Ever wondered why Jesus refers to Himself as the Bread of Life in John 6? Well, we're about to embark on a spiritual journey that unpacks this metaphor in all its profound glory, illuminating how He is the living Word through whom God the Father created the universe. We'll unwrap the fascinating complexities of the Trinity, likened to three forms of ice; distinct yet of the same substance. You'll discover how Jesus, as the Bread of Life, feeds our spiritual hunger and quenches our spiritual thirst, providing life and light to the world.
Brace yourself as we delve into the Beatitudes in Matthew 5, unraveling Jesus' teachings about spiritual poverty and our dependence on God. We'll explore how acknowledging our own inadequacies can transform us into spiritual beggars, reliant on God's grace. Proverbs 3:5-6 comes alive as we learn to lean on God's understanding rather than our own, acknowledging Him in all our ways. As we reiterate, belief in Jesus, the Bread of Life, satiates our spiritual hunger, offering satisfaction like no other.
Ever pondered the impact of being a child of God? We explore this profound concept, shedding light on our call to peacemaking and the role of Jesus as our mediator, bridging the gap between God and humanity. We'll even delve into the idea of persecution as an integral part of our enlistment in His divine army. Romans 8 highlights that there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus, and thanks to the Spirit of God, we have life, peace and a divine identity as God’s children. Join us on this enlightening exploration of faith and spirituality.
Ever wondered why Jesus refers to Himself as the Bread of Life in John 6? Well, we're about to embark on a spiritual journey that unpacks this metaphor in all its profound glory, illuminating how He is the living Word through whom God the Father created the universe. We'll unwrap the fascinating complexities of the Trinity, likened to three forms of ice; distinct yet of the same substance. You'll discover how Jesus, as the Bread of Life, feeds our spiritual hunger and quenches our spiritual thirst, providing life and light to the world.
Brace yourself as we delve into the Beatitudes in Matthew 5, unraveling Jesus' teachings about spiritual poverty and our dependence on God. We'll explore how acknowledging our own inadequacies can transform us into spiritual beggars, reliant on God's grace. Proverbs 3:5-6 comes alive as we learn to lean on God's understanding rather than our own, acknowledging Him in all our ways. As we reiterate, belief in Jesus, the Bread of Life, satiates our spiritual hunger, offering satisfaction like no other.
Ever pondered the impact of being a child of God? We explore this profound concept, shedding light on our call to peacemaking and the role of Jesus as our mediator, bridging the gap between God and humanity. We'll even delve into the idea of persecution as an integral part of our enlistment in His divine army. Romans 8 highlights that there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus, and thanks to the Spirit of God, we have life, peace and a divine identity as God’s children. Join us on this enlightening exploration of faith and spirituality.
I don't do the most, but I do a lot. I'ma make a toast, cuz we still live. No big. I feel like pop, I shoot the shot, I'm coming in. Hello, it's your girl, stephanie, and you are now listening into inside. Beauty inspires. Will we motivate, encourage and inspire through biblical principles on?
Speaker 1:We left off last week talking about wisdom, proverbs 18, and then we touched in on Jeremiah 1 1, 18 to be exact. But today we're going to dive into the bread of life. You know, when the Bible mentions daily bread, what is that exactly talking about? What was the daily bread? And so you know, as we study the word of God, we realize what the daily bread is.
Speaker 1:Let's let's go to John, john 6 and this is just a synopsis of John 6. It says people were always wanting another miracle. Jesus told them God wanted them to believe in his son, but they asked him what miracle will you perform for us so that we might believe in you? Moses gave our ancestors bread from heaven when they were in the desert. What will you do? Jesus reminded them that it was not Moses who provided the bread, but God. It is my father who gives you the true bread from heaven, for the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world. Then the people said to Jesus will give. Well, give us this bread then. So Jesus explained I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty, for my father will give eternal life to anyone who sees his son and believes in him. The people didn't like the sound of this. He's the son of Mary and Joseph the carpenter. How can he say these things? And Jesus continued I am telling you the truth. He was. Who believes has. He who believes has eternal life. Your ancestors are meant wanted man or man eight. I'm sorry. Your ancestors ate manna in the desert, but they died. I am the living bread that comes down from heaven. This bread is my body and whoever eats it will live forever. I will give my body so that people in the world can live.
