Hi everyone...what are the most common causes for that "weary and heavy-laden" feeling in our world today? Why are Jesus' ways of dealing with these problems infinitely superior to any other so-called solution?
THE CONDITION OF THOSE CALLED
Matt. 11:28 All who are weary and heavy-laden.
Everyone whom Jesus specially invites for salvation already realizes their distress, that they are "weary and heavy-laden." The Lord mentions this effect He refers to faith ("come to Me"), but chronologically it precedes faith-it is the repentance that prompts the person to trust in Jesus for salvation.
"Weary" refers symbolically to strenuous work in trying to find the divine path to salvation. Christ invites all to come to Him who have exhausted themselves in searching for salvation by their own resources. Whereas "weary" denotes internal exhaustion, "heavy-laden" implies that past heavy burdens dumped on the person caused him or her to engage in the futility of works righteousness to please God.
Any person in the condition Jesus describes despair of his or her own ability to obtain salvation. They will realize the end of their own resources and want to turn to the Savior. The desperation implicit here is part of genuine salvation. Those not desperate will continue to rely on their own confidence, but those who are spiritually desperate will repent of the old burdensome life of sin and embrace the true redemption Christ offers. Such persons are the only ones God receives into His kingdom (Matt. 3:2, 4:17; Acts 2:38).
more to come...
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Friday, November 18, 2011
A NEW RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN JESUS AND MARY
Hi everyone....is your relationship with Jesus such that you can receive His rebuke without taking offense or crawling into a corner? Can you respond to His truth-even a hard truth-by adjusting your life to His right way of thinking and then continuing to serve Him as faithfully as before?
A NEW RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN JESUS AND MARY
John 2:3-5 When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to Him, "They have no more wine." And Jesus said to her, "Woman, what does that have to do with us? My hour has not yet come." His mother said to the servants, "Whatever Hesays to you, do it."
Returning to the wedding at Cana we come across a major crisis-the wine ran out because the supply was insufficient. this potential embarrassment for the couple and their families could have stigmatized them for the rest of their lives. Mary was apparently helping to oversee the catering of the celebration and became aware of this serious problem. She anxiously said to Jesus, "They have no wine."
Jesus abruptly reply, "Woman, what does that have to do with us?" signaled a major change in their relationship. It was an idiomatic expression that asks rhetorically what the two parties in question have in common, and has the effect of distancing them. By calling Mary, "Woman" 9a polite, but not intimate, form of address instead of "Mother', Jesus politely but firmly informed her that their relationship was no longer to be what it had been while He was growing up. His public ministry has begun, and earthly relationships would not direct His actions. Mary way to relate to Him no longer as her son but as her Messiah, the Son of God, her Savior.
Undeterred by the mild rebuke, and aware that He was not saying no to the request, Mary said to the servants, "Whatever He says to you, do it." Mary shows us how we should respond to the Lord.
more to come...have a restful weekend and a good worship!
A NEW RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN JESUS AND MARY
John 2:3-5 When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to Him, "They have no more wine." And Jesus said to her, "Woman, what does that have to do with us? My hour has not yet come." His mother said to the servants, "Whatever Hesays to you, do it."
Returning to the wedding at Cana we come across a major crisis-the wine ran out because the supply was insufficient. this potential embarrassment for the couple and their families could have stigmatized them for the rest of their lives. Mary was apparently helping to oversee the catering of the celebration and became aware of this serious problem. She anxiously said to Jesus, "They have no wine."
Jesus abruptly reply, "Woman, what does that have to do with us?" signaled a major change in their relationship. It was an idiomatic expression that asks rhetorically what the two parties in question have in common, and has the effect of distancing them. By calling Mary, "Woman" 9a polite, but not intimate, form of address instead of "Mother', Jesus politely but firmly informed her that their relationship was no longer to be what it had been while He was growing up. His public ministry has begun, and earthly relationships would not direct His actions. Mary way to relate to Him no longer as her son but as her Messiah, the Son of God, her Savior.
Undeterred by the mild rebuke, and aware that He was not saying no to the request, Mary said to the servants, "Whatever He says to you, do it." Mary shows us how we should respond to the Lord.
more to come...have a restful weekend and a good worship!
Friday, November 11, 2011
WHO IS THE LAMB OF GOD?
Hi everyone...we know that our sin, though dealt with ultimately and eternally, continues to be a problem for us to face and address. Are you surprised at the strength and tenacity it still wields within you? How do you go about quieting its ferocious appetite and considering yourself dead to it (see Rom. 6:11).
