Recipes for the Bread of God: John 6:33

By Deacon Eugene A. Knox

Profoundly written! The author uses a "this is not rocket science" approach in teaching the reader how to walk in grace as you live the Word. Recipes for the Bread of God will help you maintain godliness in this world of ungodliness. An amazing opportunity for the reader to discern the truth of the Word of God in simple terms. This book will make the believer's belief more believable. Whether you use the topical index or read the book in its entirety, there is something here for everyone. This book is about learning how to run your carnal race in a spiritual way so that you become pleasing in God's sight. No one has ever said that living your life would be easy, but reading this book surely helps one navigate through the rough times. As you read this book, there will be many times that you will pause and say, "Now that makes a lot of sense to me." A must-read for preachers and Sunday school teachers. Sermons and Bible studies with biblical correctness can be shared. This book will help take the confusion out of understanding the Word of God. Every recipe has its own ingredients. John 6:33 says, "The bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." Jesus said in John 6:48, "I am the bread of life." He says of Himself in John 6:51, "I am the living bread which came down from heaven. He who eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world." Amen!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Mar 14, 2019
• ISBN: 9781644622841

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A Man’s Ways

Proverbs 16:25

Life is loaded with uncertainty. We never know from one moment to the next what will happen. Even if we did know, there will be times that we will be put into situations that are unfavorable as well as unavoidable. There will be adverse situations that we bring upon ourselves, circumstances that could have been avoided if only we had thought them out and responded with our God-given intelligence. But that’s not to say that we won’t encounter things and situations that are totally out of our control.

Adversity comes in all shapes, sizes, and ways that, in more times than not, we couldn’t see coming, let alone comprehend. God-sent adversity comes with lessons needed for spiritual growth. It brings circumstances that will test your faith and belief. God will often send us stumbling blocks but later turns those stumbling blocks into stepping stones. Sometimes adversity is sent for much-needed correction, sent to keep us on the pathway of righteousness and out of harm’s way. Each and every day I pray this simple prayer I learn from my wife. I pray, Lord, I don’t know what this day holds, but what I do know is that You are the holder of the day. I continue by asking to be led and kept from all harm and danger.

In this life, I’ve come to know that no matter what we go through or how dark it seems, we know that things that happen to us can be better, but I also know that things can be much worse. That is why it is so important for us to be thankful that things are as well as they are. We need to recognize that God, in His infinite wisdom, gives us everything we need to be well prepared for all of life’s ups and downs.

Consider this: Proverbs 16:4 says, The Lord has made all things for Himself, yes even the wicked for the day of evil. This lets us know that none of us are exempt from adversity. With that being said, it stands to good reasoning that we should always go to the Lord in prayer. Not just when things are going wrong. Luke 18:1 says, That men always ought to pray and not lose heart. After all, if He makes all things for Himself, then He and only He knows what’s going on, what His intended purpose is, and the outcome of everything from the beginning and before the ending comes to pass. When a man’s ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. With all the sinful things we do today, surely, God is not pleased. Rebellion is the ongoing cry of the land with the immorality of gay and lesbian marriages, homosexuality, pedophilia, and idolatry, to name a few. What is so strange about this is that we live this God-given life as though none of these sins are going to come into judgment in the end. Yet as so stated in Proverbs 16:25, There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.

How we see things is not how God sees things. We are reminded in Psalm 66:7, God rules by His power forever; His eyes observe the nations; Do not let the rebellious exalt themselves. In Matthew 10:26–28, Jesus warned His disciples before sending them out into the world. He said, Therefore do not fear them. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known. Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops. And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Conclusion

I leave this advice to those that openly live in a state of immorality. All of a man’s ways will come into judgment. The wisdom of Solomon, as found in Ecclesiastes 8:11–13, says, Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. Though a sinner does evil a hundred times, and his days are prolonged, yet I surely know that it will be well with those who fear God, who fear before Him. But it will not be well with the wicked; nor will he prolong his days, which are as a shadow, because he does not fear before God. Be mindful of Psalm 103:8–10, which says, The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in mercy. He will not always strive with us, nor will He keep His anger forever. He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities.

While we still have life, we need to make some immediate changes. We cannot risk going to hell because we think we are entitled to His mercy and His grace. After all, it is His mercy and His grace, and He is entitled to give it to whomever He chooses. Surely, we can take God at His word but never take the Lord for granted. We need to be more mindful of the things that we learn, not only from the Word of God, but also from the things learned by the experiences of others as well as the things we experience ourselves while on this earthly journey. If you live your life in a man’s ways, then make sure that you are living your life in a manner that is pleasing to God. Make sure that you are not living in a manner that is pleasing yourself.

