My Notes on John 11 . . .

by Larry Dixon

https://larrydixon.wordpress.com/2021/12/29/my-notes-on-john-11/

The Forgotten Third: Developing a Biblical Relationship with God the Holy Spirit

Friends: I’ve been working on this manuscript for quite a while. And I now have a contract to get it finished! Here’s a sample of what I’m putting together for this book:

Jesus says the Holy Spirit would be “another paraclete” to His disciples. Would the term “comfort” be the first to come to mind when we think of how Jesus was to His disciples? He rebukes them for their unbelief, for their sleeping, for having no faith. He defends them when they are accused of violating sacred rules of ceremonial washing or ignoring Sabbath observance. He “comes alongside” them when their faith is too weak to exorcize a demon-possessed boy.

“Comfort” seems to imply bringing solace to one who is weeping. The disciples (during the earthly ministry of the Lord) did not know enough to weep. He does not “comfort” them – He challenges, chastises, corrects, and even cajoles them. “Comfort” is far too weak a term. And sometimes the last thing the believer needs is a sympathetic companion who wipes away his tears. We need One who is fully divine to come alongside of us and put His finger on our sins and remind our hearts, “You belong to Your Heavenly Father.” We require One who will motivate and empower us to take risks for the Kingdom of God, One who will not be satisfied with one-seventh of our week, with the leftovers of our hours and days. We need One who will be “called alongside of” us even when we ourselves don’t have enough wisdom to invite His intrusive presence.

Read more: https://larrydixon.wordpress.com/2021/12/28/the-forgotten-third-developing-a-biblical-relationship-with-god-the-holy-spirit/

Living for Jesus in an Un-Christian World: A Study of the Epistle of Jude (Principle #3)

 

 

 

 

 

 

But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. 22 Be merciful to those who doubt; 23 save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.

“[E]very time you make a choice you are turning the central part of you, the part of you that chooses, into something a little different than it was before. And taking your life as a whole, with all your innumerable choices, all your life long you are slowly turning this central thing into a heavenly creature or a hellish creature: either into a creature that is in harmony with God, and with other creatures, and with itself, or else into one that is in a state of war and hatred with God, and with its fellow creatures, and with itself. To be the one kind of creature is heaven: that is, it is joy and peace and knowledge and power. To be the other means madness, horror, idiocy, rage, impotence, and eternal loneliness. Each of us at each moment is progressing to the one state of the other.” (C.S. Lewis)

 

Read more at: https://larrydixon.wordpress.com/2021/12/17/living-for-jesus-in-an-un-christian-world-a-study-of-the-epistle-of-jude-principle-3/

#36 “Critical Imperatives for the Christ-Follower” (A Study of Romans 12) Part 8

I count 24 injunctions or commands or imperatives for the believer here in Romans 12. I’m aware that the expression “critical imperative” is redundant, but I think it’s useful for what we see here in this great chapter. Let’s continue our multipart study by looking at verse 10.

We’ve seen that the believer is to offer his body as a living sacrifice, not to conform to the pattern of this world, to be transformed by the renewing of his mind, to think of himself with sober judgment, to use his gifts to build up the body of Christ, to hate as God hates, and to be devoted to the body in love!

The eighth critical imperative is —8. Believers are TO HONOR ONE ANOTHER ABOVE THEMSELVES! (v. 10)

What does it actually mean to honor someone? We are to show them respect, care about what they care about, give them the benefit of the doubt. It sounds a bit strange to say to someone, “I honor you.” What is involved in honoring someone? Here’s a brief survey of that term in the Scriptures with my summary at the end:

Read more: https://larrydixon.wordpress.com/2021/02/19/ruminating-on-romans-some-thoughts-on-pauls-great-epistle-36-critical-imperatives-for-the-christ-follower-a-study-of-romans-12-part-8/

Focus! Keeping Your Eyes on Jesus in a Near-Sighted, Distracted World! (The Blind Man in John 9 – Part 1)

It is very hard to focus when one has no sight. In our passage for the next several posts, we get to examine the most extensive miracle story in all the Bible. This story of the man born blind proclaims with utmost clarity some of the most critical truths upon which we are to FOCUS.

In this series of blog posts I want to examine my own vision and ask if my spiritual eyesight is getting dim, distracted, or damaged by choices I make. We will be looking at a number of key biblical passages which emphasize this sense of sight. I am particularly looking forward to pondering the healing miracles which turned blind people into sighted people.

I wonder how Jesus knew this man was “blind from birth” (v. 1)? As God the Son He knew all things, of course. However, one explanation that I find possible is that this man had a particular begging call. Perhaps his begging call was, “Blind from birth! Please help me! I’m blind from birth!” The text doesn’t tell us, but what we know is that this man had never seen anything in his life. He did not lose his sight from an accident or injury. He was born that way. Sightless.

There is more at: https://larrydixon.wordpress.com/2021/08/18/focus-keeping-your-eyes-on-jesus-in-a-near-sighted-distracted-world-the-blind-man-in-john-9-part-1/

Focus! Keeping Your Eyes on Jesus in a Near-Sighted, Distracted World! (The Blind Man in John 9 – Part 4)

https://larrydixon.wordpress.com/2021/08/24/focus-keeping-your-eyes-on-jesus-in-a-near-sighted-distracted-world-the-blind-man-in-john-9-part-4/

Focus! Keeping Your Eyes on Jesus in a Near-Sighted, Distracted World! (Introduction)

Introduction:  In high school, for some inexplicable reason, I memorized the lines on the eye chart! I don’t know why. And I passed each year’s eye exam with flying colors. I actually sabotaged my own eyesight.

How’s your vision? Would you say that your eyes are focused on the Lord Jesus and all that He has planned for you? Or, like me, would you admit you get distracted and turn your gaze away from Him? Would you say that the things of this world are pretty and shiny and tend to draw away your attention like small metal beads to a powerful magnet?

In this series of blog posts I want to examine my own vision and ask if my spiritual eyesight is getting dim, distracted, or damaged by choices I make. We will be looking at a number of key biblical passages which emphasize this sense of sight. I am particularly looking forward to pondering the healing miracles which turned blind people into sighted people.

Going to be a good series – follow at: https://larrydixon.wordpress.com/2021/08/14/focus-keeping-your-eyes-on-jesus-in-a-near-sighted-distracted-world-introduction/

Our Permanent High Priest — the Lord Jesus (A Brief Look at Hebrews 7)

I think Hebrews 7 is one of the toughest chapters in all of the Bible! I don’t understand much of the material about Melchizedek, but that’s okay. The major point of the chapter, I believe, is about our great high priest, the Lord Jesus Christ. Here are some of my observations on verses 26-28 —

Continue: https://larrydixon.wordpress.com/2021/08/12/our-permanent-high-priest-the-lord-jesus-%E2%80%A8a-brief-look-at-hebrews-7/

The Elementary Teachings about Christ (A Brief Look at Hebrews 6)

Here is a fascinating passage from Hebrews 6. If you were asked, “What are the primary elementary teachings about Christ?, what would you say? Notice the list that the author of Hebrews gives —

Notice that he refers to this list as “the foundation” (v. 1). Just a few questions occur to me —

Read the blog: https://larrydixon.wordpress.com/2021/08/10/the-elementary-teachings-about-christ-a-brief-look-at-hebrews-6/

Twenty Questions about God’s “Rest” in Hebrews 4

https://larrydixon.wordpress.com/2021/08/06/twenty-questions-about-gods-rest-in-hebrews-4/