Speaker 1:Let's talk about this bread of life. You know, when I think about the bread of life, I think about Jesus. I think about Jesus Christ. I think about what our father did for us when he did send his only begotten son. And he said in his word who so ever believes into me and to me, will never perish but have everlasting life. But what exactly does that mean? Turn to me, turn with me to John, get into this word here.
Speaker 1:So it says in the beginning, what's the word? The word was with God and the word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him, all things were made. Without him, nothing was made. That has been, that has been made In him, was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.
Speaker 1:There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him, all might believe he himself was not the light, he came only as a witness to the light. Listen, here's, here's the truth of this word. We carry a light that our father put on the inside of us and If you're serious about him, then you get into this word. That light becomes brighter and brighter and brighter. It goes on to say the true light that gives light to the. Everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or of a husband's will, but born of God. Listen, this is so true. This is so real. We have to get into the word so that we can understand exactly what his word is saying. You know, we are the living word. You know each one of us that carries the light. We are the living Word.
Speaker 1:What does the commentary has to have to say about this? It says, when we read the gospel, when we read the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, the story begins in history with Jesus Christ, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born to Joseph and Mary. But in the fourth gospel, john reaches back even further into eternity. With the phrase in the beginning, john alludes to Genesis 1 1. In the beginning, god created the heavens and the earth. Thus, an eternity past the word, the Son of God, the eternal expression of God, who came, who became flesh, was with God from before the creation of the world. God the Son shared an eternal, intimate father Son relationship with God, the father. Starting in Genesis, god spoke this, his word and universe, and the universe came into existence. According to the New Testament, the father made the world through the divine word. His son Not only was the word with God, but also the word was God, you know. So you know the father, the son in the Holy Spirit, rather, the son shares the divine nature. Theologically speaking, the father's son and the spirit are co-equal members of the Trinity. Our one God Exists in three co equal persons, and you know the one.
Speaker 1:The way that I explain this, when I'm speaking about the Trinity, I look at it like ice. I look at it like ice. You know, in ice there's three, this three, three different parts. Okay, you have the water, which is the liquid. You have the gas, you know, and you also have the solid, which is the ice. It doesn't change the form of what water is still H2O, but they form in different ways. And that's the same way with the Holy Spirit.
Speaker 1:Jesus gives life, that provides light to men, and light is needed because darkness does exist. You can't have one without the other. This is so true when it comes down to light and dark. You have to say to me again, I look at things and I try to simplify everything. There's blessings and curses, there's life and death, there's darkness and light, and you're going to see fruit from both of those. It says he has blinded the minds of people to keep them from seeing the glory of Christ. This is what Satan does, but Jesus has come to bring illumination that people can see things as they truly are.
Speaker 1:John's Gospel shows us how Jesus was continually rejected. Nevertheless, the darkness did not overcome his light, because he is the light of the world. It's already done. It says, though his enemies crucified him, he was actually glorified in his death on the cross and, victorious in the resurrection, resulted in the provisions of salvation for all people. Without our Father, without him sending his son to die for us all, I don't know where we would be. It's important that we get into our word. When we get into the word and we start eating the scroll, we find out who we truly are. We find out that this spirit that he came into this world to give us is actually still here. He's alive on the inside. We are the walking word. We are the vessels that God is using.
Speaker 1:If you would, for me, turn with me to Matthew 5. I want you to understand some things that Jesus said to the people when he was preaching his message. And this is the same message today. He's still the same Father. He's still the same God. He doesn't switch up. He sent his only begotten Son and his word does says whosoever believes in him should not die but have everlasting life.
