The introvert advantage

I'm currently reading a book-the introvert advantage. To help me to better understand myself and others and for those who are extroverts to understand us.

Interestingly the blood flow of introverts and extroverts are different.
First, in reaseach it has shown that there is more blood flow to the brains in introverts compared to extroverts.
More blood flow indicates more internal stimulation.

The pathway is more complicated and focused internally. The introverts' blood flowed to the parts of the brain involved with internal experiences like remembering, solving problems, and planning. The pathway is long and complex. The introverts were attending to their internal thoughts and feelings.

The extroverts' blood flowed to the areas of the brain where visual, auditory, touch, and taste sensory processing occurs. Their main pathway is short and less complicated.


And there are examples given in the book which shows that.
From my personal experiences, I always felt lousy that I don't think as fast and speak as fast or to verbalise more as extroverts do. But the truth is that whenever someone ask me regarding something it takes me quiet some time to generate what to say because it goes through a lot of thinking and reflecting internally. So often people would think that I'm blur/blank etc but I'm actually internalizing thoughts and feelings.

Wait for your Boaz

For all the single ladies in such a hurry to get married here is a piece of Biblical advice. Ruth patiently waited for her mate Boaz. So while waiting on your Boaz, please do not settle for any of his relatives … Broke-az, Po-az, Lyin-az, Cheatin-az, Dumb-az, Cheap-az, Lockedup-az, Goodfornothin-az, Lazy-az or Married-az and especially his third cousin Beatinyo-az. Please wait on your Boaz and make sure he respects Yo-az!”

—	~Unknown Source~

6 basic human needs

As humans we all have needs and wants and we are motivated in our actions to get away from pain (push) or to get pleasure (pull).

1. Certainty

We all want know that we’re safe, and that we can count on certain things in life to happen (or not to happen).  We want certainty the car will start, the water will flow from the tap when we turn it on and the floorboards will support us when we get up in the morning.

2. Variety

At the same time we need certainty, we also crave novelty. Paradoxically, there needs to be enough uncertainty to provide intrigue and excitement in our lives.

3. Significance

Deep down, we all want to be valued for who we are. We want our life to have meaning and significance. We want to “matter”.

4. Connection/Love

We’re alive because someone (even if it was in a dysfunctional way) loved us. We need to feel loved, feel part of a community, and feel cared for and cared about.

5. Growth

We have a need to become better, to improve our skills, to stretch, expand and excel.  This need may be more evident in some than others, but it is present in all of us.

6. Contribution

The desire to make the world a better place than we found it is the final human need.  It is the need to contribute something of value, to help and uplift others somehow.

Do not feed the monkey

Do not feed the monkey!!!

I was thinking about the situation about someone i know and also in human's life.
Then came this title to me-Do not feed the monkey!

Pray before reading as this can get confrontational. Confrontations of this nature is good so take it with a good heart.

This friend whom i know lets call him James for now. James is a case of being lost and filled with wrong spirits due to things that happened to him in his past. Sad is such a case but sympathy is to be shown not pity.
There are a lot of people who went through and goes through injustice, pain, suffering, torment, abuse etc in this human experience call life. None of us escapes the consequences of what  Adam and Eve done. None of us are spared. The thing is that in life, we may not control what happens to us as life is such that we are all linked together. In another words we are built for relationship by our Creator God. What we do and say do not just affects that person alone but  also people around as well. It is selfish and foolish to think and say that " its my life, i do and say what i want". We may not control what happens but we can control how and what we become from it.

The key word is responsibility. We are to be responsible to how we react, how we talk, how we think, how we feel, how we live. One cannot simply place the blame on the things and happenings in our life for doing so is not taking responsibility. Not being a good steward. Part of being a good and faithful steward and servant is to be responsible first and foremost of ourselves.

What are we feeding our lives with? Negative or positive thoughts? Defeat or victory? Strength or frailness? Pain or joy? Resentment or surrender? Humility or pride?

We see signs that reads "do not feed the monkeys" and there is a reason why it is there. It is there for the purpose of boundary meant to protect the monkeys and the people wanting to feed the monkeys. Monkeys are wild and meant to survive by finding and getting their own food. So by us humans going in and feeding them, it upsets the natural balance and the way they were created to be. When we feed the monkeys we make them adopt the new pattern that they can get food from people and not find and get for themselves so when times comes when they is no one to feed them, because they lose the ability to survive on their own  they end up dying of hunger. How sad is that? Not only that. When we feed the monkeys, because they are wild and the action of feeding them causes them to turn aggressive and injure the person feeding them and also snatching food from the person.

All that starts from the good intention that we have. We may have good intentions and there is nothing wrong with it but we must have wisdom otherwise what started out with good intentions can turn nasty and turn it's head to bite you back.

Intentions are never good enough even if it is good.It has to be done with wisdom. What you think may be good for that person might just become the very thing that becomes the catalyst to the grown of the root issue in the person.

