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Written by Brian Harvey

Created: 14 February 2015

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Law or Love?

The Sermon on the Mount reported by Matthew in chapters 5 through 7 is a sermon preached by Jesus instructing His disciples in the way of the kingdom that He declared was near: “From that time on Jesus began to preach, `Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’” (Matthew 4: 17 NIV)

The core of the teaching of Jesus is in two concepts:

1. We are to become salt and light: You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
2. Jesus came to fulfill the Law and the Prophets: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear for the Law until everything is accomplished. Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5: 13 – 20 NIV)

These passages quoted above may be the most difficult in all Scripture. The Beatitudes just preached by Jesus throw our normal expectation of religion and, indeed, all of life on its ear. From “Blessed are the poor in spirit” to “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,” Jesus is announcing the kingdom of God (kingdom of heaven in Matthew) in terms that are seemingly impossible to comprehend and certainly impossible to complete in one’s own life. Then He immediately calls us out and challenges us to be “salt” and “light” in this world that Jesus said we were to live in but not be part of.I do not see myself as a light set on a lampstand. I do not find that I am shedding light into anyone else’s life. I am not set on a hill like a city; but I have been hidden. Why have I been hidden and am not shedding my light? Why am I not a preservative in the world and one who makes things around me more tasty?Following Jesus in the Way of Love places me in a very unique position in all of history in both heaven and earth. By following Jesus in the Way of Love I enter into Jesus. I exchange my life for His. I actually die. This is what Jesus was talking about. If I were to cling to my life by trying to fulfill what Jesus has already fulfilled I will fail to live over and over again. However, if I die to any attempt to fulfill the precepts of the Sermon on the Mount or the other teachings of Jesus and examples of His life and death I live according to the life He gives me.After the coming of the Holy Spirit Peter preached a sermon that resulted in the salvation of 3,000. The words of Jesus were truly fulfilled and the church was established on the fact that Jesus is the Christ.

When I attempt to fulfill the Law I find that I am helpless to do so. I cannot be salt and light. However, when I accept the fact that Jesus has fulfilled the Law and Prophets and die to my own attempts I then live the life of Jesus in this fallen world and He becomes salt and light in me, through me, and around me. Jesus’s life, lived in us, witnesses to the fact that Jesus came to fulfill the Law and the Prophets in us.

We see the effect of these attempts to live in the lives of the disciples who lived with Jesus for 3 ½ years during His ministry. They quarreled over which of them was the greatest. James and John tried to get Jesus to promise them a place at His right and left hands in the coming kingdom. At least three times Jesus taught them that He was to go to Jerusalem, die at the hands of the high priests, and be raised on the third day. They did not understand. When Jesus was arrested Peter tried to cut off the head of a servant of the High Priest, succeeded only in cutting off his ear, and then fled. Peter followed at a distance but found that he would only deny that he ever knew Jesus and fulfill Jesus’ prophecy. But the Holy Spirit would come.

Fear! The misapplication of faith. The fear that I am unable to fulfill the call Jesus has place on my life. And, thus, I am paralyzed and inactive and filled with feelings of hopelessness. And the reason for the fear, the doubt, and the unbelief is a gross misunderstanding of the words of Jesus in the next part of His sermon: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” (The bold and underline is mine to emphasize my point.) What I have done with this sermon is to turn it into law rather than realize that Jesus has fulfilled the law. Rather than attempt what has actually proven impossible I must follow Jesus in His Way of Love because He has fulfilled the Law and the Prophets.

I am challenged by this. I find that when I look at myself and my life I have, indeed, lost my saltiness. I certainly have not lived according to the precepts of the Sermon on the Mount. I do not see myself as one who acts as a preservative in the world or one who makes things in the world taste better. 

I do not see myself as a light set on a lampstand. I do not find that I am shedding light into anyone else’s life. I am not set on a hill like a city; but I have been hidden. Why have I been hidden and am not shedding my light? Why am I not a preservative in the world and one who makes things around me more tasty?

