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| The QUIETUDE of CHRIST |
Meditations
for the Pascha Season
(The Passover Season, 2016)
Now is My+ soul troubled;
and what shall I+ say ...
FATHER,
save ME+
from this hour ?
but for this cause
came I+ unto this hour.
FATHER,
Glorify Thy Name.
Then
came there a Voice from Heaven, saying,
I have both glorified IT,
and will glorify IT again.
John12:27-28
+ + +
Meditation Verse
Ephesians 1: 19
The literal Greek of verse 1:18
:
The eyes of your HEART
having been illuminated in
order for you all to have SEEN what
is the hope of HIS+ calling, what the abundance of the glory of HIS+
inheritance in the Saints...
And what is the
exceeding greatness of HIS power
to us-ward who believe, according to the working of HIS
mighty power,
The literal Greek of Verse
1:19:
And what the surpassing greatness
of HIS inherent capability toward us, the ones believing, according to
the energetic operating power of
the mighty strength of His dominion.
+ + +
+ + +
Meditation
The eyes of our heart were
enlightened for us to "see" some things, the previous verse tells us.
Verse 19 gives us a glimpse into
the MAJESTIC POWER of GOD. There are 5 different Greek words for "power,
might, strength" used in this verse.
[ It is difficult to really
determine the fine-line of difference in meaning among these 5 words. The Greek
writers and readers understood the difference; that is why they selected the
different words. Sadly enough, the differences are not very discernible when
translating those 5 words into English. ]
Let's look at the POWER of
ALMIGHTY GOD .
HE has exceeding, surpassing,
super-eminent BIG-ness or GREATness.
HE has duname0s. That
is, HE has the inherent ability to perform anything ! English speakers
recognize this kind of power in the word "dynamite."
And what the surpassing greatness
of HIS inherent capability toward us ...
HE uses that dynamic power of
HIS for our good, for all of us who entrust HIM with our very lives.
... according to the energetic operating power
This power of GOD is not
passive; it is ENERGIZING ! This
operating power will energize us ... if we want it... if we meet
the conditions, the requirements, like CHRIST
did.
... of the mighty strength of His dominion.
Both of these words are
ill-translated and do not give a complete picture of GOD'S power.
Mighty strength is the
Greek word ischus which some might recognize as STRENGTH.
Dominion is the
Greek word kratos , which some might recognize, connecting that
with dominion. We recognize it as "Pantokrator," ... ALMIGHTY GOD. It means "the possession of
the kind of FORCE bringing supremacy or dominion or control."
All this POWER of GOD comes
toward us who believe, at HIS discretion and for HIS purposes in our lives and
for the Kingdom of GOD.
Why then are we more constant
in whining than believing? Why then are we allowing defeat to shadow our days?
We do not really see this
energetic operating power of GOD in our lives, do we ? NO, we do not.
We do
not see it at work in our lives on a daily basis BECAUSE... we have NOT met
the conditions, the requirements of GOD, like
CHRIST our EXAMPLE+ did.
There
are QUALIFICATIONS to be met, pre-requisites, if you will, for those who want
to see the power of GOD operating in their lives.
The LORD
JESUS HIMSELF+ said, "Greater works" than these shall you do because
I+ go unto The FATHER." John 14:12
ARE WE DOING THESE ?
NO.
Most of us are doing the
best we can simply to hold our ground, clinging to the Cross through
the maelstrom of life.
To receive GOD'S power, the
requirements are this: to dis-entangle oneself from the pursuit of this life.
Hibernate, if you must.
To qualify, one must learn to
enter into QUIETUDE... to SIT STILL with GOD.
Not study, not make
supplications, not memorize verses, not make notes ... just SIT STILL with HIM.
His+ energizing, operating power
will pour through you AFTER your Quietude.
STILLNESS is not a hard
"cross" to pick up. Why aren't we doing it then?
We don't WANT to be quiet.
Then, we do not want His Power, either, because that is the only
means to obtain it.
+ + +
Let
us pray:
O LORD JESUS, we say we want
to be like YOU+, but we do not do the things YOU+ did when YOU+ walked this
earth as a man.
I am not still; my mind is
busy even when my body is still.
Help me to forsake this
incessant busy-ness that has engulfed my life. Help me un-entangle my life from
all the activity and interaction which only serve to DISTRACT my focus from
YOU+.
I call YOU+ "LORD,
LORD," but I will not set aside any time in my busy life to sit with
YOU+.
Forgive me and help me re-set
my priorities. I will to quiet myself like a weaned child and await Thy+ good
pleasure.
Bring Thy+ Stillness into my
soul, O LORD, for Thy+ Name's Sake.
Amen.
+ + +
Worthy is the LAMB+.
Worthy is The LAMB+
that was slain.
Worthy is the LAMB+,
slain
from the foundation
of the earth.
Revelation 13:8
+ + +
PRAISE and THANKSGIVING
be to The FATHER,
and to His Beloved SON+
JESUS CHRIST,
and to
the Blessed RUACH haKADOSH.
ONE GOD:
FATHER,
SON+,
and HOLY SPIRIT,
both now and forever,
world without end.
Amen.