Especially women are to be extra careful in this matter. As women are born with maternal instinct so naturally you would want to nurture and be like a caring figure to the person. You see a hurting person and go "ohhh so poor thing, i shall come and help you and love you". Women are to be extra careful when the person in need of attention is a guy. Guys in such stage are vulnerable and when anyone is in a vulnerable stage he/she is reaching out and grabbing whatever that is in reach to cling onto. If he/she clings onto pain, anger, bitterness, things, or a person then it is unhealthy but if he/she clings onto God then it becomes the turning point. Anything other than that will fall short.

When we go beyond supporting and encouraging the person in pain we end up "feeding the monkey" and he/she loses the ability to fight and stand for him/herself and to draw from God. If you feed the monkey you end up as his/her source of strength.

Struggles of an introvert ( Part 2)

Three things a conscious introvert knows:

Being an introvert is a physical experience and impacts us all the time. As introverts, our brains and bodies are wired differently than extroverts – so we literally experience life differently.
Most people are not introverts. Research shows that about 75% of people are extroverts. Think back to your high school. Only one in four of your classmates was an introvert, like you.
The United States is a very extroverted society. The "American way" reflects extroverts much more than introverts.

Four things a conscious introvert does:

Reframes: Being an introvert is an asset. Negative stereotypes about introverts are easy to come up with: unfriendly, withdrawn, shy, lacking social skills, etc. The gifts of introversion are many – but less understood.
Makes re-energizing a high priority. As an introvert you get re-energized from the inside – from your ideas, impressions, feelings. You need considerable "down time" for that re-energizing to happen.
Creates "introvert" ways of doing things. "Normal" in our culture is extroverted. Getting good at being an introvert on purpose makes life a lot easier.
Develops "extroverting" skills. "….when in Rome, do as the Romans do." Sometimes it's smart or essential to act like an extrovert. Getting some extrovert skills on purpose is a lot more fun than having none or trying to be an extrovert impostor.


Upon researching i came to understanding. Being an introvert have it's pros and cons and i understand why i think, feel and behave the way i do and i don't have to feel lousy because of it.

Being an introvert i re-energize by withdrawing and being alone to think and to feel.
This helped me in my walk with God alone as when i withdraw i withdraw to God and i draw closer to Him and from there i get impressions, ideas, thoughts, dreams, revelations, etc.

I like to be in big groups, to be at parties etc but i will usually will not talk much or at all. I like to just relax and observe and listen to people. But i know i have to be more conversations and though i feel awkward when i don't know what to talk about i just have to do it.
I like to think through before i say things and think through on what to say so that's why i'm often silent or i will pause a long time before i say something. It might come across as being hesitant or that i'm not sure etc but that's not true, i'm just thinking through.

When you ask me things, please do give me time to think it through etc as that's how i internalize things.

Struggles of an introvert(part 1)

Struggles of an introvert.


I have been thinking of this area of introversion and extroversion.
Because now my job requires me to be out there reaching out to youths especially to those youths who are at risk. So it means i have to be more like an extrovert which is the most challenging thing to me like ever. The deal with me is that not only am i an introvert but i'm also a shy person on top of that. So with such combination it scores the home run for social awkwardness.

Just last sunday i went for a birthday celebration for a pastor of the children church. I went there and when i saw people my first natural desire and instinct is to be alone. I wanted to be as far away from groups as much as i can as it's awkward for me. Well i do know a few familiar faces among them but i'm just not that comfortable to be around them. Anti-social it might seem but i just like to be alone. Don't get me wrong i do enjoy people and i like to be in big groups and parties but i get drain after a long period of time and it's time out for me buddy.

Then came a friend. Well she is just the opposite end of me and i mean extreme extroverted. She is like the duracell bunny in commercials that is hyper and never seem to be "dying any time soon". She just came over and said what she says when ever i'm not socializing with others "What are you doing here alone? Don't be so anti-social and talk to others". Well it just always makes me feel really lousy and bad like there's something like seriously wrong with me.

Growing up i was never the "life of the party" or the "woooohooooooo" exploding with limitless energy person. I guess who am i now is the combination of both nature and nurture. I have an elder brother and my mom had to work hard to support us as our father, well our father he is a "father of many nations" and he was no longer a father to us. My mom had to work so me and my bro are left at my grandma's place to be taken care of. My brother and i well we shared a love, hate relationship. We played and fought hard. My mom would come back at night to our grandma's place to visit us and then back home. So that's how my relationship with my mom is like. We are not close because of that.

School life was great, was really fun. I don't really had many friends as i keep to few close friends and i like it that way. Then things happened like friends changing schools and then change of class because of the different subjects like arts and geography etc. Soon i found myself with lesser close friends and as i was growing up i was always thinking about life and the world and i grew angry and bitter. Depression then became part of me and i struggled with it. I became more withdrawn and hence "anti-social".

Yeah so that's for the nurture part and my nature is introverted.

I'm always struggling with this as i feel and think that i'm really messed up and wrong. But i came to realize and know that i shouldn't be.

I learned the difference between and extrovert and an introvert.

Introvert-Draws energy from being alone. To think, to reflect, to imagine, to dream.
Extrovert-Draws energy from being with people. They need to have people around.

I found this and it really helps me.

Introvert? No Apology Required
Adam McHugh
Author, Pastor

Why did you decide to write a resource for introverts?