We need to be reminded that once you know better, then the Lord expects you to do better. We, being Christians, must lead by example, never forgetting that we were once the sinners and heathens, the immoral, and the sin sick of the world. We are here to use our God-given knowledge, wisdom, and gifts to the glory of God rather than to the glory men. We are here to spread the gospel and deliver the spiritually captive. We are here to make a difference by winning souls for Jesus. Understand that we are not of this world but sojourners trying our best to help somebody along the way so that our living is not in vain.

Even if we do most everything right, we will still have need of God’s mercy and grace. Why? Because Romans 3:23 says, All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Always remember these lessons of preparation found in Psalm 66:9–12, which say, Who keeps our soul among the living, and does not allow our feet to be moved? For You, O God, have proved us; You have refined us as silver is refined. You brought us into the net; You laid affliction on our backs. You have caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water; but You brought us out to rich fulfillment.

Each of us is marvelously made for doing great works for the glory of the Lord. If we fulfill His needs, then we become pleasing in His sight. Then a man’s ways will gain for himself the ultimate prize of eternal life. Remember that God has the final say. David reminds us in Psalm 62:11–12, God has spoken once, twice I have heard this; that power belongs to God. Also to You, O Lord, belongs mercy; for You reward to each one according to his work. Amen!

A Measuring Stick for Righteousness

John 15:18–19

Ameasuring stick , in simple terms, is a basis or standard of caparison or an estimate of what is to be expected in order to reach a predetermined goal. Righteous , as defined by God, is what we should become once we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior. The words should become implies that you must do your part to overcome all the stumbling blocks associated with becoming the new you.

Living your life for Christ requires a change from our old worldly ways and sinful nature. We are to become a new creature in Christ. This new creature we become requires us to live in such a way that others will see the change in us. Once the Christ, who now lives on the inside of us, starts working on the outside, do not be surprised if your friends and family dislike the new you. Expect it because your life purpose has changed. Your measuring stick is now used as a gauge for faith and belief levels that lead us to righteousness rather than worldly accomplishments. The new man that you now become is not only very different but should also be outwardly visible to your fellow man.

Ephesians 4:23–24 says that you are to be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in righteousness and true holiness. Once you commit to living your life for Christ, you become an enemy of the world, a world controlled by Satan. Satan will be very angry because he loses a key player and good soldier in his war against the saints of God. Satan will attack you and release an arsenal of weapons to kill, destroy, and rob the new you like never before. Be prepared for spiritual warfare. Be mindful that when pleasing God, you make the devil mad. A mad demon has no conscience about you or the way he uses to get you back on his side. This was what Jesus was saying when he warned us in Luke 11:24–26, telling us, When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he says, ‘I will return to my old house from which I came.’ And when he comes back, he finds it swept and put in order. Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there. And the last state of that man is worse than the first. This unclean spirit is our old sinful nature. Once we start living in the will of God, we have, in effect, cleaned up our dirty house. We throw out the old mess, and our messy ways try to come back. If we are not careful, we will be overcome by a natural tendency to go back to our comfort zone of past living. This form of backsliding can easily become habit-forming, thus leaving one in a state of spiritual confusion.

We are to resist this natural temptation with spiritual warfare. The training and teachings of the Bible become our weapon of choice. Ephesians 6:17 calls the Word of God the sword of the Spirit. Once we become pleasing to God, then we become despised and hated by the devil. Even our friend list will be considerably shortened, and don’t be surprised if family and other relatives reject you. John 15:18–19 says, If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated Me first. If you belong to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. At first, I never thought that anything good could come from hatred, until Jesus prayed for us to His Father in John 17:14–15, saying, I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because (once saved) they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. Hatred by the world now becomes a measuring stick for righteousness. That is not to say that Jesus condones hatred; this is a warning to us of the poison associated with the fruit of hatred.

Conclusion

1 Peter 2:19–21 tells us, It is commendable, if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God. But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in His steps. 1 Peter 4:1–2 says, Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, for he who has suffered in his body has ceased from sin. As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. There will be times that the testing of our faith will show the world your spiritual character content. The world needs to see what you are made of, and we need a measuring stick for righteousness so we know how we are faring up to God’s expectation of us as faithful believers. Remember, 1 Peter 3:12–14 says, "For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayers; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil. And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed."

None of us Christian believers are exempt from the devices of the devil. In fact, once you begin to live your life for Christ, you will then find yourself in a constant battle with the devil. He will come to steal your joy, to kill your spirit, and when you are dealing with all kinds of pain and suffering, he will even encourage you to curse God and die, just as Satan put these very words into the heart of Job’s wife at a time when Job needed compassion instead of ridicule. Romans 12:2 tells us, Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is. His good, pleasing, and perfect will becomes a measuring stick of righteousness. Even with the hatred toward us from the world, we can find encouragement in Matthew 10:22, where Jesus says, And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved. Thus making hatred by the world a most useful measuring stick for righteousness that keeps us focused on the road leading to salvation and eternal life. Amen!