WHO IS THE LAMB OF GOD?
John 1:29-30 The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is He on behalf of whom I said, "After me comes a Man who has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me."
On the day after he spoke to the delegation, John "saw Jesus coming to him." In keeping with his role as a herald, John immediately called the crowd's attention to Him, exclaiming "Behold, the Lamb of God."
The concept of a sacrificial Lamb was a familiar one to the Jewish people. All through Israel's history, God had revealed clearly that sin and separation from Him could be removed only by blood sacrifices (Lev. 17:11). They were also aware that Isaiah's prophesy likened Messiah to "a lamb that is led to slaughter" (Isaiah 53:7). Though Israel sought a Messiah who would be a prophet, king, and conqueror, God had to send them a Lamb. And He did.
The title "Lamb of God" foreshadows Jesus' ultimate sacrifice of the cross for "the sin of the world." With that brief statement John made it clear that the Messiah had come to deal with sin. The Old Testament is filled with the reality that the problem is sin-a problem at the heart of every person (Jer. 17:9). All men are sinful and incapable of changing the future or the present, or of repaying God for the sins of the past.
So who is the Lamb of God? He is Jesus, the only One who has the remedy to your sin problem.
more to come...
have a restful weekend and a good worship!
WHO IS THE LAMB OF GOD?
John 1:29-30 The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is He on behalf of whom I said, "After me comes a Man who has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me."
On the day after he spoke to the delegation, John "saw Jesus coming to him." In keeping with his role as a herald, John immediately called the crowd's attention to Him, exclaiming "Behold, the Lamb of God."
The concept of a sacrificial Lamb was a familiar one to the Jewish people. All through Israel's history, God had revealed clearly that sin and separation from Him could be removed only by blood sacrifices (Lev. 17:11). They were also aware that Isaiah's prophesy likened Messiah to "a lamb that is led to slaughter" (Isaiah 53:7). Though Israel sought a Messiah who would be a prophet, king, and conqueror, God had to send them a Lamb. And He did.
The title "Lamb of God" foreshadows Jesus' ultimate sacrifice of the cross for "the sin of the world." With that brief statement John made it clear that the Messiah had come to deal with sin. The Old Testament is filled with the reality that the problem is sin-a problem at the heart of every person (Jer. 17:9). All men are sinful and incapable of changing the future or the present, or of repaying God for the sins of the past.
So who is the Lamb of God? He is Jesus, the only One who has the remedy to your sin problem.
more to come...
have a restful weekend and a good worship!
Thursday, November 3, 2011
THE APOSTLES CHOSEN TO HAVE AN IMPACT
Hi, everyone – Are your words and expressions of faith pointing others to Christ? Are they reflective of His distinct power and the presence of His Holy Spirit within you? If you sense yourself burning low in the power tank, where do you think the leak is occurring? Be sure what you do points to Christ.
THE APOSTLES CHOSEN TO HAVE AN IMPACT
Matt. 10:1: Jesus . . . gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every kind of disease and every kind of sickness.
Jesus granted the twelve disciples God’s divine authority to do exactly what He Himself had been doing. To do the kinds of works Jesus did would demonstrate they were sent by Him, just as what He did demonstrated He was sent by the Father. The book of Acts catalogs the very works Jesus gave them the authority to accomplish.
The apostles cast out many unclean spirits and healed every kind of disease and every kind of sickness. Peter and John healed a lame man at the Beautiful Gate of the temple (Acts 3:2-8). Their ministry became widespread: “At the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were taking place among the people . . . Also the people from the cities in the vicinity of Jerusalem were coming together, bringing people who were sick or afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all being healed” (Acts 5:12, 16). To the man in Lystra “who had no strength in his feet, lame from his mother’s womb, who had never walked,” Paul said, “’Stand upright on your feet.’ And he leaped up and began to walk” (Acts 14:8, 10).
The apostles manifested the kind of kingdom power that their Lord had manifested, and by their faithful obedience they turned Jerusalem and then the world upside down (Acts 17:6). Jesus promised they would do even “greater works” than His (in extent, not power), and His words began to be fulfilled.
More to come . . .
THE APOSTLES CHOSEN TO HAVE AN IMPACT
Matt. 10:1: Jesus . . . gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every kind of disease and every kind of sickness.
