Tuesday, April 14, 2015

John 2 Party time!

    Ever heard, "God only gives us what we need, not what we want?"  It is my pleasure to tell you that He not only gives us what we want, He gives us an abundance of it. When you delight yourself in the Lord He gives you the desires of your heart,  Psalm 37:4. The basis of who He is, is that He is love and He is 100% good 100% of the time.
    Picture a father of a child here on earth that only gave his kid the bare minimum, when he had the entire universe and all its riches and resources at his disposal. That doesn't sound like a father that is love and is 100% good, 100% of the time. It is the Fathers good pleasure to give you the kingdom, Luke 12:32, and the Kingdom is loaded with His unlimited goodness.
    The writer of Hebrews says in Hebrews 1:3 And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the majesty on high. (NASB) So Jesus displayed the Father in His exact nature. John 5:19 So Jesus answered them by saying, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, the Son is able to do nothing of Himself (of His own accord); but He is able to do what He sees the Father doing, for whatever the Father does is what the Son does in the same way [in His turn]. (Amplified) Jesus didn't do a single thing that was not in complete alignment with the heart of God, He came to reveal the Father in perfect detail.
    Lets take a look at Jesus' first public miracle. In verse 3 of John 2 it says, When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to Him, "They have no wine." (NASB) And this is the response from the Prince of Peace from the Message bible, Jesus said, "Is that any of our business, Mother-yours or mine? This isn't my time. Don't push me."
    Now if the wine is gone it simply means that everyone drank it, and if they drank all the wine that was supplied for an entire wedding then let's face the facts, they were drunk. Yet Mary persisted, after waiting 30yrs for the unveiling of the Messiah (who she also carried in her belly for 9 months) you can understand how she might have been getting a little impatient.
    She goes ahead and tells the disciples, "Whatever He says to you, do it." Think through this now, a want from mankind moved the ministry of the King of Glory to earlier start date. More wine once you are already drunk is a want, not a need. The persistence of a woman that was pregnant with the expectation of the presentation of heaven on earth pushed the Messiah into party pleasing, its true. Jesus had to have been given the OK from the Father, obviously, or He wouldn't have supplied the drunk wedding guests with an outrageous amount of the finest wine.
    So God says, ok, you want to see my exact nature displayed here you go! Then Jesus turned 6 jars that held 20-30 gallons a piece into top shelf wine. And Jesus honored the host first, (Message bible) verse 8- "Now fill your pitchers and take them to the host," Jesus said, and they did. The hosts response, "Everybody I know begins with their finest wines and after the guests have had their fill brings in the cheap stuff. But you've saved the best till now!"
    The first public miracle in the ministry of Jesus supplied a want, at a party, and in fine fashion. It's as if God was making a statement about what the New Covenant is like. Jesus told us to pray, (NIV) Matthew 6:10 "your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." Apparently they like to party in heaven. Message bible verse 11 from John 2, "This act in Cana of Galilee was the first sign Jesus gave, the first glimpse of his glory. And his disciples believed in him." I would also believe if I was partaking in that blissful environment!
    Many of us have misunderstood Philippians 4:19, And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in Glory. (NASB) Did you notice that? God supplies according to His riches in Glory, not our circumstances or needs. Here is a little context of this amazing word though. In Philippians 4:15-18 Paul shares how the Church of Phillippi was the only church that shared financial gifts with Him for his ministry and living. The book of Philippians also has a constant theme of joy and gratitude. A life of joy, thanksgiving, and generously giving compels the heart of God to supply our needs according to His riches in glory. He is so good, think of this. We give what He freely gives us towards His kingdom, and in return He rewards us? That's an amazing deal right their!
    God is so pleased with us, He is so in love with us that He wants our desires on all fronts of life fulfilled. He delights in you, Proverbs 8:31...And my delight was with the sons of men. Psalm 16:3 As for the saints who are on the earth, "They are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight." 11 You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. (NKJV)
    Enjoy the new wine of joy that was poured out at the cross. Delight in the fact that He delights in you, and drink Him in!

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