Zoe Life
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
The Greek word for life in this verse is Zoe. This is the life we lead when we follow the Spirit. This life, which we want, is in Jesus. Actually, it is Jesus and we're to be like Jesus. He's our example and we're to follow our example. Jesus said in Matt 16:24, deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow me. The phrase, follow me, occurs seventeen times in the gospels. I think this signifies the importance of our following Christ.
Zoe - G2222 - 1. life-above and 2. epithet of Jesus
{literally or figuratively. used in a mortal, temporal sense and in an eternal sense. The act of genuine, neighborly kindness is living above mere bodily, flesh-driven existence.}
Epithet is an interesting word and one I didn't know, so I looked it up online. Here's what Wikipedia says:
An epithet or byname is a descriptive term (word or phrase) accompanying or occurring in place of a name and having entered common usage. It has various shades of meaning when applied to seemingly real or fictitious people, divinities, objects, and binomial nomenclature. It is also a descriptive title.
Jesus is the way, Jesus is the truth, and Jesus is the life. When you think of the way you think of Jesus, when you think of the truth you think of Jesus and when you think of the life you think of Jesus. Each word in it's truest form is Jesus.
2Cor gives us a better understanding of what Zoe life is. The life we are or should be seeking in Christ.
2Cor 5:1-5 ESV
1 For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
2 For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling,
3 if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked.
4 For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened-not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.
5 He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.
We’ve Been Hypnotized
Where do we go from here, how do ya disappear
It's hard to see with our old eyes these times, we've been hypnotized
Where do we go from here, how do ya disappear
It's hard to see with our old eyes these lies, we've been hypnotized
I was listening to "Hypnotized", a song by Pillar, they're singing about the majority of the church. People that believe in God, but not the power of God, they call themselves saved. Are they? The verse below gives reason to doubt the salvation of many.
John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. (ESV)
A phrase I heard as a child, referring to Spiritual things, "Oh, they don't do that anymore". Says who? The things I'm talking about are Spiritual gifts, hearing the Lord's voice, or anything involving the Holy Spirit, like healing, casting out devils, raising the dead, miracles, and more.
How can people, that believe in God and read the Bible, believing it's His infallible Word, not believe everything in it? God spoke Truth in His Word, but man comes along, changes His Word, and teach the lies they've created, and people believe the spoken word of man, over what was spoken by God. Of course, everything God said in the Bible, He said by the mouth of His holy prophets, but if you believe it's His Word, then you need to believe all of it.
The second line in the above lyrics, says, "we've been hypnotized". The majority of the church has been hypnotized, believing lies handed down by the devil himself. People do what everyone else does, thinking, it's OK. They're family and friends do it, and they're good people. People, please wake up and pay attention to what the Word of God says.
Please read His Word and ask the Lord for understanding, so you want be misled, because 1Tim 4:1 says, "Some will depart from the faith, following deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons." (ESV)
Read the New Testament and then look at church today, there are way too many differences. Jesus Christ is our example, the first century church should be our example of how to worship and minister to people. What we've got today is far from what the Lord wants us to have. What He wants from us is like what the first century believer had, for us to live our walk like they did.
Heb 13:8, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Jesus is God and the verse above says They don't change, this means His Word won't change?
Everything that's in God's Word is true and is for today.
Living And Learning The Path Of Faith
If you get an email from worldprayr now it is usually being sent by one person, and one person only. That Person is Cortnee or Cortnee4Christ as she goes by on Twitter. Count on it she sent it, and trust you’ll be encouraged by it. As, that is Cortnee a constant source of encouragement and faith. Whether on Twitter or her blog she is constantly encouraging others in their faith. Yet, today she speaks of her own personal struggles in that area. She gets real, and transparent. We hope you are blessed by it.
My latest revelation, breakthrough, what have you, is all about Faith. I have been struggling, like many of us, in these hard economic times. People are losing homes, jobs, and their sense of hope. I have been for 3 years now trying to live by Faith in Jesus Christ. For me, this season is not so new. It has been something that I feel I have been experiencing for these 3 years. Recently I have felt betrayed, brokenhearted, tired, frustrated, unhappy, exhausted and confused. Anyone else?
I know all of the things the Bible says. I have read so many books, listened to all the cd's, watched all the speakers, and done all the Bible studies. I know what I am supposed to do, but I didn't want to do it. I have been mad at God because I am still going through the hard times.
I am still having to pay bills by what gets shut off first. I still have to dodge the phone calls and listen to the voicemail messages of people who want money from me. I know what it's like to run a business and not see the fruit of your labor.
So I know and understand the struggle. I have been in it, and not always happy about it. I still love the Lord with all my heart and soul. I pray and read the Word every day. I seek His guidance even though I am feeling all of these things.