Jesus granted the twelve disciples God’s divine authority to do exactly what He Himself had been doing. To do the kinds of works Jesus did would demonstrate they were sent by Him, just as what He did demonstrated He was sent by the Father. The book of Acts catalogs the very works Jesus gave them the authority to accomplish.
The apostles cast out many unclean spirits and healed every kind of disease and every kind of sickness. Peter and John healed a lame man at the Beautiful Gate of the temple (Acts 3:2-8). Their ministry became widespread: “At the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were taking place among the people . . . Also the people from the cities in the vicinity of Jerusalem were coming together, bringing people who were sick or afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all being healed” (Acts 5:12, 16). To the man in Lystra “who had no strength in his feet, lame from his mother’s womb, who had never walked,” Paul said, “’Stand upright on your feet.’ And he leaped up and began to walk” (Acts 14:8, 10).
The apostles manifested the kind of kingdom power that their Lord had manifested, and by their faithful obedience they turned Jerusalem and then the world upside down (Acts 17:6). Jesus promised they would do even “greater works” than His (in extent, not power), and His words began to be fulfilled.
More to come . . .
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
THE APOSTLES SOVEREIGNLY COMMISSIONED
Hi, everyone – Have you routinely thought of God’s calling on your life as having this kind of urgency, intention and purpose? Are there other priorities that are siphoning off the importance you should be placing on the tasks God has called you to accomplish in His service?
THE APOSTLES SOVEREIGNLY COMMISSIONED
Matt. 10:1A: Jesus summoned His twelve disciples and gave them authority.
When Jesus summoned His twelve disciples, He was making more than a casual request. The word Matthew used is an intense term that means to call someone to oneself in order to confront him face-to-face. It is used of God’s calling the Gentiles to Himself through the gospel (Acts 2:39) and of His calling His chosen men and entrusting them to proclaim the gospel (Acts 13:2; 16:10). The vocabulary implies that this summoning was connected to an official commissioning to the Lord’s service.
Behind Jesus’ commissioning and training of the twelve disciples are several foundational facts. First, these men were chosen sovereignly by God. None of the twelve initiated the idea of following Jesus and becoming His disciples, much less His apostles. It was entirely God’s planning and doing. Mark tells us that Jesus “summoned those whom He Himself wanted” (Mark 3:13), and near the end of His earthly ministry Jesus reminded them, “You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you” (John 15:16).
The men themselves were not consulted nor were any other men. Jesus’ only consultation was with His heavenly Father. Like Abraham, Moses, David, Isaiah and all the prophets, the twelve disciples were chosen by God’s sovereign will and for His sovereign purpose, being foreordained to His service before the foundation of the world. That has always been God’s way. He divinely chose Israel. He divinely chose His prophets and His apostles, and He divinely chooses those today who become the leaders of His own Body, the church.
THE APOSTLES SOVEREIGNLY COMMISSIONED
Matt. 10:1A: Jesus summoned His twelve disciples and gave them authority.
When Jesus summoned His twelve disciples, He was making more than a casual request. The word Matthew used is an intense term that means to call someone to oneself in order to confront him face-to-face. It is used of God’s calling the Gentiles to Himself through the gospel (Acts 2:39) and of His calling His chosen men and entrusting them to proclaim the gospel (Acts 13:2; 16:10). The vocabulary implies that this summoning was connected to an official commissioning to the Lord’s service.
Behind Jesus’ commissioning and training of the twelve disciples are several foundational facts. First, these men were chosen sovereignly by God. None of the twelve initiated the idea of following Jesus and becoming His disciples, much less His apostles. It was entirely God’s planning and doing. Mark tells us that Jesus “summoned those whom He Himself wanted” (Mark 3:13), and near the end of His earthly ministry Jesus reminded them, “You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you” (John 15:16).
The men themselves were not consulted nor were any other men. Jesus’ only consultation was with His heavenly Father. Like Abraham, Moses, David, Isaiah and all the prophets, the twelve disciples were chosen by God’s sovereign will and for His sovereign purpose, being foreordained to His service before the foundation of the world. That has always been God’s way. He divinely chose Israel. He divinely chose His prophets and His apostles, and He divinely chooses those today who become the leaders of His own Body, the church.
Friday, October 28, 2011
JESUS MEETS BLIND MEN’S NEEDS
Hi, everyone – Test the strength of your concern for others’ spiritual state. Is it as strong as it should be? Does your grief over their lost condition extend to your active pursuit of their repentance and trust in Jesus? What would it take to fan the flames of your evangelistic passion?