Fear! The misapplication of faith. The fear that I am unable to fulfill the call Jesus has place on my life. And, thus, I am paralyzed and inactive and filled with feelings of hopelessness. And the reason for the fear, the doubt, and the unbelief is a gross misunderstanding of the words of Jesus in the next part of His sermon: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” (The bold and underline is mine to emphasize my point.) What I have done with this sermon is to turn it into law rather than realize that Jesus has fulfilled the law. Rather than attempt what has actually proven impossible I must follow Jesus in His Way of Love because He has fulfilled the Law and the Prophets.

Following Jesus in the Way of Love places me in a very unique position in all of history in both heaven and earth. By following Jesus in the Way of Love I enter into Jesus. I exchange my life for His. I actually die. This is what Jesus was talking about. If I were to cling to my life by trying to fulfill what Jesus has already fulfilled I will fail to live over and over again. However, if I die to any attempt to fulfill the precepts of the Sermon on the Mount or the other teachings of Jesus and examples of His life and death I live according to the life He gives me.

We see the effect of these attempts to live in the lives of the disciples who lived with Jesus for 3 ½ years during His ministry. They quarreled over which of them was the greatest. James and John tried to get Jesus to promise them a place at His right and left hands in the coming kingdom. At least three times Jesus taught them that He was to go to Jerusalem, die at the hands of the high priests, and be raised on the third day. They did not understand. When Jesus was arrested Peter tried to cut off the head of a servant of the High Priest, succeeded only in cutting off his ear, and then fled. Peter followed at a distance but found that he would only deny that he ever knew Jesus and fulfill Jesus’ prophecy. But the Holy Spirit would come.

After the coming of the Holy Spirit Peter preached a sermon that resulted in the salvation of 3,000. The words of Jesus were truly fulfilled and the church was established on the fact that Jesus is the Christ.

When I attempt to fulfill the Law I find that I am helpless to do so. I cannot be salt and light. However, when I accept the fact that Jesus has fulfilled the Law and Prophets and die to my own attempts I then live the life of Jesus in this fallen world and He becomes salt and light in me, through me, and around me. Jesus’s life, lived in us, witnesses to the fact that Jesus came to fulfill the Law and the Prophets in us.

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Written by Brian Harvey

Created: 12 February 2015

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Fragile Community

“All this I have told you so that you will not fall away. They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, the time is coming when anyone who kills you will think they are offering a service to God. They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me. I have told you this, so that when their time comes you will remember that I warned you about them. I did not tell you this from the beginning because I was with you, but now I am going to him who sent me. None of you asks me, `Where are you going?’ Rather, you are filled with grief because I have said these things. But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. (John 16: 1 – 7 NIV)

All of the men that Jesus was addressing with these words died as martyrs except John, who penned the words. John was boiled in oil during persecution for his faith. John also wrote the book of Revelation while imprisoned on the island of Patmos: “I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.” (Revelation 1: 9 NIV) After recovery from this imprisonment and suffering John was carried on a blanket to the church in Ephesus and while being carried would constantly repeat, “Love one another.”

These men were able to grasp the vision that giving one’s life or suffering for the gospel was really a very small thing. What really matters is love. The coming of the Holy Spirit made it possible for us to do what Jesus had taught and lived. We are now able to love one another. We are now able to follow what would be the last command of Jesus: “This is my command: Love each other.” (John 15: 17 NIV)

Kayla Mueller, Peter Kassig, and James Foley were long held hostages by Islamic State and died while in their hands. In today’s MSN news letters home from them have been published. They all expressed that their greatest sadness in captivity was the suffering that their loved ones back home were experiencing. They all expressed the gratefulness they felt knowing they were being prayed for and they all expressed that they were praying for those back home. They expressed hope and expectation of eventually being released because others in captivity with them were released. They expressed no regret in the good they had done or in the fact that they had dedicated their lives to relieving in some way the suffering in the world.

Jesus did not die to bring peace. He knew that we would face persecution and opposition to attempting to bring love into the world just as He had. We all know that if all in the world lived as Jesus lived there would be no more turmoil and no more suffering. But we all also know that it will never happen. What we are living is a reality that is both cruel and harsh but at the very same time is full of wonder and glory beyond description. We who follow God the Father, through Jesus Christ, His Son, in the power of the Holy Spirit are living eternal life right now. Of course, we will go to heaven. We will go to heaven because we are already connected to God. We will go to heaven because we have a love relationship with God. We will go to heaven because God has provided that we will always be with Him and heaven is where He is.

