SERVICES: SATURDAY 6PM | SUNDAY 9AM & 10:45AM. 

We Livestream at www.FaithFellowshipWeb.com/livestream, through the FFC App, and YouTube.

Sabbath Opportunity

Sabbath Opportunity
Words of Faith 10-7-16
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2016
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><

John 5
[16] So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jews persecuted him. [17] Jesus said to them, "My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working." [18] For this reason the Jews tried all the harder to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.
[19] Jesus gave them this answer: "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. [20] For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, to your amazement he will show him even greater things than these. [21] For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. [22] Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, [23] that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.

“You can learn a lot from a Sabbath controversy.” That is a famous quote from a well known theologian named… well… me, actually. But it is true even if I am not well known! You can learn a lot from almost any controversy. This Sabbath controversy sparked a remarkable opportunity to learn just who Jesus is!
The religious Jews were angry because Jesus had healed a man on the Sabbath and told him to pick up his mat. Both healing and mat-carrying were considered “work” and violated the rules they had created surrounding the fourth commandment. Jesus responded with a trove of christological truth about Himself.
1) My Father doesn’t stop working so neither do I. Jesus claimed boldly to be equal to God.
2) But I do nothing that is not directed and empowered by the Father. Jesus also was clear that He was completely surrendered to the Father. Though being equal to God, Jesus did not consider equality with God something to cling to but became a servant of the Father (Phil. 2:6-7).
3) My Father shows me what He is doing. The essence of spirituality is to be aware of God and what He is doing and therefore to be in a relationship with Him. Jesus was aware of God’s workings in the tiniest of events. Jesus could see the Father at work at all times.
4) The Father will raise the dead; the Son gives life right now to those whom He pleases. Many Jews believed in the resurrection of the dead at the coming of Messiah. Jesus is clear that Life begins now, not later!
5) The Father has entrusted judgment to the Son. While Jesus did not judge people during His earthly ministry, He will return to judge the living and the dead at the end of time.
6) To dishonor the Son is to dishonor the Father, who sent Him. There is no way around this.
How do we apply this truth? Trust that Jesus and the Father have everything under control. They do not need me to be a god or consultant. Follow the example of Jesus of a servant surrendered to the Father. Look around and see God at work. Start living. Life begins with Jesus. Don’t judge. Jesus will sort it all out in the end. Honor Jesus while we wait.

Lord, I confess that I have tried to control more than to trust. I surrender to You and Your will. Open my eyes to see You at work all around me. Give me Life in Jesus that I may honor You all the days of my life. In Jesus’ Name.

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2002, 2016
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
SUBSCRIPTIONS - To receive the Words of Faith devotion five days a week, send an E-mail message addressed to join-words-of-faith@hub.xc.org. To stop receiving Words of Faith, send an E-mail message addressed to unsubscribe-words-of-faith@hub.xc.org. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2010 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.