A People Belonging to God

1 Peter 2:9

As Christians, we know it is a godly ordained expectation for us to live righteously and boldly proclaim the truths of Jesus Christ in a dying world. After all, we are a people belonging to God. Each and every one of us has a responsibility to live our lives in such a way that we become pleasing in God’s sight. God’s expectation of us as His chosen creation establishes us and calls us to a much higher standard than those that are of the world. We were called to a higher standard because we were handpicked by God to perform miracles and wonders that will draw others into the household of faith. We were picked not because we were so good or many in number but because God saw fit to establish us as the apple of His eye—a people that was given all the necessary attributes to overcome the evil that is common to the world. 1 Peter 2:9 tells us, We are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that we may declare the praises of Him who called [us] out of darkness into His wonderful light. The enemies of Christ often mistake kindness for weakness, when in fact 1 Peter 3:8–12 says that we Christian should be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, and be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessings, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. For whoever would love life and see good days, must keep their tongue from evil, and their lips from deceitful speech. They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil. We must learn how to hold our peace and let the Lord fight our battles. Proverbs 16:7 says, When a man’s ways are pleasing to the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

You will have times that you will wonder, Why in God’s name did I make the choice to live for Christ? Once you commit your life to Christ, you will suffer for righteousness’ sake. This kind of suffering is commendable. It is described and acknowledged as such in 1 Peter 2:19–23, telling us that it is commendable, if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God. But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in His steps. ‘He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth. When they hurled their insults at Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats. Instead, He entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly. Each of us is highly esteemed in suffering as Christians, as so acknowledged in 1 Peter 4:1–2. Here Peter tells us, Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, for he who has suffered in his body has ceased from sin. As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.

As hard as it may seem to be, Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:44–45 that we are to love our enemies, and pray for those who persecute us, that we may be children of our Father in heaven. Peter and the apostles were jailed and miraculously freed from prison because they preached the gospel of Christ and showed signs and wonders of healing. It became an unstoppable movement. Acts 5:27–29 says that when they brought the apostles before the council to be questioned by the high priest, he asked them; ‘Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man’s blood on us!’ Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said: ‘We ought to obey God rather than men.’ A wise, highly esteemed law teacher and member of the council advises the council in Acts 5:38–42 that they should Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God. His speech persuaded them. And when they had called for the apostles and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and then they let them go. So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name sake. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.

We Christians must expect the bitter fruits of commendable suffering. This fruit, though bitter in taste, carries great reward for those that eat of it. It is nourishment for your soul and is sweetened directly by the hand of the Lord.

Conclusion

As we live this earthly life, we will face many challenges and obstacles that seem monumental in size. We will be required to either make decisions and adjustments that will help us grow stronger in our quest toward righteousness or make bad choices that will lead to our worldly as well as spiritual demise. As today is, so are we in an ongoing constant war between living a life that is right in God’s sight or yielding to the ever-present temptation that is associated with worldly living. We are a generation of people that were chosen to do great works for the glory of God.

Living godly in a pagan society is an everyday challenge. So much so that in 1 Peter 2:11–12, Peter declares and urges us, As foreigners and strangers in this world, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us. Each and every day we see the injustice that is common to living this earthly life. The good folk, the innocent, the giving, the sharing and caring people of God are charged with finding forgiveness, no matter how painful it may be. We are required to live by the example that Christ set. We must be the ones to find forgiveness in our hearts toward the wicked no matter what they do to us. The wicked are killing our children and loved ones with little or no remorse, yet we will be held accountable to God for how we handle or react to the evil that is in this world. Rightly so, because as so stated in 1 John 4:4, You are of God, little children, and have overcome the world, because He who is in you, is greater than he who is in the world. What this is saying is that because of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, not only do we have the power to overcome the evil of the world but we must also utilize this power to its fullest extent and live our lives in such a way that others will take notice and want to follow in our footsteps.

When I think about the sacrificial lamb that our Lord and Savior Jesus was, and still is, my soul cries out, Hallelujah, thank you, Jesus! Clearly, any suffering that I encounter will be an honor and a way to say, Thank you, Jesus, for loving me like you do. We are a people belonging to God. We are marvelously equipped with leadership capabilities to draw others to Christ when we lead by example. We should always be prepared to proclaim and highly recommend with boldness and without wavering that all mankind should try Christ. Why so? one might ask. Because if you live for Christ, then your living will never be in vain. Amen!