But, heaven is really not the point. Living on earth in this fragile community all around us is really what it is all about. These recent martyrs who have joined the myriad thousand who have gone before them will rule and reign now and forever with Jesus Christ in heaven and, eventually, on earth when it is transformed. Yes, that transformation is actually in the process of happening all around us.

There are two kinds of reactions to the events of these martyrdoms. Kayla Mueller, Peter Kassig, and James Foley have not died in vain. Many more will lift up the cause of loving others and continue to live as Jesus lived.

Others will use their deaths to advocate war and revenge. This would be exactly the opposite of their desires; but it will happen none the less.

There is also another kind of event that is happening in our fragile community. This is illustrated by the three deaths of university aged Muslims in North Carolina. The family of these students are asking that these murders be investigated and prosecuted as hate crimes because the three were Muslims. We agree that such an investigation is warranted. However, from reading the background material of the alleged perpetrator it would seem that the motive was simply a dispute over a parking space by a constantly angry individual. One report quoted a person as saying of him that he was an equal opportunity angry man who was angry at everyone regardless of race, color, or religion.

Let us set aside the anger, the hatred, and the violence and become equal opportunity lovers as Jesus taught.

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Written by Brian Harvey

Created: 11 February 2015

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Looking for the Good

“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.” (Romans 8: 26 – 30 NIV)

Below are two excerpts from an MSN news account I have copied from the internet:

This first excerpt shows how the publicity of the death of the hostage Kayla Jean Mueller will be a central argument in the US discussion of whether or not to “put boots on the ground” in attempting to fight the Islamic State:

"The news came after the death of an American in IS' hands and as the White House has sought to push a widely anticipated request by President Barack Obama for legislation approving the use of US military force against the group. On Tuesday, White House chief of staff Denis McDonough and counsel Neil Eggleston met with Senate Democrats as Obama prepared to formally unveil his proposed authorization.

Obama announced that Kayla Jean Mueller, an aid worker captured while leaving a Doctors Without Borders center in Aleppo and held hostage by IS, died during her imprisonment. "No matter how long it takes, the United States will find and bring to justice the terrorists who are responsible for Kayla's captivity and death," Obama said in a statement released Tuesday."

This second excerpt shows how Kayla was able to hold on to her faith and find the good in her situation:

"During her captivity, the Mueller, 26, took strength in her faith and her family's love, she wrote in a letter released on Tuesday. The 26-year old humanitarian aid worker had an unquenchable passion to help others and said that service brought her closer to God.

"I have been shown in darkness, light + have learned that even in prison, one can be free," the Arizonan wrote in the letter, smuggled out by captives and received by her relatives in early 2014. "I have come to see that there is good in every situation, sometimes we just have to look for it," she added.

Mueller described her prison as "a safe location," calling herself "completely unharmed + healthy (put on weight in fact)." She revealed doubts, but also resolve as she summoned the will to keep going."

The passage of scripture from Romans that I have quoted above includes Romans 8: 28: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” The context in which we find this verse is very important. Ahead of it is the thought that we do not always know how to pray. Given this situation it must indeed be true that we do not know how to pray. First, the question arises of using the death of a humanitarian seeking peace and the welfare of all, regardless of creed or race, in favor of the argument to go to war. Second, my heart is deeply moved by the faith of Kayla and my faith is stimulated to confirm the truth of Romans 8: 28.

The context of Romans 8: 28 goes on to bring the thought that in all the turmoil of not knowing how to pray; in holding on to the truth that God is working all things together for the good of His purpose; and that God is ultimately in control and is sovereign; it is revealed that God’s ultimate purpose is to conform us to the image of His Son, Jesus Christ.

Love can be very difficult to see. In the situation of the death of Kayla Jean Mueller we can see that her life seemed to be guided by love. It seems very obvious to me that she was in the process of being transformed into the image of Christ. I would go so far as to say, in fact, that she had been transformed into the image of Christ and was in the process of living out that transformation on the earth.