Speaker 1:Let's start here in Matthew 5. It says now, when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on the mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him and he began to teach them. He said blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the prudent heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you, when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me, rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Speaker 1:It goes on to talk about 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 a 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, which is in heaven. Listen, you too have a light. You are the light of the world. When you are speaking, people can see that they don't know whether you're in the world or not. You don't have to say too much of anything because you are the living word. We are a walk in testimony. Amen, it says.
Speaker 1:Do not think that I have come to abolish the law of the prophets. I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them. For truly, I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, nor the smallest letter, not the least stroke of pen will be by any means disappeared from the law until everything is accomplished. Therefore, anyone who sits 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. See, when you get into this word, he makes it real. He gives us instructions. Do we listen? Do we read? Are we listening? We can't just be listeners of the word. We have to be doers of the word as well. He's watching us, he sees us. It's time for us to wake up and get into the word. Let's continue to go.
Speaker 1:It says you have heard that it was said to the people long ago you shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment. But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment Again. Anyone who says to a brother or sister rocker, is an answerable to the court, and anyone who says you, fool, will be in danger of the fire of hell. Therefore, if you're offering your gift at the altar and there, remember that your brother or sister has something against you. Leave your gift there in the front of the altar First. Go and be reconciled to them and then come and offer your gift. Subtle matters quickly with your adversaries. Who is taking you to court? Do it while you're still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge and the judge may hand you over to the officer and you may be thrown into prison. Truly, I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.
Speaker 1:So let's talk about what Jesus is actually saying. When he's talking about the Beatitudes, you know he starts off with saying blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. You know what exactly is our father saying? It says Jesus pronounced these blessings on people with a kingdom mindset, those who consciously and unapologetically aligned their lives under the rule of God. The blessings are for those who reject religious, religious studies. You know how it's religion I feel like if Jesus came on the scene today. Well, we really let him in.
Speaker 1:Jesus is primarily concerned with what's happening on the inside, which should be the basis of what you're showing on the outside. It's an inside job. When you get to know your father, you get connected and that's where that word comes alive. That's why it's important to feed on the daily word. It's going to give you a nutrients, it's going to do your body well and it's going to change the direction of where you're going. This is the thing about the word of God. It never, ever changes, but it will change you. It will change you.
Speaker 1:It says bless the poor in the spirit, for the kingdom of heavens is theirs. To be poor in spirit is to be spiritually, is to be in spiritual poverty, to be conscious of one's continual dependency on God Kingdom. People recognize their own inadequacies and insufficiencies. Apart from him, as long as you think you are rich in spirit, you'll actually be independent and proud. So become a spiritual beggar.
Speaker 1:God's kingdom refers to God's rule. If you are poor in spirit, you will get to see God's heavenly rule in your earthly life. Only by desperately depending on him can you become what he has created you to be. Regardless of whether you think this or not, it is true, you need your father, you need God in your life. You know, sometimes we try to figure things out on our own. And Proverbs 3.5.6 says lean not to our own understanding, but in everything we do, acknowledge him and he will direct our path. That's why I wanted to start off with you know what is this word that they're speaking of? What is the word? Well, the Bible is the word. It's full of Jesus's moves, the way that he moves, the way that God answered, the way that God moves. When we're reading the scriptures, we can't just read it, we have to digest it, we have to eat it. You know that's our daily bread.
Speaker 1:Another one of the scriptures here is says bless are the humble, for they will inherit the earth. It says some translations rendered the humble as the meek. It's important to understand that meekness doesn't mean weakness. Just because a person is meek does not mean that person is weak. Consider, for example, the process of breaking a horse. The idea is not to break the horse of its strength or speed. Rather, the goal is to break the horse of its self-will. As long as you remain independent and wild, you will never maximize God's intention for you To be meek is to learn to submit your will to God's. Those who do will inherit what God has allotted for them. Bless are the humble, for they shall inherit the land. This is what Jesus was very humble, he was very meek, you know, anytime that he went into situations, even when he spoke, he was gentle. He was gentle about delivering the message of God. You know, even though he was confronted, he was rejected, he was mocked, he's never deviated from what the true message was was for him to come and set the captives free. Amen, it says.
