April 11, 2006                                                       Those Who Received Him

Government means rule, dominion.

Webster's' 1828 says this: (many applications)

as a noun: Direction, regulation, #4

as a verb: 1-3, 5

1. Control, restraint of temper and passions.

2. Exercise of authority, direction and restraint over the actions of men in society, communities, public affairs, according to law of the land.

3. Exercise of authority by parent. He then says this, and I quote, from Noah Webster: Let family government be like that of our heavenly Father, mild, gentle, and affectionate.

4. Any kingdom or state, or territory over which the right of sovereignty is extended. Right of governing or administering laws.

5. Manageableness, compliance.

He’s the Everlasting Father and He endures perpetually. He's without beginning or end. Chief, principal. The Prince of Peace. The head person, captain that has rule, chief, general, governor, keeper, Lord, taskmaster, prince, ruler, steward. Peace means safe, well, happy and friendly; health, prosperity, favor, peaceable, rest, whole. He's the one who can keep us, direct us into his peace and rest and make us whole. Make us happy.

Verse 7

Of the increase of his government, and that word increase means "to grow, become greater in bulk or quantity, or number, to advance in value, to swell, rise, become more bright or vivid, to enlarge, extend, to lengthen, spread, add to." Of the increase of his government, and peace there shall be no end. That takes on new meaning when you take that Scripture and apply it personally-to yourself.

He does this with justice, meaning rightness, objective moral virtue, righteousness. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. Zeal means jealously, envy, passionate ardor in the pursuit of something, eagerness of desire to accomplish or obtain something.

He will do it, he will bring it forth, that word perform means "bring forth, become, bestow, accomplish, advance, appoint, commit, deal, execute, finish, fulfill, furnish, grant, maintain, occupy, offer, bring to pass, prepare, procure, provide, sacrifice, serve, spend, work." Think of it! This fills me with a new sense of hope and wonder. His zeal is also to establish all this in my life-not just in the world at large. But in me. To make me what I can’t but I want to be. He can do it! And realizing that he wants to-has a zeal to do it-you know, I always felt that God honored me greatly when he convicted me of my sins and drew me to repentance. But this is a revelation that wows my heart. To think-I have been so frustrated over the lack of order in my home and life, compared with what I read in the Word of God and all this time he’s had this zeal to set things right for me and in me personally. And it will increase and never end. What a delightful fact!

In John 1:11, it says He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But the word "received" used in verse 12 is different. In verse 11, it's the Greek word "paralambano" meaning "to associate with oneself, in familiar act or relation, to learn, or take unto or with." Jesus came to them. Some related to him, admitted they knew him, listened to what he had to say, said ‘that’s nice. But I’ll do it my way. I’m used to this way and don’t want to change.” It’s like the let him come among them so far, but would only let him so close and that was far enough. But the word 'receive" in verse 12, it is "lambano" meaning to take, get hold of, to seize on that which is offered with violence meaning, eagerness, wholehearted acceptance, getting a firm grip on what is offered, to accept with amazement, to hold, obtain, receive." The word in verse 11 is passive, weak. But the word "received" in verse 12 implies a strength, an active, determined and willing reception-an embracing with all your heart of what is offered. HIM. To grant his truth admittance into our hearts. To welcome it. We need to take it in, hold it, contain it, retain it, fill up on it. I want to be a host of his truth-to welcome it and entertain it as a valued and primary resident of this temple. To make it the priority and as it proceeds to make me into a new creature. Into his image-his likeness. Christ-like.