At this point we could easily say that she had been called, chosen, justified, and glorified. But I would like to point out that the part of this process of moving into glorification did not happen as the result of her death. Kayla had already been glorified by God for the life she lived. She had learned the art of allowing God to work in her spirit by the power of the Holy Spirit so that she could follow God into those situations where she could best represent God on earth.

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Written by Brian Harvey

Created: 09 February 2015

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Walking in Glory

“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

“Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.

“Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.” (John 17: 20 – 26 NIV)

Has the prayer of Jesus been answered? Have we become one? Have those who have heard the message of the disciples and believed in Jesus become one just as Jesus and the Father are one?

I believe that the answer is yes!! Although there are disagreements and differences between Christian churches and individual Christians there is a unity in love that exists between all who believe in Jesus Christ. Why, then, are there obvious differences and divisions? We have failed to realize or accept the underlying glory of the early believers: “All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they all shared everything they had.” (Acts 4: 32 NIV)

When we forget, or, may I more correctly say, when I forget, that Jesus has overcome the world I become afraid that I can do what God has assigned for me to do. When I remember what my Lord and Savior has said and done I know that I can do anything the God assigns me to do. Yet, in reality, it is not I who do it but Christ who lives in me. That is the glory I am attempting to articulate.

The difference between living a life dedicated to living according to correct doctrine and living according to unity in love is the essence of what I am trying to express. I find in the scripture quoted above the fullness of the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I can imagine what the world would be if the followers of Jesus lived the life of love He demonstrated while He was among us. Just one small statistic is enough to demonstrate what I am talking about. It is claimed that fully 1/3 of the population of the earth are proclaimed Christians. If those who proclaim themselves to be Christians were to tithe their income the hunger problem of the world would be instantly over. For those of you who do not understand what a tithe is: it is the giving of one-tenth of one’s income. It was the Old Testament Jewish standard of giving dating back to Abraham who gave one-tenth to Melchizedek, priest of God Most High.

But walking in glory is much more than giving according to a standard of scripture that could easily be construed into a doctrine. In my view, doctrine or law is counterproductive. Trying to live according to doctrine or law is to create opportunity to attack others. The essence of following Jesus is to live according to love and there is no law against love. The essence of following Jesus, then, is relationship in love with God the Father. Our standard of behavior must then become, “How can I express the love of God to the particular individual I am now associated with?”

Expressing the love of God is the essence of walking in glory. This is how we become one in heart and mind. In my experience I find that I have an immediate and intimate love connection with all people I encounter except those who have a standard of law or doctrine that they insist others must follow in order to live up to what they believe is God’s demand.

This way of living is what I believe Jesus lived. He demonstrated that way of life by associating with those considered by the religious of His day to be on the edges of society. Jesus always was associating with prostitutes, tax-collectors, and sinners. I am very thankful for this because I feel comfortable that He wants to associate with me. Walking in glory means walking in love and that is demonstrated by extending God’s love to all others.

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Written by Brian Harvey

Created: 08 February 2015

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The Importance of Communication

“I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.” (John 16: 12 – 15 NIV)

The last hours that Jesus was on earth He had a conversation with his close followers to encourage, instruct, and warn them in the midst of the growing storm that was rising all around them. To say the least, the disciples did not “get it.” Three times in the final journey to Jerusalem Jesus instructed His followers of the impending events. Jesus knew that He would be arrested, that He would be handed over to the Romans, and would die a cruel death on the cross. He also knew that on the third day He would rise from the dead, appear alive to many, and would ascend to the Father. All of this Jesus had communicated to the disciples during the days of the journey to Jerusalem.

But the disciples could not understand. Maybe more important, as Jesus said in the above scripture, they were not able to understand. “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear,” was Jesus’ conclusion of the matter. He had to leave it for the coming Holy Spirit to finish the communication so necessary for their understanding.

There are more than one way of thinking regarding the work of the Holy Spirit. One line of reasoning is that the Holy Spirit came to inspire the apostles of the first century to write the Scriptures of the New Testament we have today. This reasoning lines up very well with the attitude of the Jewish or Hebrew mind regarding the inspiration of the Old Testament. When Malachi was completed and no other prophet came forward to add to the Old Testament canon many thought that the Holy Spirit had left and has stopped communicating with mankind.