Speaker 1:Bless are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. I love that because if you have a heart that's wanting to do right and you're wanting to go after the Word, he's going to make sure that he fulfills all of those needs. This is what the commentary says. It says this blessing is about having the right spiritual appetite. What are you eating on? What are you watching? It says far too many of God's children are malnourished, and not because they don't eat, but because they eat the wrong things. Donuts taste good, oh my goodness. I want some donuts now, but they have no nutritional value. You can't have a donut level spiritual diet and then wonder why you don't experience God's blessings. To hunger for righteousness is to apply the righteous standard of God to your life. You need to be hungry for that which pleases God. If you train your appetite in this way, you will be filled, and that is you. You'll be filled with divine contentment. This contentment will give away to satisfaction in God. Listen, he is your source. He will fill your appetite when you seek him.
Speaker 1:Matthew 633 says seek first the kingdom of God and all of his righteousness and all of these things shall be added. He's not a man that he shall lie. The Word does not return void. Another one says here bless are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Now we really need to talk about this, because God has children. Satan has children as well, and the only reason why I'm saying Satan has children as well is because I read it in the Word. Okay, but this is what it says bless are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
Speaker 1:It says to be at peace is to be in harmony. To be a peacemaker is to be a mediator and resolve conflicts between estranged parties, whether individuals are groups. You may peace by identifying the truth, addressing the sin and constructing a bridge between those who are at odds with one another. Peacemaking can be difficult work, but if we persevere in it, we will be called sons and daughters of God, because we will remain in him and we will resemble our father. We will resemble our daddy.
Speaker 1:He sent the son of God to be our mediator, bridging the gap between and you created by our sins, and granting us peace. With him, we have Jesus. That's why it's important. He is the way, the truth and the light and the life. He is a sustainer and when you believe in him you don't even understand that your life just goes to a whole other level, because it wasn't meant for you to try to figure it out. You know we go through a lot of things. We go through ups and downs because of bearing his name. This is what his Word tells us that we're going to go through. We're going to have children, we're going to have tribulations, but the Word of God tells us to count it all joy. So when we're going through trials and tribulations, don't get bogged down to what you see, because in the supernatural it looks one way, but when you apply the Word, it's a supernatural. It gives it a supernatural juice. That shows you a different side of that equation. You know, sometimes we do get wrapped up in it, but we can't lose sight of who our father is.
Speaker 1:It says bless for those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs. This is good news. This is good news for us who have felt like we've been persecuted or have been persecuted. This is good news, it says. Instead, it's about being mistreated because of your display of the kingdom character of righteousness described in 5.3. And some people won't like you for doing so.
Speaker 1:Persecution may take a variety of forms and come from a variety of sources family, employment, employers, the culture, the government but in receiving it, you'll be in the company of a class of people to whom the world is not worthy. If you're willing to be rejected by men, to be accepted by God, the kingdom of heaven is yours. Listen, when you get into the word, you understand why you go so hard. I go hard for the word of God. Why? Because I believe in what the word says. They are alive. I couldn't speak from a place that I don't know. When you go through trials and you go through ups and downs, they only are there to make you strong, and it's a part of the call, it's a part of being a part of his army. You know he lets us know these things. He said.
Speaker 1:These verses expand on the idea. It's hard to believe that undergoing persecution is a blessing, but Jesus wanted his disciples to know that he was serious. Notice that the persecution that brings blessing is directly tied to Jesus. When they insult you and tell lies about you, because of Jesus you are blessed, since essentially the same thing happened to the Old Testament prophets. You're in good company. But how can you be glad and rejoice in the midst of the mess? You can remember that your reward is great. God knows how to deliver. And Paul, as told in the Romans. It says the sufferings of this present time are not worthy or worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us.
Speaker 1:Listen, that takes me right into the next verse. You know I was going to go to Romans 8 and I know that I have to go there so I can explain some things to you. You know, when the spirit of God starts moving, I try to move with him. Amen, let's see here. This is what it says. Therefore, there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus, the law of the spirit gives life, has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, god did by sending his own son, in the likeness of sinful flesh, to be a sin offering.