JESUS MEETS BLIND MEN’S NEEDS
Matt. 9:28-30A: The blind men came up to Him, and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.” Then He touched their eyes, saying, “It shall be done to you according to your faith.” And their eyes were opened.
Sometimes at conversion, the Lord wants sinners to give a more public profession of their trust in Him, in keeping with Paul’s teaching, “If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Rom. 10:9) This was the kind of confession Jesus drew out of the blind men, and it testified to the eyewitnesses of what He requires for salvation. “Yes” indicated they believed He could do what they requested of Him, and “Lord” set forth their faith that He was the promised Messiah and coming Savior, who was now in their midst.
The men’s testimony proved that their understanding of Jesus was biblical, unlike many misguided and insincere followers. It distinguished them from those who thought Jesus was only a military and political deliverer, those who believed Jesus was merely a competent and charismatic human leader. Their confession emphasized that Christ was primarily a spiritual leader, whose first concern was saving people from their sins. Though His compassion for physical suffering was genuine, it was far greater for lost souls.
Jesus prompted the blind men to openly confess their faith in Him, not so much for curing their physical blindness but for the sake of their spiritual sight. They acknowledged Him as Son of David and came asking Him for spiritual mercy and salvation, and thus they received a gift far greater than simple restoration of their eyes.
More to come…
JESUS MEETS BLIND MEN’S NEEDS
Matt. 9:28-30A: The blind men came up to Him, and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.” Then He touched their eyes, saying, “It shall be done to you according to your faith.” And their eyes were opened.
Sometimes at conversion, the Lord wants sinners to give a more public profession of their trust in Him, in keeping with Paul’s teaching, “If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Rom. 10:9) This was the kind of confession Jesus drew out of the blind men, and it testified to the eyewitnesses of what He requires for salvation. “Yes” indicated they believed He could do what they requested of Him, and “Lord” set forth their faith that He was the promised Messiah and coming Savior, who was now in their midst.
The men’s testimony proved that their understanding of Jesus was biblical, unlike many misguided and insincere followers. It distinguished them from those who thought Jesus was only a military and political deliverer, those who believed Jesus was merely a competent and charismatic human leader. Their confession emphasized that Christ was primarily a spiritual leader, whose first concern was saving people from their sins. Though His compassion for physical suffering was genuine, it was far greater for lost souls.
Jesus prompted the blind men to openly confess their faith in Him, not so much for curing their physical blindness but for the sake of their spiritual sight. They acknowledged Him as Son of David and came asking Him for spiritual mercy and salvation, and thus they received a gift far greater than simple restoration of their eyes.
More to come…
THE BLIND MEN REACH OUT
Hi, everyone – How much of your everyday conversation is taken up with what the Lord has done for you? Is it because you’re trying to be sensitive to the unsaved around you? Or is it more because you just haven’t thought about it that much?
THE BLIND MEN REACH OUT
Matt. 9:30B-31: Jesus sternly warned them: “See that no one knows about this!” But they went out and spread the news about Him throughout all that land.
Usually believers need to say more, not less, about the gospel of Jesus Christ. But here our Lord had definite reasons for commanding the people to whom He had ministered most directly not to publicize what had occurred.
He did not forbid them from speaking simply because He did not want their specific healing made known or because He did not want His miracles in general to be proclaimed. The miracles were evidence of His deity and legitimate mission. Christ commanded silence because it was not time to widely publicize His messiahship, lest the news stir up premature opposition to Him or encourage revolutionary Jews to rally around Him as a political deliverer.
Jesus also did not want to overemphasize His miracles. While they were a key element of His ministry, they were not the primary reason for His incarnation. Many already were not understanding the miracles rightly: “Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled” (John 6:26).
Another reason why the Lord may not have wanted the men heralding His messiahship was because He wanted others, especially the Jews, to look to Scripture for the fulfillment of prophecy about the Messiah.
But in spite of Jesus’ command, the blind men still “went out and spread the news about Him.” This was disobedient of them and was the wrong response. However, it could not resist telling everyone of their miraculous deliverance.
More to come…Have a restful weekend and a good worship. My Grandma is very happy to be back home, and so are we!
THE BLIND MEN REACH OUT
Matt. 9:30B-31: Jesus sternly warned them: “See that no one knows about this!” But they went out and spread the news about Him throughout all that land.