It started as a personal quest. I knew that I was (1) Called to be a leader in the church. I had gifts of teaching and pastoring and I relished opportunities to help people listen to the voice of God in their lives. But it was also clear that (2) I was an introvert. While I enjoyed people and the various aspects of church leadership, I found them draining and I longed for times of solitude, study, and quiet reflection. I experienced a lot of tension between these two realities, especially in an active, gregarious evangelical environment, and the research I did was a way of trying to make sense of my call in light of my introverted temperament and vice versa.

But then I started talking with other introverts about my experiences, and I realized how prevalent, and even sometimes how crippling, the struggles are for introverts in the church. I even talked with a number of introverts who have left their churches - or even church in general - because of this issue. So what began as a study of introverts in Christian leadership expanded into an exploration of central aspects of the Christian life, like community, spirituality, evangelism, and worship, from an introverted perspective. My deep hope is that the book will help introverts to find peace in their God-given personality preferences and to discover their places in their Christian communities, which so badly need their gifts and strengths.



What are the qualities of an introvert that may be overlooked?

Put bluntly, I think most qualities of an introvert are prone to be overlooked! In our extroverted society, we value aggressive, action-oriented, gregarious people, and I think this extroverted bias has bled over into some of our churches, where often the "ideals" of faithfulness are strikingly extroverted. We praise people who are social and expressive, eager to participate in a wide variety of activities, have an overt enthusiasm, share their faith with strangers easily, assume leadership positions quickly. But introverts do not usually fit this profile, and our lives of faith may be a little slower, a little quieter, a little more solitary. We are often calm, thoughtful, reflective types who may be invisible to others if they are not looking or listening.

Yet I think that introverts have tremendous gifts to bring to others. In the book I start with our listening abilities. Because introverts process internally, we can offer people a non-judgmental presence that helps others open up to us. There is also something about being intimately connected to our inner worlds that produces a great deal of creativity. Many introverts are gifted writers, artists, musicians, and even actors. I also think that having a rich inner life lends itself towards a deep compassion for others, something I have seen in many introverted pastors and chaplains I have worked with. Further, we are capable of an insight that is borne of self-awareness and listening, a peacefulness that spreads to others, and a servant mindset which is often expressed in behind-the-scenes service.



Can introverts be in church leadership?

Absolutely. The reality is that introverts are in church leadership—I've seen studies that estimate anywhere from 25 to 40 percent of Protestant pastors are introverted, with an even higher percentage among Catholic priests. Interestingly, it seems that the larger churches are, the higher is the percentage of introverts leading them. A recent survey reports that 45% of megachurches are led by introverted pastors. Erwin McManus, Dan Kimball, and Mark Driscoll, among many others, are self-confessed introverts.

Perhaps the better question then is how introverts can lead in a way that is life-giving and natural. I think self-care is absolutely critical for introverted pastors and leaders, because my experience is that introverts in ministry are more prone to burnout than extroverts. We need to discover and embrace our rhythms of expending and restoring energy and to care for ourselves—souls, minds, bodies and intimate relationships—so that we can find joy and vitality in ministry and life.



How has being an introvert helped your ministry?

That's a question I haven't been asked much! Too often we define introversion by what's it's not, rather than what it is. I would really like to start defining it by its assets, not its liabilities. I have worked in a number of different ministry settings—in the church, in college campus ministry, and in hospital and hospice chaplaincy—and being an introvert has helped me in all of those roles. My listening abilities as an introvert are probably the greatest gift that I have to offer people. In our culture people so rarely have the experience of being truly listened to- having their words, feelings, and experiences taken seriously. I have developed the skill of listening to what's unsaid - the doubts, questions, and feelings that lie underneath what someone is saying. It's amazing how transformative it can be for a person to simply be listened to, even when no problems are solved or no advice is dispensed.

Some people are surprised when I tell them that my introversion has also aided me in preaching and teaching. My natural bent toward study, thoughtful reflection and writing—all things that come to introverts pretty easily—have all helped me develop as a preacher. I love going deep into the nuances and applications of the biblical text, and I also think that my tendency to observe helps me to speak into the life of the community and the culture. Even though I enjoy writing sermons more than I do preaching, I am very comfortable in the pulpit, as long as I have had ample time to prepare. The fellowship hour after the service is another story though!




Anyway i did some research on introvert and did the meyer test thing and right below is the result meant as reference for me.


Introverted iNtuitive Feeling Judging
by Joe Butt
Profile: INFJ
Revision: 3.1
Date of Revision: 8 Aug 2010

Beneath the quiet exterior, INFJs hold deep convictions about the weightier matters of life. Those who are activists -- INFJs gravitate toward such a role -- are there for the cause, not for personal glory or political power.

INFJs are champions of the oppressed and downtrodden. They often are found in the wake of an emergency, rescuing those who are in acute distress. INFJs may fantasize about getting revenge on those who victimize the defenseless. The concept of 'poetic justice' is appealing to the INFJ.

"There's something rotten in Denmark." Accurately suspicious about others' motives, INFJs are not easily led. These are the people that you can rarely fool any of the time. Though affable and sympathetic to most, INFJs are selective about their friends. Such a friendship is a symbiotic bond that transcends mere words.