One image that comes to mind is when I bought my car. I went to the dealership, and the salesman showed me several cars, and when I saw the car I bought, I wanted it, but didn’t think I could afford it, I knew the payment would be higher than my current one, but that was the car I wanted and no other on the lot. It stood out to me. My husband urged me to get it. The salesman offered the keys. He laid them out in front of me. I was approved for the financing. I could have picked them up, put them in my pocket, and left with my husband, but I didn't. I took the keys, and took possession of the vehicle. It had the power to take me where I wanted to go, which was home. Faith in his name is the key. He is the Power that will take me Home. If I receive him, lay hold of him, rejoice in the personal claim to Him that he offers to give me, and yield to the claim he rightfully has on me, and let him in to do whatever he wants with this vessel of mine, which he purchased with his own blood, and upholds with his word, to those who do that, he says he will give the power meaning the "privilege, force, capacity, competency, freedom, mastery, superhuman, token of control, delegated influence and authority, jurisdiction, liberty, power, right, strength-to become the sons of God. That word "become" means to cause to be, to come into being, be brought to pass, be finished, be found, fulfilled, grow, happen, be kept, be made, be married, be ordained to be, partake, pass, performed, published, be shown. I had no idea that meant all that. It is the Greek word ginomai. What a rich meaning. Even to them that believe on his name. To believe means to have faith in, to credit and entrust my spiritual well being to Christ. To commit my trust to him that he will do what he said in and to and through me. And he cannot lie.

When I woke up this morning, that scripture was in my spirit, and on my mind. When I look to myself, and see all my flaws, failures, and just how unlike him I am, I can start quickly to despair, and feel depressed. Everything around me will start to get on my nerves and agitate me. I can do nothing. I can't make all these wonderful things come to pass. But when I start to look to his promises, his power, and pray for the power to see his greatness, to see that he can indeed do what he promised, and realize how much he WANTS TO do it in me, to be able to understand, he accepts me, wants me to come to him, with everything, because when I opened my heart and let Jesus in, the Father came with him. The Holy Ghost came with them. I got a measure of his Spirit to teach and guide me and prepare me for the fullness of Him. He wants me to have his fullness. To have all of him that this earthen vessel can hold.

When men promise each other something they often seal the deal with a contract, which is binding, in order to prevent arguing, or strife or contention, changing the terms or challenges. You've heard the expression, "it's a done deal." Well, God intended to show us who are heirs of his a great deal more effectively that his promise was unchangeable, and unbreakable. People can go to court to challenge contracts and wills, looking for loopholes to break them. Sometimes, they succeed. An heir is someone who has been promised an inheritance by someone. In our case, our Father in Heaven has promised us eternal life and a home with him. He's promised us spiritual blessings and the Holy Ghost in our life here and now. Power to live for him and be his witnesses. His promise is an announcement, a pledge of divine assurance, a message, a revelation of what he has and what he has provided for us, now and then. His purpose, his word, his will, has been confirmed by an oath. It is sure. Steadfast. It's binding. How can we know that? Because in verse 18, he says first, it is impossible for God to lie-that will never change.. he will not break his word. And because of that, and having his word, knowing it can't be changed or broken or taken back, or challenged successfully by those who hate it, we have a strong consolation, or comfort, solace, exhortation, that those of us who have rejected this world and fled to his word for refuge from the insanity of the world around us, and we can seize and lay hold of the hope his word-his promises have set before us. He's laid it all out like a buffet for us. He says it's here. It's yours. Come to me. I'll give you what I said I would. I know what you need and it's here. Come get it. Believe it. Don't let anything stop you from coming to my table and partaking of what I have for you. Don’t be afraid. Come. That hope we have in verse 19 means this: to hold, such as a possession, ability, relation or condition, to eat, enjoy, keep, to be able to hold, rest, return, use. The knowledge that the promises of God are solid, dependable, and don't need our help to be brought to pass-just our obedience and faith, and trust in his ability to do it. That is the anchor, the power that keeps our souls steadfast, secured, in place, not flitting around in confusion, not carried off or away by trouble or circumstance or deceit, but in place-in Him, sure and steadfast, unshakeable. Jesus is there. He's at the right hand of the Father, ready, willing and able to meet our needs, and bring us to where we need to be. He sent the Holy Ghost to prepare and guide and teach us. He's promised the Comforter to us. God help us be where we need to be, baptized and full of the Spirit of God, in his control, with his agenda leading us and then all hell can do the trembling and fearing and shaking. That is how it's supposed to be. And by the grace of God that is how it's going to be. We should not settle for less-to do so is a reproach and an insult on God who made such provision. It won’t be easy. We have to press in, and listen only to God. We have to be strong, and of good courage, as our Pastor keeps encouraging us at church here lately. God forgive me, and help me see. Help us all see it and believe it and RECEIVE it.