Usually believers need to say more, not less, about the gospel of Jesus Christ. But here our Lord had definite reasons for commanding the people to whom He had ministered most directly not to publicize what had occurred.
He did not forbid them from speaking simply because He did not want their specific healing made known or because He did not want His miracles in general to be proclaimed. The miracles were evidence of His deity and legitimate mission. Christ commanded silence because it was not time to widely publicize His messiahship, lest the news stir up premature opposition to Him or encourage revolutionary Jews to rally around Him as a political deliverer.
Jesus also did not want to overemphasize His miracles. While they were a key element of His ministry, they were not the primary reason for His incarnation. Many already were not understanding the miracles rightly: “Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled” (John 6:26).
Another reason why the Lord may not have wanted the men heralding His messiahship was because He wanted others, especially the Jews, to look to Scripture for the fulfillment of prophecy about the Messiah.
But in spite of Jesus’ command, the blind men still “went out and spread the news about Him.” This was disobedient of them and was the wrong response. However, it could not resist telling everyone of their miraculous deliverance.
More to come…Have a restful weekend and a good worship. My Grandma is very happy to be back home, and so are we!
CHRIST’S SAVING COMPASSION
Hi, everyone – Without already knowing Him, this is not what most of us would expect from the One who created the universe and continues to sustain it by His mere word. A God who cares? Worship Him today for this gracious quality of His.
CHRIST’S SAVING COMPASSION
Matt. 9:36: Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd.
Jesus felt compassion for the crowds as only the Son of God could feel. It is among God’s attributes to love and care because “God is love” (1 John 4:8). The term for “felt compassion” literally refers to the intestines, and most often occurs in Scripture with the figurative reference to the emotions, the way we use “heart” today. But Jesus’ concern was not just symbolic. He no doubt physically felt the symptoms of genuine caring—ones such as aching and nausea when encountering the agony of people’s struggles with sin and hardship. In order to fulfill prophecy, “He Himself took our infirmities and carried away our diseases” (Matt. 8:17).
Of course Jesus did not physically contract people’s diseases and infirmities. But in deep, heartfelt compassion and sympathy. He physically and emotionally suffered with all who approached Him for relief. He was not unlike the concerned father who becomes ill from worry about a desperately sick child, or for one in danger or difficulty.
After Jesus had been in a boat following the death of John the Baptist, crowds sought Him and He “felt compassion for them and healed their sick” (Matt. 14:14). Shortly after that, Jesus told the Twelve of His real concern for the masses who had no food on hand (15:30-32). But our Lord’s omniscience was an infinitely greater need in people’s lives—the profound, pervasive nature of their sin and their desperate plight of spiritual blindness and lostness. Of this horrific condition He was most compassionate of all.
CHRIST’S SAVING COMPASSION
Matt. 9:36: Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd.
Jesus felt compassion for the crowds as only the Son of God could feel. It is among God’s attributes to love and care because “God is love” (1 John 4:8). The term for “felt compassion” literally refers to the intestines, and most often occurs in Scripture with the figurative reference to the emotions, the way we use “heart” today. But Jesus’ concern was not just symbolic. He no doubt physically felt the symptoms of genuine caring—ones such as aching and nausea when encountering the agony of people’s struggles with sin and hardship. In order to fulfill prophecy, “He Himself took our infirmities and carried away our diseases” (Matt. 8:17).
Of course Jesus did not physically contract people’s diseases and infirmities. But in deep, heartfelt compassion and sympathy. He physically and emotionally suffered with all who approached Him for relief. He was not unlike the concerned father who becomes ill from worry about a desperately sick child, or for one in danger or difficulty.
After Jesus had been in a boat following the death of John the Baptist, crowds sought Him and He “felt compassion for them and healed their sick” (Matt. 14:14). Shortly after that, Jesus told the Twelve of His real concern for the masses who had no food on hand (15:30-32). But our Lord’s omniscience was an infinitely greater need in people’s lives—the profound, pervasive nature of their sin and their desperate plight of spiritual blindness and lostness. Of this horrific condition He was most compassionate of all.
EXAMPLES OF JESUS’ COMPASSION
Hi, everyone – What does Christ’s compassion inspire in you? How could you be more daring and deliberate about taking His heart with you into your world of need, touching others with the love and mercy of Jesus?
EXAMPLES OF JESUS’ COMPASSION
Matt. 9:36A: Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them.