INFJs have a knack for fluency in language and facility in communication. In addition, nonverbal sensitivity enables the INFJ to know and be known by others intimately.

Writing, counseling, public service and even politics are areas where INFJs frequently find their niche.

Functional Analysis:
Introverted iNtuition

Introverted intuitives, INFJs enjoy a greater clarity of perception of inner, unconscious processes than all but their INTJ cousins. Just as SP types commune with the object and "live in the here and now" of the physical world, INFJs readily grasp the hidden psychological stimuli behind the more observable dynamics of behavior and affect. Their amazing ability to deduce the inner workings of the mind, will and emotions of others gives INFJs their reputation as prophets and seers. Unlike the confining, routinizing nature of introverted sensing, introverted intuition frees this type to act insightfully and spontaneously as unique solutions arise on an event by event basis.
Extraverted Feeling

Extraverted feeling, the auxiliary deciding function, expresses a range of emotion and opinions of, for and about people. INFJs, like many other FJ types, find themselves caught between the desire to express their wealth of feelings and moral conclusions about the actions and attitudes of others, and the awareness of the consequences of unbridled candor. Some vent the attending emotions in private, to trusted allies. Such confidants are chosen with care, for INFJs are well aware of the treachery that can reside in the hearts of mortals. This particular combination of introverted intuition and extraverted feeling provides INFJs with the raw material from which perceptive counselors are shaped.
Introverted Thinking

The INFJ's thinking is introverted, turned toward the subject. Perhaps it is when the INFJ's thinking function is operative that he is most aloof. A comrade might surmise that such detachment signals a disillusionment, that she has also been found lacking by the sardonic eye of this one who plumbs the depths of the human spirit. Experience suggests that such distancing is merely an indication that the seer is hard at work and focusing energy into this less efficient tertiary function.
Extraverted Sensing

INFJs are twice blessed with clarity of vision, both internal and external. Just as they possess inner vision which is drawn to the forms of the unconscious, they also have external sensing perception which readily takes hold of worldly objects. Sensing, however, is the weakest of the INFJ's arsenal and the most vulnerable. INFJs, like their fellow intuitives, may be so absorbed in intuitive perceiving that they become oblivious to physical reality. The INFJ under stress may fall prey to various forms of immediate gratification. Awareness of extraverted sensing is probably the source of the "SP wannabe" side of INFJs. Many yearn to live spontaneously; it's not uncommon for INFJ actors to take on an SP (often ESTP) role.
Famous INFJs:

Nathan, prophet of Israel
Aristophanes
Chaucer
Goethe
Robert Burns, Scottish poet

U.S. Presidents:
Martin Van Buren
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter

Nathaniel Hawthorne
Fanny Crosby, (blind) hymnist
Mother Teresa of Calcutta
Fred McMurray (My Three Sons)
Shirley Temple Black, child actor, ambassador
Martin Luther King, Jr., civil rights leader, martyr
James Reston, newspaper reporter
Shirley MacLaine (Sweet Charity, ...)
Piers Anthony, author ("Xanth" series)
Michael Landon (Little House on the Prairie)
Tom Selleck
John Katz, critic, author
Paul Stookey (Peter, Paul and Mary)
U. S. Senator Carol Moseley-Braun (D-IL)
Billy Crystal
Garry Trudeau (Doonesbury)
Nelson Mandela
Mel Gibson
Carrie Fisher
Nicole Kidman
Jerry Seinfeld
Jamie Foxx
Sela Ward
Mark Harmon
Gary Dourdan
Marg Helgaberger
Evangeline Lilly
Tori May
Introverted iNtuiting Feeling Judging
by Marina Margaret Heiss

INFJs are distinguished by both their complexity of character and the unusual range and depth of their talents. Strongly humanitarian in outlook, INFJs tend to be idealists, and because of their J preference for closure and completion, they are generally "doers" as well as dreamers. This rare combination of vision and practicality often results in INFJs taking a disproportionate amount of responsibility in the various causes to which so many of them seem to be drawn.

INFJs are deeply concerned about their relations with individuals as well as the state of humanity at large. They are, in fact, sometimes mistaken for extroverts because they appear so outgoing and are so genuinely interested in people -- a product of the Feeling function they most readily show to the world. On the contrary, INFJs are true introverts, who can only be emotionally intimate and fulfilled with a chosen few from among their long-term friends, family, or obvious "soul mates." While instinctively courting the personal and organizational demands continually made upon them by others, at intervals INFJs will suddenly withdraw into themselves, sometimes shutting out even their intimates. This apparent paradox is a necessary escape valve for them, providing both time to rebuild their depleted resources and a filter to prevent the emotional overload to which they are so susceptible as inherent "givers." As a pattern of behavior, it is perhaps the most confusing aspect of the enigmatic INFJ character to outsiders, and hence the most often misunderstood -- particularly by those who have little experience with this rare type.

