We are Near!
We Are Near
Victorious Christians are nearing the end of their journey. Never has the fulfillment of their promises been so close; but never have sincere Christians needed more encouragement.
In this inaugural episode of We Are Near!, we open with a few of Jesus' promises of special service for Christians -- his assurance that his followers will actually share in the future government of the world. Then we examine a passage in the book of James, describing the trials that Christians should expect to suffer now, and note that, if faithful, we will "be a kind of firstfruits of God's creatures." What surprising and inspiring words those are!
Finally, we dive into Psalm 15 to examine the character qualities of those who "sojourn in God's tent" -- who walk with God at the present time and are taught by God himself as he holds our hand along our long and often lonely life journey as disciples of Jesus.
This new podcast is meant for serious Christians -- people who are focused on following Jesus faithfully, until death. The trials are real, but the joys are beyond expression. Eye has not seen, nor ear heard ... the things God has been preparing for those who love him supremely.
The more we pay attention to the terms of discipleship and predictions of the actual deeds of Jesus' truest followers, there have not been many humble, meek Jesus followers who made it into the pages of history. Most genuine, obedient Christians have been laboring in anonymity, ignored or even hounded by the powerful forces of the outwardly respectable, "orthodox" Christian geopolitical system.
For the most part, the true followers of Jesus were not famous, they did not have official recognition, they did not seek or gain political power, and often they were oppressed, persecuted, neutralized in this life. Probably, few made their living as "ministers of the gospel". They were like the ancient prophets of old
-- men and women who suffered for their faithfulness-- "of whom the world was not worthy."
But the future era will be different. Jesus will exalt his obedient followers. They will be revealed by him as having been victorious in his eyes. He will promote them to places of power and influence in his future "government of the world, when the times are ripe for it." (Ephesians 1:9,10 -- Weymouth translation.)
Victorious Christians are nearing the end of their journey. Never has the fulfillment of their promises been so close; but never have sincere Christians needed more encouragement.
In this inaugural episode of We Are Near!, we open with a few of Jesus' promises of special service for Christians -- his assurance that his followers will actually share in the future government of the world. Then we examine a passage in the book of James, describing the trials that Christians should expect to suffer now, and note that, if faithful, we will "be a kind of firstfruits of God's creatures." What surprising and inspiring words those are!
Finally, we dive into Psalm 15 to examine the character qualities of those who "sojourn in God's tent" -- who walk with God at the present time and are taught by God himself as he holds our hand along our long and often lonely life journey as disciples of Jesus.
This new podcast is meant for serious Christians -- people who are focused on following Jesus faithfully, until death. The trials are real, but the joys are beyond expression. Eye has not seen, nor ear heard ... the things God has been preparing for those who love him supremely.
The more we pay attention to the terms of discipleship and predictions of the actual deeds of Jesus' truest followers, there have not been many humble, meek Jesus followers who made it into the pages of history. Most genuine, obedient Christians have been laboring in anonymity, ignored or even hounded by the powerful forces of the outwardly respectable, "orthodox" Christian geopolitical system.
For the most part, the true followers of Jesus were not famous, they did not have official recognition, they did not seek or gain political power, and often they were oppressed, persecuted, neutralized in this life. Probably, few made their living as "ministers of the gospel". They were like the ancient prophets of old
-- men and women who suffered for their faithfulness-- "of whom the world was not worthy."
But the future era will be different. Jesus will exalt his obedient followers. They will be revealed by him as having been victorious in his eyes. He will promote them to places of power and influence in his future "government of the world, when the times are ripe for it." (Ephesians 1:9,10 -- Weymouth translation.)