Examples in the Gospels of Jesus’ compassion are notable. When He saw Mary and others weeping for the deceased Lazarus, “He was deeply moved in spirit and was troubled” (John 11:33) and wept with them (v. 35). The phrase “deeply moved in spirit” connotes physical as well as emotional and spiritual anguish. As He saw Lazarus’ friends and family grieving, He entered into real crying with them.
When arrested in the garden, Christ was more concerned about the disciples than Himself: “If you [soldiers] seek Me, let these go their way” (John 18:8). While on the cross He still had concern for His mother: “He said to His mother, ‘Woman, behold, your son!’” (19:26).
In one of His poignant expressions of deep compassion for others, Jesus lamented, “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling” (Matt. 23:37; Luke 19:41-42).
Commenting on two familiar verses about Jesus’ compassion and sympathy (Heb. 4:15; 5:8), Paul Brand said,
A stupefying concept: God’s Son learning through His experiences on earth. Before taking on a body, God had no personal experience of physical pain or of the effect of rubbing against needy persons. But God dwelt among us and touched us, and His time spent here allows Him to more fully identify with our pain.
EXAMPLES OF JESUS’ COMPASSION
Matt. 9:36A: Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them.
Examples in the Gospels of Jesus’ compassion are notable. When He saw Mary and others weeping for the deceased Lazarus, “He was deeply moved in spirit and was troubled” (John 11:33) and wept with them (v. 35). The phrase “deeply moved in spirit” connotes physical as well as emotional and spiritual anguish. As He saw Lazarus’ friends and family grieving, He entered into real crying with them.
When arrested in the garden, Christ was more concerned about the disciples than Himself: “If you [soldiers] seek Me, let these go their way” (John 18:8). While on the cross He still had concern for His mother: “He said to His mother, ‘Woman, behold, your son!’” (19:26).
In one of His poignant expressions of deep compassion for others, Jesus lamented, “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling” (Matt. 23:37; Luke 19:41-42).
Commenting on two familiar verses about Jesus’ compassion and sympathy (Heb. 4:15; 5:8), Paul Brand said,
A stupefying concept: God’s Son learning through His experiences on earth. Before taking on a body, God had no personal experience of physical pain or of the effect of rubbing against needy persons. But God dwelt among us and touched us, and His time spent here allows Him to more fully identify with our pain.
BEING A SHEPHERD
Hi, everyone – Begin to develop Jesus’ motive for ministry as your own. Take every opportunity to introduce others to the Great Shepherd.
Matt. 9:36B: They were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd.
One of Jesus’ main motives for ministry was the knowledge of man’s lost condition. He saw the people He lived among in the reality of their need. He was moved by their diseases and sickness, and He healed every one of them (v. 35). But He was moved even more deeply by the deepest need that most of the multitude did not even know they had—to be freed from their bondage to sin. He saw their hearts, and He knew that inwardly “they were distressed and dispirited.”
Jesus saw the multitudes as being inwardly devastated by their sinful and hopeless condition. The idea behind “dispirited” is to be thrown down prostrate and utterly helpless. Jesus saw the dispirited multitudes as sheep without a shepherd to protect and care for them.
Those who claimed to be the shepherds of the multitudes were the scribes and Pharisees, yet it was those very shepherds who were largely responsible for the people’s confusion and hopelessness. The people were spiritually led by uncaring, unloving leaders who should have been meeting their spiritual needs. That’s why Jesus calls people “the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matt. 10:6)—God’s chosen people who had been left to perish.
More to come…
Matt. 9:36B: They were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd.
One of Jesus’ main motives for ministry was the knowledge of man’s lost condition. He saw the people He lived among in the reality of their need. He was moved by their diseases and sickness, and He healed every one of them (v. 35). But He was moved even more deeply by the deepest need that most of the multitude did not even know they had—to be freed from their bondage to sin. He saw their hearts, and He knew that inwardly “they were distressed and dispirited.”
Jesus saw the multitudes as being inwardly devastated by their sinful and hopeless condition. The idea behind “dispirited” is to be thrown down prostrate and utterly helpless. Jesus saw the dispirited multitudes as sheep without a shepherd to protect and care for them.
Those who claimed to be the shepherds of the multitudes were the scribes and Pharisees, yet it was those very shepherds who were largely responsible for the people’s confusion and hopelessness. The people were spiritually led by uncaring, unloving leaders who should have been meeting their spiritual needs. That’s why Jesus calls people “the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matt. 10:6)—God’s chosen people who had been left to perish.