A Spiritual Mind-Set

Philippians 2:5-8

The development of a spiritual mind-set within oneself is a necessary and righteous requirement of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It is something that each and every Christian should be willing to do. For most of us, it won’t be easy because it will require humility and consideration of others first. One must be willing to serve Christ as well as be of service to mankind. Imitating the humility of Christ is to draw others to you because you become what they will see within you, the loving-kindness, the meekness, and the sharing and caring demeanor that is associated with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Your attitude needs to be developed into becoming a spiritual mind-set. This was what the apostle Paul was expressing to the church at Philippi. In Philippians 2:1–4, Paul says with conviction, If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being likeminded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Your attitude should reflect Philippians 2:5–8, which says that we are to let this mind be in [us] which was also in Christ Jesus: who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God, as something to be grasped, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the very nature of a servant, and being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross! Remember, Christ of Himself did not have to die; He could have sent ten thousand angels in His stead. But out of obedience to the will of His Father, He was sent to die for the remission of our sins. Thanks be to God the Father!

Paul’s message continues in Philippians 2:9–11, saying, Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the Name that is above every name, that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Paul’s central thought is simple: only in Christ are real unity and joy possible. With Christ as your model of humility and service, you can enjoy a oneness of purpose, attitude, goal, and labor—truth that Paul illustrates from his own life, and one the Philippians desperately needed to hear. A spiritual mind-set is required to be of service to others. Jesus taught His disciples in Mark 10:45 that even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.

Conclusion

As God-fearing Christians, each and every one of us has a responsibility and obligation to live our lives in such a way that we become pleasing in God’s sight. God’s expectation of us as His chosen creation sets us above and to a much higher standard than those that are of the world. To develop a spiritual mind-set is to live our lives in such a way that others will take notice and want to follow in our footsteps. We are marvelously equipped with leadership capabilities to draw others to Christ. To have knowledge and understanding of God’s Word is not enough; we must learn how to live the Word and lead by the example we set for others. The ability to quote scripture has little or no value when compared to what we do with the knowledge gained from scripture study. God’s will for us is that we learn to live the Word. That is what really counts.

I wonder just how many of us can really live the Word that the apostle Paul speaks of in Romans 12:20–21, where he says, Therefore if your enemy hungers, feed him; if he thirsts, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. I am not saying that this will be easy. In fact, Paul says in Romans 12:18, If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. When Paul said as much as depends on you, clearly he is not talking about the salvation of one’s enemy; this is about the salvation of oneself. This is a case where the effort that we put forth in trying to get along with others, particularly with our enemies, will come into judgment. It is not a matter of whether or not we are successful in getting others to love us in return. This is about you living your life as Christ would have you live. This is about you responding to the hateful and evil people of the world in the manner that Jesus would. We are to even go the extra mile in trying to get along with others in spite of how others treat us.

A humble spirit works well in winning souls for Christ. As a servant, Jesus demonstrated a spiritual mind-set that drew lost souls into the fold of Christianity. As a caring shepherd, He always had compassion for His sheep. Jesus always maintained a spiritual mind-set in going after the lost sheep of His fold. He attests to this fact in Matthew 18:11–13, saying about Himself, The Son of Man has come to save that which was lost. What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying? And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray.

Paul maps out effective strategies for living in harmony with our fellow man in Romans 12:9–17. He says, Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.

If you put your mind to it, with humility and determination, it will become a spiritual mind-set and you will have great success at winning souls for Christ. Amen!

A Treasure Chest Filled with Fool’s Gold

Luke 12:15

If you have ever seen any of the old Mastercard commercials, you will see that they put value on things that money can buy and end the commercial with something that they label as priceless.

In 1 Timothy 6:17–19, the apostle Paul tells the young pastor Timothy, Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant, nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. Now, Jesus teaches in Matthew 6:33 that we should seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these [material] things shall be added to [us]. The kingdom of God is priceless. It cannot be bought with money or material things because it is the home of our God and the future home of all that gain the prize of eternal life. We live in an age where men relentlessly pursue things that have little or no value for their souls. In doing so, it is not uncommon for man to come upon a treasure chest filled with fool’s gold, which is all glitter and shine but of no use or value toward the saving of our souls.

Satan has a way that makes men act foolishly, particularly in man’s lustful pursuit of money and other material things. These are the very things that will cause man to lose his soul. One’s soul is priceless, as Jesus clearly challenges us with questions in Matthew 16:26, saying, For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? No man can put a value on the blood of Jesus. It was then, it is now, and it will always be priceless. Why? Because it is by the cleansing power of the blood that our souls are made ready for judgment when our time comes to appear before our just and righteous God. Without