This way of thinking limits one to the word. Since the Scriptures lend themselves to multiple interpretations the tendency is to create doctrines and dogmas that are in disagreement. Some of the interpretations reached are based on scripture and would seem to be logical and correct; even when creating disagreements.

Some interpretations, although based on Scripture, depended on national or specific experiences. The obedience to Sabbath law and purity law that the Pharisees were so adamant about in the days of Jesus came about because of the exile. The Pharisees had taken it upon themselves to force others to obey these laws so that the nation would not experience exile again. Jesus revealed their mistaken interpretations and their hypocrisy because they forced others to obey their strict interpretation while not actually being able to obey themselves.

On the other hand, the Sadducees were members of the family of the high priests. Because of the laws regarding tithes they received the top of the pyramid of financial prosperity. Therefore, they could not imagine an eternity where it could be any better. Therefore, they did not believe in the resurrection, or spirits, or angels. Jesus also corrected their misunderstanding and obstinacy.

What is similar in both cases of Jesus bringing the right interpretation? Jesus listened to the voice of God the Father through the power of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, Jesus gave the correct interpretation because He listened to the Holy Spirit and because He came from an attitude of mercy and love, namely His character exhibited the fruit of the Spirit.

Therefore, we find that the Holy Spirit is currently among us and has been poured out on all flesh. Those of us who are willing or those of us who have believed and received Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior can be filled and empowered by the Holy Spirit just as Jesus was when He walked among us.

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Written by Brian Harvey

Created: 07 February 2015

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The Enemy

“You heard me say, `I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe. I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over me, but he comes so that the world may learn that I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded me.

“Come now, let us leave.” (John 14: 28 – 31 NIV)

Jesus called him the “prince of this world.” In Revelation John called him “the great dragon [was hurled down] that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray.” (Revelation 12: 9 NIV) At the temptation of Eve in the Garden he is called, “the serpent” [was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made.] (Genesis 3: 1 NIV)

In Job he is called Satan [with the meaning of adversary according to the footnote]: “One day the angels [the sons of God] came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came with them. The Lord said to Satan, `Where have you come from?’

“Satan answered the Lord, `From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.’” (Job 1: 6, 7 NIV)

In Ezekiel he is called: [You were anointed as a] “guardian cherub”, [for so I ordained you. You were on the holy mount of God; you walked among the fiery stones.]” (Ezekiel 28: 14 NIV)

Ezekiel continues in his vision to proclaim the fall of the “guardian cherub:” “Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor. So I threw you to the earth; I made a spectacle of you before kings. By your many sins and dishonest trade you have desecrated your sanctuaries. So I made a fire come out from you, and it consumed you . . .” (Ezekiel 28: 17, 18a NIV)

At some time in the distant past the “guardian cherub” thought that he could see a weakness in God called humility. Humility is represented in the visions of God’s throne in Ezekiel and in Revelation by the face of the ox. Certainly, this weakness in God could be exploited and this “guardian cherub” could, through the use of the opposite of humility, pride, overcome and throw down the One sitting on the throne.

I have often considered what heavenly warfare must look like. By various descriptions in the Bible we can envision conflict in heaven as sword-play and wrestling. But the sword-play does not seem to involve swords of physical composition. We would not hear the clashing of metal upon metal if we were to witness heavenly conflict.

It is noted in Ephesians that we do not struggle [wrestle in the KJV] against “flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 6: 12 NIV)

I especially like the concept of wrestling because of the account in Genesis of Jacob wrestling with God: “So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man . . . `Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.’” (Genesis 32: 24 . . . 28 NIV)

It seems to me that the struggle in the heavenly, or spiritual, realms that overflows to the earth is represented best by the “sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” (Ephesians 6: 17b NIV) After all, the description of the glorified Christ included “coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword.” (Revelation 1: 16 and 19: 15 NIV)

So I see the struggle in the spiritual realm as a wrestling match involving the struggle to say the right words and thus declare the victory that has already been won by Christ. We have been granted the right to declare the truth that Christ has already overcome sin, the world, and the devil.

Remember that God even has the devil under control: “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” (1 Corinthians 10: 13 NIV)