam arrived.

We are now seated with Christ in full dominion. It is our birthright to walk in authority. Jesus was given ALL authority in the heavens and earth, so there is none left for any demon. Any manifestation of evil powers is the exercising of illegitimate authority. Demons don't bust down doors, they can only walk through open ones because they are so weak.

We don't have to get to the end of the "Book" to see that we win. You can read much earlier in the Epistles, we already won. We are SEATED above darkness. A posture of leisure, resting in the utter triumph of Christ over all evil. We can stand firm on earth when we realize we are seated in the heavenly realms. 

Next time you hear Silent Night, you may envision a different scene.

THRILL of HOPE - Day 13

“The thrill of hope, a weary world rejoices…..”

Isaiah 9:6 tells us a child was given.  John 3:16 says the Son was given.  John 17 tells us of Jesus saying He’d ask Father to give us the Counselor.  These gifts were from Father to reveal to us who He is.  It’s one thing to know ABOUT God.  It’s totally different to KNOW God.  The gift that was given from Father was the gift of knowing Him.  He gave us His heart.  He gifted us the availability to know Him as He is instead of how we might perceive.  This gift was stated by Isaiah when he proclaimed we would be getting Emmanuel (God with us).  The Father gave so we could know He is with us.  He didn’t want us living in the deception that He is far off, somewhere else, just lording over us, or pushed away from us by our wrong deeds.  All other gods have the concept of the god being detached, off in the distance, angry and needing appeased.  Father didn’t want to us to think He was the same way.  So He gave Jesus.  

We may need to think through the word “gave,” because our English word “gave” is connected to the understanding that prior to what was given, we didn’t have it.  If I give you a new car, it’s not too hard to understand that prior to my giving it to you, you didn’t have it.  This can frame our minds to have a hint of an idea that if Father gave Jesus it’s like Jesus wasn’t there before.  Most would recognize He is eternal and He always was.  So when Father gave Him to us, it wasn’t the gift of something that wasn’t here.  We didn’t have a true revelation of Father before so, in that sense, the gift was something that wasn’t there prior.  But Jesus wasn’t over there and then came here.  He wasn’t off over the rainbow and then came into earth.  When He “came”, it wasn’t an arrival.  It was a REVEALING.  He didn’t show up here and then at the ascension leave here.  He’s always been here and always will be.

It is His love giving us the truth about Him so we might be free.  Deception is the core bondage.  Deception can always be traced back to “wrong view of God, and wrong view of self”.  Father’s gift was the truth about Him so that deception could no longer control us and steal from us.  It wasn’t a gift of something that just arrived or wasn’t there before.  It was a gift of what has always been; the gift is He is good.  Always has been, always will be.  That is where hope came from and what hope provides.  Hope is the unconditional assurance Father’s goodness prevails.  It’s the truth about Him and it liberates our hearts and minds to proceed with boldness because we are free from fear.  His perfect love has cast out fear.  The gift of revealing Himself was perfect love that breaks the hold of deception which tells us that He is mad, angry, off somewhere in a distance waiting for us to mess up, or is far away and we are waiting to be with Him.  Father gave us the Son to show us the true presentation and description of Himself.  Father gave us Spirit to counsel us through the deception like a friend that stays close always reminding us about who Father is and what He is like.  Father gave so we could know Him….. what He’s like, what He feels, what He thinks, His motives, His nature, His interests, His enjoyment, His ways, His smile, and even the depth of His eyes.  We can’t perceive or comprehend all there is of Him, but He did show us the measure that can take us to our limits.  We get to live our life unwrapping this gift.