Speaker 1:Remember, the word was with God. The word is God, it says, and so he condemned sin in the flesh in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us who do not live according to the flesh but according to the spirit. It said. Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires, but those who live in accordance with the spirit have their minds set on what the spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. But you, however, are not in the realm of the flesh, but you are in the realm of the spirit.
Speaker 1:If indeed the spirit of God lives in you, can the spirit of God rest upon you? That's a question that you want to ask yourself. You know it says that if anyone does not have the spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, then, even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the spirit gives life because of righteousness. And if the spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of His spirit who lives in you. Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation. We have an obligation but it is not to the flesh to live according to it, for if you live according to the flesh, you will die, but if, by the spirit, you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. For those who are led by the spirit of God are the children of God. The spirit you receive does not make you slaves so that you live in fear again. Rather, the spirit you receive brought about your adoption to sonship, and by Him we cry Daddy, I cry Daddy, but it says Abba, father, the spirit Himself testifies, with our spirit, that we are God's children. Now, if we are children, then we are heirs of heirs of God and coheirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His suffering in order that we may also share in His glory. It is written. It is written. See.
Speaker 1:The Scripture just gives you further knowledge on what our Father is saying about His Word. He said that we are the salt of the earth. He goes in to tell us that we are the salt of the earth. We are the light of this world. Do you believe that it says? After describing the characters of the kingdom people, jesus described the impact and influence of the kingdom people. He told His disciples you are the salt of the earth, but let's talk about it. For salt to lose its taste is to lose its uniqueness. Christians and our believers are to be the salt in the decaying world, but if you become too mixed up with the world and allow its values to affect you, you will lose your uniqueness as a believer and your abilities to make a kingdom difference.
Speaker 1:Remember Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed not only because of the wicked people, but also because there weren't enough righteous people there to prevent God's judgment. He is watching us, he sees everything, he knows all, but then he goes off to tell us that we are the light of the world. Light has only one job to shine. That's our only job is to shine. And scripture the world is pictured as a dark place that requires Illumination, and Jesus is the light of the world, so he expects his followers to be the light of the world as well. You know, when you are the light, you add. You, you're able to show people that he is who he says he is. So we're gonna move back over here to Romans 8, to, because I want you guys to understand that you know we are the, we are the salt of the earth, we are the light of the world, and if we're the light of the earth and we are the light of the world, then that means we're children of God. It says in Romans 8, 18.
Speaker 1:I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us, for the creation of weights and eager expectations for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subject to Frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, and hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up into the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the spirit grown Immersely as we wait eagerly for our adoption, ship to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were, we were saved, but hope that is seen as no hope at all.
Speaker 1:Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait patiently, patiently for it. 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, 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 all, and we know that in all things, god works for the good of those who Loves him, who have been called according to his purpose, for those God for new he also Predestined, and to be Conformed, conformed to the image of his son, that he might be first born among many brothers and sisters. And those he Predestined he also called, and those he called he also justified, and those he justified he also Glorified.
Speaker 1:Now, so if this is what our father done, then what, then, shall we say to the response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? Like who can really be against you? If God is for you? You need to let that sink in, because your father is on your side. It says he who do not spare his who, he who did not spare his own son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who would bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who, then, is the one who condemns? No one.
Speaker 1:Christ Jesus, who died more than that, who was raised to life, is at the right hand of God and also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of the Christ? Shall trouble or hardship, or persecution, or famine, or neckiness, or danger or sword, as it is written for your sake? We face death all day long. We are considered a sheep to be slaughtered. No, and all these things. We are more than conquerors, through him who loved us, for I am convinced that neither love, neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons is the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in ours, in our, that is in Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior. Listen when God is on your side, you cannot Lose. When you have the word working for you is not going to work against you. His word tells us that he will never put those to shame who truly trust in him. Have an amazing week.