Due in part to the unique perspective produced by this alternation between detachment and involvement in the lives of the people around them, INFJs may well have the clearest insights of all the types into the motivations of others, for good and for evil. The most important contributing factor to this uncanny gift, however, are the empathic abilities often found in Fs, which seem to be especially heightened in the INFJ type (possibly by the dominance of the introverted N function).

This empathy can serve as a classic example of the two-edged nature of certain INFJ talents, as it can be strong enough to cause discomfort or pain in negative or stressful situations. More explicit inner conflicts are also not uncommon in INFJs; it is possible to speculate that the causes for some of these may lie in the specific combinations of preferences which define this complex type. For instance, there can sometimes be a "tug-of-war" between NF vision and idealism and the J practicality that urges compromise for the sake of achieving the highest priority goals. And the I and J combination, while perhaps enhancing self-awareness, may make it difficult for INFJs to articulate their deepest and most convoluted feelings.

Usually self-expression comes more easily to INFJs on paper, as they tend to have strong writing skills. Since in addition they often possess a strong personal charisma, INFJs are generally well-suited to the "inspirational" professions such as teaching (especially in higher education) and religious leadership. Psychology and counseling are other obvious choices, but overall, INFJs can be exceptionally difficult to pigeonhole by their career paths. Perhaps the best example of this occurs in the technical fields. Many INFJs perceive themselves at a disadvantage when dealing with the mystique and formality of "hard logic", and in academic terms this may cause a tendency to gravitate towards the liberal arts rather than the sciences. However, the significant minority of INFJs who do pursue studies and careers in the latter areas tend to be as successful as their T counterparts, as it is *iNtuition* -- the dominant function for the INFJ type -- which governs the ability to understand abstract theory and implement it creatively.

In their own way, INFJs are just as much "systems builders" as are INTJs; the difference lies in that most INFJ "systems" are founded on human beings and human values, rather than information and technology. Their systems may for these reasons be conceptually "blurrier" than analogous NT ones, harder to measure in strict numerical terms, and easier to take for granted -- yet it is these same underlying reasons which make the resulting contributions to society so vital and profound.
Copyright © 1996-2011 by Marina Margaret Heiss and Joe Butt

DR. A.R. Bernard 6 may 2012

Dr. A.R. Bernard 6 May 2012

Acts 1:7
7 And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority.
Jesus has risen from the dead and shown Himself to many of His disciples, many witnesses of His resurrection according to Paul in 1 Corinthians 15.

Now He is giving closing remarks before He ascends up into heaven. He is basically giving brief instructions to His disciples who will then in turn take His mission and message out into the world. It is interesting because their question here in the case that although they have spent all of this time with Jesus they did not fully comprehend the meaning of His coming and His ministry and His message. But He assured them that once they experience this outpouring of the Holy Spirit which we call the day of Pentecost that the Holy Spirit would take them into a new realm of revelation and understanding.

6 Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”

Now this question is consistent with their thinking because in the Jewish mind, when the Messiah comes He would restore the former glory Israel experienced, the Messiah would occupy the throne of His Father gave Him, the Messiah would usher in a time of peace and prosperity, the Messiah would free the nation of Israel from any oppression from any nation, the Messiah would establish in Jerusalem a capital from which He would rule not just the nation of Israel but the rest of the world. You could understand and those are just some of the things that the Jewish mind understood that Messiah would bring and this is why it is so difficult for the nation of Israel as a national entity to embrace Jesus.

It was 2 years ago that I was in Israel and I was speaking to one of the Israelis tour guide and I said to him “We Christians believe that Jesus fulfilled what was written in the law and the prophets and the psalms concerning the Messiah” and he responded by saying “That’s the problem we have with you Christians because Jesus did not fulfill those things that were written”. So in the Jewish minds since they are still oppressed, they’ve been 2 thousand years and before 1948 dispersed in all the nations of the earth until they were re-established as a state of Israel in 1948 so in the Jewish mind, Jesus couldn’t be the Messiah because there’s still things that were not fulfilled but the book of 1 Peter 1, Peter reveals that the prophets enquire to know and to understand the times and the seasons that the Spirit of Christ in them predicted the sufferings and the glory of Christ. They did not comprehend fully when Messiah would fulfill His sufferings. They only had the vision of the Messiah coming in power and in glory and this is why Jesus referred to the text that speak of His suffering when He was entering into Jerusalem triumphantly He gets on the back of a donkey and He says “Tell the daughter of Zion that her King comes riding on a back of a donkey”.

The donkey was a beast of burden and it was symbolically representing though literally fulfilled that He would take on the burden of the sins of the whole world but to the Jewish mind they could not embrace that. In fact when Jesus told His disciples He started to speak of His death and His resurrection. Peter said “Be it far from you Lord that such a thing would happen to you”. They reject the notion of the death on a cross not understanding that it was still part of the program so it’s no mystery here that they would ask this question after the resurrection and the demonstration of His victory over death as well as His power over life. Will you at this time restore to Israel the kingdom and Jesus responds very powerfully and with great depth and profundity here. He says in verse 7 to them “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by His own authority. That’s powerful because what they were asking about the restoration of the kingdom to Israel was already fixed for a particular time and season in Biblical history and the history of humanity and obviously that time had not come yet so Jesus’ response was if I would to tell you I would be communicating what the Father has kept within His own power. This is information that is not for you to know. And then He of cause refers them to waiting for the coming of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost which would be the birthing of the church of Christ and the beginning of a new phase of ministry of the Holy Spirit to gather out from both Jew and gentile a new body call the body of Christ. Jesus referred to it in Matthew 16 when He said speaking about something in the future on this rock I will build my church but to the Jewish mind they did not have the concept of the church that Jesus was talking about building. The ministry of the Holy Spirit would make that happen by gathering people out of both Jew and gentile to create this one body.