The point you may ask? Well, I discovered, because even in the middle of my frustration, because I sought the Lord on all these matters, He revealed Himself to me. This morning He led me to a passage in the Bible that I had written on a post-it and put in the front of my Bible. I started reading Hebrews 4:12.
It says "For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."At first glance, this was not the verse I wanted to read. It was not what I felt I needed in my hurting time.
So I decided to read the whole chapter, starting at the beginning of Chapter 4. When doing so, I realized why God brought me there. And don't mistake it, it was God. What he wanted to show me was how the Israelites complained and lost Faith in God while leaving Egypt and heading toward the Promised Land.
God did so many wonderful things for them. He split the Red Sea in half so they could pass without being consumed by the waters, and then closed the sea when the Egyptians came after them. Closing the gap between the Israelites, (God's chosen people), and their enemies.
After that, He provided food for them. He dropped it out of the sky and fell on the earth for them when they woke up EVERY MORNING! Wow - talk about breakfast in bed!
Then..."By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night." Exodus 13:20-22. Another wow!
Can you imagine, sit in it for a sec...I am fed fresh food every morning, I have God in a cloud to direct my path, and then a pillar of fire for night. I don't know about you but our God is amazing!!
Ok - so I am sure by now you are thinking, ok, so what else could He possibly do for them? I will tell you. God finally got them to the Promised Land. This was it. After 40 years, the Israelites are finally at their destination. They were finally home. The Bible says the Promised Land was "flowing with milk and honey." Exodus 3:8. The Lord told them they would have to fight for the land, but obviously it was worth it. There were many bad people living there and God knew they needed to be wiped out so the Israelites could have peace.
So the Israelites decide to send a certain number of people to go to the the Land and look to see what they were facing in regard to the fight. What they saw scared them so bad, they went back to the Israelites and told them they could never overpower the people in the land. They claimed there were giants and there was no way they could do this. Sadly, they missed the point that God was in control of everything, including the fight against the people in the land. Ring any bells?
So here we are, God gave them everything they asked for, or literally complained about, even though that was not what He desired for them. Wow. So God is ticked off at this point, and this is what the Bible says: "The LORD's anger was aroused that day and he swore this oath:
11 'Because they have not followed me wholeheartedly, not one of the men twenty years old or more who came up out of Egypt will see the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob" Whoa! After all that, the years and decades in the desert, relying on God to serve their every need, they decide not to fight, and God decides not ONE of them will enter.
Tragic. I can't even tell you how horrible that would be! To finally get to the place where you are going, after half of your life is over, HALF, and not be able to settle in? Not be able to be spoiled once again by the Lord our God? It's not just tragic, it's insanity!
This whole back story is so important because it illuminates the Word I read this morning. In Psalm 95:11 and Hebrew 4:3 the Bible says: "So I declared on oath in my anger, "They shall never enter my rest ." What does His rest represent?
The Promised Land, His PEACE, His comfort, His blessings! Do you see it yet?
Because the Israelites complained, and feared, and worried, and tried to do things their own way, their ultimate prize...the Promised Land, the rest of God, was kept from them. Wow, thank you Lord! It hit me like a ton of bricks when I realized that because of my complaining, my frustration, my bitterness, and my bad attitude, I was withholding God's rest.
I was exhausted, confused, tired, and brokenhearted all because I wasn't resting in the Lord. All I needed to do was stay present. I needed to stay in today and realize all the goodness, all the miracles, all the favor I had already received!!
God has already given me a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. He has already saved me from my enemies. He already closed the gap, Jesus Christ. He has already shown and proven Himself by sustaining my life the way it is. I have everything I need today. I am being held in God's hand so tight that there is an impression of me in His palm. He knows all and sees all and is always working on my behalf.
MY job, my only job, is to trust. I have to keep the Faith...at all costs! I have to thank God for what He has already done, in hopes of what He is going to do!!
That's it. It's so simple, yet my flesh cries out when I try to do these things. That's why you have to do it until you feel it. I wanted to look ahead and complain about the bills that aren't paid, or the lack of business. But I am still here!
I am still working, and eating, and driving, and sleeping, and warm and content! God hasn't changed, and yes, my circumstances haven't changed, but I realize now, it's ok.
All I need is peace, love and joy. And in order to receive those things, I have to enter into His rest. And how do we do that? Trust, precious, trust.
Praise you Lord for your mercy and goodness!! Without you I would be a pitiful mess...but today...I am a precious mess 
The Bible says: "But giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors me.If you keep to my path,I will reveal to you the salvation of God.” Psalm 50:23
Let's all give thanks!!
Thank you Lord, my Savior, my Conqueror, my Healer, my Strength, my Shelter, my Proud Adornment! Praise be to you, forever and ever...
Have a blessed DAY!
Cortnee
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