But what I want to point to today is the language that Jesus used. He used the language of times and seasons. There is another word that is also used when Jesus talked about the end of the age. He spoke of the word age or ages. Now the word age is critical. Now let’s start it this way because we are going to break down this word because I want you to understand.

The word times is the word chronos from where we get intervals of time. Seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, and years. So it is specific time measurement. The word seasons on the other words kairos means an opportune time. A time that is perfect and just right, favorable conditions, appropriate for a person, a purpose or a situation.

Aion is the Greek word which means age. An age is a period of time somewhere along the time continuum. Age is a period of time in history marked by notable events and particular characteristics so within each period there would be certain key events that takes place that identify that period. They will also be certain characteristics about that period that identify that period. The word aion is also translated in English in the word world and there are places where the word world can be oikoumene which means territory or land or could mean kosmos which mean social order or it could mean and age , a period.

So when in the gospels it speak about the end of the world, it’s not really the end of the planet it’s the end of a particular age, a particular period. The Bible says “heaven and earth will pass away before His words passes and His words will never fail”. There is a period in which God is going to deal with the physical earth but right now humanity is moving through certain periods and certain seasons and certain times.

The apostle Paul in Galatians 1:4 says that we are in a period that the Bible calls this present age. This present period in history he calls this present evil age and the word evil is the Greek word poneros which means that this period or age is characterized by forces that seeks to undermine humanity. Not only to undermine humanity but to undermine the work of God in human society. So it speaks specifically of forces and it make sense because in the prayer that you prayed this morning as you were preparing to receive communion the line and that prayer says “Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil or the evil one. So he is represented in poneros as that individual and forces that seek to undermine so Paul calls this, this present evil age. An age is a period of time in history that is marked by certain notable events and certain notable events have taken place in this period or this age. The most significant thing that relays Biblically most recently is the re-establishment of Israel as a national entity. But it will also be marked by certain characteristics now this age will end with the 2nd coming of Jesus Christ. There will be certain things going to happen before He returns, certain conditions that will exist on the earth before His return. And He was very specific through the apostle Paul, his writings to the church and young Timothy.

The Bible reveals a historical progression of an ongoing self-disclosure of God. In another words, God is moving through time and history revealing Himself little by little. The most glorious revelation of Himself was in Christ because remember Jesus was His expressed image of the Father. That’s why He said “If you’ve seen Me then you have seen the Father”. Throughout this period of cause, God is at work in creation, at work in time, at work in human, at work in human society.

Why do I say this? Because at the end of this age the prophetic words said there is going to be certain characteristics and certain things happening in Christendom. This is not synonymous with the church which is the body of Christ. Christendom is the entire grouping of people who have identified themselves with Christ throughout history and till this present day. And why there is a distinction is because everyone who identifies themselves as a Christian is not necessarily a Christian by the Biblical definition of the word Christian. That’s why Jesus said “Not everyone that says to Me Lord, Lord shall enter the kingdom of heaven, not everyone that calls Me Lord shall experience heaven.” So He was very clear that Christianity would grow and become this big religious system.
Jesus said when He talked about the mustard seed that the kingdom would began as a small mustard seed and then grow into a huge tree with many different branches. He also said that the fowl of the air will come and settle and nest in some of the branches. He was talking about the growth and the development of Christendom in terms of humanity’s response to the message of the gospel. So today between Catholicism and Protestantism there are over 330 branches of Christianity in the form of denominations. Therefor fulfilling what Jesus spoke when He talked about everything beginning as a mustard seed and then growing into a great tree.

Mustard seed naturally speaking only grows to about 12 feet and it’s a bush not a tree so the fact that it grew into a tree it turned into something other than what it was intended to be. So we are seeing this all coming to pass right before our eyes. And so this is Christendom and it would have certain characteristics. So this is what Jesus said and He communicated this through the epistles and the apostle Paul. In Paul’s letters to Timothy and I’m giving you a characteristic of this present age as we move towards the return of Jesus and base upon what is happening geopolitically on the earth and what’s happening in many other ways that are indicators and signs, I would say that we are very close.

But before He comes he said specifically in his writings to Timothy that there would be an experience of something called apostasy. An apostasy simply means a departure from, the moving away from certain things.
Timothy in his book 2 Timothy 4, the apostle Paul communicates to young Timothy that the time would come when men would no longer endure sound doctrine or sound teaching. The church has been preserved historically for the past 2000 years on certain core beliefs and certain core values. What some would call the essentials of the faith. Apostle Paul in his writing to young Timothy was telling him that the time would come when individuals who claim to identify as part of this system of Christianity or Christendom will move away from some of those very core teachings of the church.

We live in a day where pop culture has a heavy influence on the church instead of the other way around. We are to impact the culture, the culture should not change the church. The only influence the culture should have on the church is influencing the church to determine better methods of reaching the culture but not to move the church away from the essential doctrines of the faith. That’s why I believe we are now in the season where the Holy Spirit is bringing pastors and teachers back to the place of teaching the sound solid fundamental doctrines of the faith.
Some will depart, men will not endure sound doctrines. An interesting choice of word in the king James language. Endure sound doctrines. You don’t endure something that you like. When you have to endure something it means it tends to go against the grain of what you would like, what you would prefer. So the church will began to like other things because they are going to have their appetites and desires turned to a direction that says ‘Look, this is too much. Make it simple’.

2 Peter 2 and 3. Wonderful passage that talks about what the conditions and characteristics of 2 Peter 2.
These are some of the indicators.

No. 1 there will be those who will deny the atoning work of Christ on the cross. See when you recited that apostle’s creed you are reaffirming that the way of salvation and the true gospel is a message that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, that He was buried and He rose again the third day. That’s the gospel. But the Bible says that the time will come when those who claimed to be Christians will then deny the atoning work of Christ on the cross, they will also deny the deity of Jesus. They will also begin to deny what is essential to our faith and that is Biblical authority, the authority of the Bible and the divine inspiration which is it’s transmission from generation to generation and it’s preservation. So when you start questioning whether the Bible is true or not our faith begins to fall apart.

An apostasy or a departure from moral responsibility which is the movement away from moral standards. So we get to a place we start practicing situational ethics. The scriptures teaches specifically in 2 Peter 2 and 3 that “there will be a mass departure from moral standards” as expressed by popular culture. And popular culture right now has no standards. Our children, our young people will watch these things and get influenced by these things. And then you say ‘Well it’s ok’, ‘It’s ok to engage in sexual activity if you are not married’. We begin to rationalize and reason. I’ve heard this story “Well I’m engaged so we’re about to get married and we’re going to do it anyway so why not start now”. The answer is no.

Children been born out of wedlock is ok and the Hollywood celebrities flaunt that and they are on the cover of magazines but that’s pop culture and it begins to influence and when the church begins to embrace this and agrees with it, it becomes problematic.

If you are an unbeliever and have moral standards, I’m pleasantly surprise but if you are a believer and you lack moral standards then that is the problem.

Apostle Paul said that there will be those who no longer want to have that responsibility so we can get off into an abuse of this present period which is about the grace of God, the Holy Spirit is administering grace to the world. Pulling by faith through grace, gentiles and Jews into the body of Christ and there is this graciousness that God is delivering and presenting to us.

John 8
New King James Version (NKJV)
8 But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.
2 Now early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people came to Him; and He sat down and taught them. 3 Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, 4 they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. 5 Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?” 6 This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear.
7 So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” 8 And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. 9 Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.
And that is interesting because the older one had more time to sin so the younger ones left last.
10 When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?”
11 She said, “No one, Lord.”
And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you;

I want to stop there for a reason and I want to reflect on what took place here.

No.1 Jesus did not dispute the charges against this woman so we have to conclude that what she has been accused of happened. The interesting thing is the law not only says that the woman should be stoned but the man who is engaged in adultery with her should also be stoned. And the question is where was he? Another question is how did they know at what time and what place she would be committing adultery? I think she was set up. Were they watching her? How did they know? But they found her and they brought her to Jesus.

Now look at Jesus’s response and it very powerful. This is an expression of God’s grace.

No.1 He gave her protection from the crowd that was waiting to stone her. Gave her protection, didn’t rebuke her. He dealt with her accusers.

No.2 He gave her dignity by pointing out the sins of those accusing her and in doing He was pointing out that she was no worse a sinner than her accusers. So He gave her protection and He gave her dignity. Then He offers her forgiveness from her sin. He says “where are your accusers, neither do I condemn you”. When He says “neither do I condemn you” He’s also releasing her from condemnation.

This is what grace does. Grace brings you under the protection of God’s love and care in Christ. Grace gives you forgiveness for your sins. Grace removes the condemnation. The scriptures says “if any man be in Christ he is a new creature but there is now also no condemnation to those who are in Christ” because grace removes the condemnation, gives you protection, issues forgiveness, gives you dignity by raising you up and cleansing you and calling you a new creation, a chosen child of God.

But then Jesus does something and it’s critical here, Jesus does something that runs against the grain of what pop culture and unfortunately some churches want Jesus and grace to be like.

This is what He says “Now go and sin no more”. He didn’t just offer her protection, forgiveness and dignity and remove the condemnation He also made a demand on her lifestyle. I’ve talked to many celebrities in pop culture and this is the problem they have with Jesus. They want a Jesus who gives them all the love and affection, removes the guilt and condemnation. They want a Jesus that will give them all the benefits of prosperity and healing and everything but they don’t want a Jesus who makes a demand on their lifestyles.

The song that you sang earlier on “Your sacrifice demands my life and I live to honor You” to honor what You’ve done. I’m not going to live a life to dishonor what You’ve done because that is going to frustrate the work of Your grace in my life. So He told the woman go and sin no more.

See people don’t want that. ‘Jesus come into my life make me a Christian and I want Your prosperity, I want all of that but don’t tell me how to live my life because now You are trespassing, Jesus You are butting in’
Now let me adjust something for the scholars in here because this 8 chapter here in the gospel of John does not appear in some of the early manuscripts so they are those who discredit this story. Well there is another story about a man who is crippled for 38 years and is also in the gospel of John and also found in the early manuscript and Jesus told this man the same thing after He healed him and ran into him later in the day on a Sabbath at the temple “you’ve been healed and now go and sin no more”

Ephesians 1:11
11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will,
We have been predestined. Another words God’s love and compassion has come to us. He continues to say “walk worthy of your calling.

2 Peter 2:9
9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

Ephesians 5:8
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), 10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.

2 Timothy 1:9
9 who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus

Ephesians 4:1
4 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling
How you live your life is supposed to demonstrate that you are salt and light because you carry yourself in a manner that is worthy of your calling. You’ve been called out of darkness into the light of God.

Colossians 1:9-10
9 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord,
Worthy means showing, demonstrating by how you live the qualities of character and lifestyle that deserve respect, honor, and recognition as a redeemed child of God. To walk worthy of your calling and you’ve been called out of darkness not to any longer live and engage works of darkness. It means you no longer engage in activities that demonstrate spiritual and moral ignorance. Jesus loves you and He will supply all of your needs according to His riches and glory and you can do all things through Christ which strengthens you, whatsoever born of God overcomes the world and this is the victory that overcomes the world even our faith you are more than conquerors in this life and you are persuaded that nothing can separate you from the love of God neither height nor depth, no matter how low you go, nor angels nor principalities, nor power, nor things in the past, nor things in the present, nor things in the future. You are just blessed. However you have a responsibility to walk worthy of your calling. What does worthy mean again? It means showing the qualities of character and lifestyle that deserve, that commands respect, honor and recognition as a child of God. So your lifestyle should allow people to look at you and say ‘That is a redeemed, born again Christian’ not ‘I’m not sure if they are Christians, look at the way they act’. When you walk in a manner worthy of your calling you walk in dignity, you walk in a way people respect who you are because I’m going to tell you that respect gives you power to speak into their lives. You walk in a way that people can honor you.
The cultural mandate is being taken to a world where everybody is suspect, where everybody sort of have something in their closet so when there’s a Christian that comes in as salt and light, the first thing they are going to check is that Christian’s lifestyle. And when that lifestyle, their manner of carrying themselves is one of dignity and respect and brings honor to the Lord and to His kingdom and to His church then their hearts open for that person to influence them because all of a sudden they feel a certain trust for you and they feel the authority of God’s words in your life.

When a Christian carries himself as carnal and carnal Christians simply means a Christian who continues to allow the appetite of their human nature to dominate their lifestyle. So when you conduct yourself in a lifestyle that is contrary to the word of God and contrary to your confession, you undermine the authority of Christ in those people who know you who are not saved.

Apostle Paul wrote about how the word of God and the honor of God is blasphemed because of how Christians were conducting themselves. We live in a time where we want to use the scripture to celebrate all the benefits of the gospel in our lives but we don’t want the same scripture to make any demands on how we live. And yet this is a marriage relationship with Jesus and my wife is married to me and I’m married to her and guess what when we got married we drew boundaries of respect and honor and dignity. We would never no matter how angry we got we would never argue in front of people, we will never raise our hands to each other, will never use profanity to each other. That’s why we stayed married 40 years. Because we set boundaries of dignity, respect and honor. Did we get upset with each other? Yes.

Can Jesus look down from heaven and say to the devil ‘have you noticed, observed my servant?’ can He say your name. Can He present you as a model of how a Christian carries himself.

I’m not talking about legalism. I’m not talking about a life that is filled with laws and don’t do this, don’t do that. No, that should never be your motivation to live a life worthy of your calling. I’m going to tell you what should always be your motivation to live holy to walk right, to carry yourself with dignity, honor and respect. I’m going to give you one word and that is-gratitude.

You live right because you are grateful for what God has done in your life. You live right because of what God delivered you from. You live right because you are grateful for God’s protection over your life, His guidance over your life, blessings over your life. Your life should be one big thank you.
The scripture says “that time will come when people move away from moral standards, move away from God’s call to holiness and take advantage of God’s grace, it frustrates that grace”.

I serve God out of a grateful heart, I live for God out of a grateful heart. I’m not doing these things to gain His favor. No. I live in His favor, I walk in His favor, in His favor I live, move and have my existence. I don’t wake up in the morning and wonder if He loves me. I know He loves me, I know His grace is upon me. Every day I look for favor, I look for doors to be opened, I look for favor with people and I live a life of gratitude. I walk with an attitude of gratitude because my whole life, every day, every situation, every moment is to say thank you Jesus, for saving me, for healing me, for delivering me and I don’t want to do anything that displeases you. So I watch my words, my thoughts, my actions, my motivations. I want to walk worthy of the call upon my life.