More to come…
COMING HARVEST INCLUDES IMPENDING JUDGMENT
Hi, everyone – Think of the cost that sin has already extracted from you, here where God’s mercy is still available and the promise of His restorative forgiveness is actively in force. Imagine its cost on those who will be paying its price forever. Be sure that as you witness, you don’t minimize the cost sin brings.
COMING HARVEST INCLUDES IMPENDING JUDGMENT
Matt. 9:37B: The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.
As Jesus changes the metaphor from shepherding to harvesting, He gives another motive for His ministry. He ministered because people face God’s final judgment.
Jesus ministered compassionately and tirelessly because He could see the ultimate consummation of divine judgment toward which every person was headed—every one in the multitudes who did not trust in Him. Paul said, “Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men” (2 Cor. 5:11).
In 2 Thessalonians, Paul paints a vivid picture of God’s judgment: “The Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power” (1:7-9).
It is easy to lose awareness of the imminence and the inevitability of God’s judgment, but the Christian who loses sight of that judgment loses a major portion of his motive for witnessing.
When Jesus saw the crowds, He taught them, preached to them, and healed them—all for the ultimate purpose that they might come to Him and escape the harvest of judgment they could not otherwise avoid.
More to come…
PS(Today is the day that I am posting ALOT of devotions to make up for the days I missed)
COMING HARVEST INCLUDES IMPENDING JUDGMENT
Matt. 9:37B: The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.
As Jesus changes the metaphor from shepherding to harvesting, He gives another motive for His ministry. He ministered because people face God’s final judgment.
Jesus ministered compassionately and tirelessly because He could see the ultimate consummation of divine judgment toward which every person was headed—every one in the multitudes who did not trust in Him. Paul said, “Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men” (2 Cor. 5:11).
In 2 Thessalonians, Paul paints a vivid picture of God’s judgment: “The Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power” (1:7-9).
It is easy to lose awareness of the imminence and the inevitability of God’s judgment, but the Christian who loses sight of that judgment loses a major portion of his motive for witnessing.
When Jesus saw the crowds, He taught them, preached to them, and healed them—all for the ultimate purpose that they might come to Him and escape the harvest of judgment they could not otherwise avoid.
More to come…
PS(Today is the day that I am posting ALOT of devotions to make up for the days I missed)
Thursday, October 27, 2011
THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS’ FALSE SOLUTION
Hi, everyone – Pray for my Grandma. She just got out of surgery on her hip. Now she is rehablitating. Your prayers mean alot to me and my family
Here is the Devotion for today.
You may not mean to do it, but does the gospel you present to others involve more requirements than Jesus Himself placed on it? Make sure the gospel you proclaim is all about lifting their burden of sin, not loading them with more than they’re carrying already.
THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS’ FALSE SOLUTION
Matt. 9:36B: They were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd.
The scribes and Pharisees offered a religion that only added burdens instead of lifting them. For them, the common people were the object of disdain, not compassion; individuals to be exploited, not served. In that sense the scribes and Pharisees were true descendents of the false shepherds against whom the Lord called centuries earlier through Ezekiel (34:2-4).
Many religious leaders today are still endeavoring to keep people out of the kingdom by distorting and contradicting God’s Word and perverting the way of salvation. By telling people they are already saved because “a good God would never condemn anyone to hell,” they lead people to be content with themselves and see no need for repentance and salvation—thereby shutting tight the gracious door God has provided. Similarly, when people are told they can work their way into God’s favor by avoiding certain sins or by performing certain good deeds or participating in some prescribed ritual, they are likewise deceived and left in their lost condition.
How wonderfully refreshing it must have been to hear Jesus say, “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Matt. 11:28-30). What a contrast those words were from the teaching of the scribes and Pharisees.
More to come…
Here is the Devotion for today.
You may not mean to do it, but does the gospel you present to others involve more requirements than Jesus Himself placed on it? Make sure the gospel you proclaim is all about lifting their burden of sin, not loading them with more than they’re carrying already.
THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS’ FALSE SOLUTION
Matt. 9:36B: They were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd.
The scribes and Pharisees offered a religion that only added burdens instead of lifting them. For them, the common people were the object of disdain, not compassion; individuals to be exploited, not served. In that sense the scribes and Pharisees were true descendents of the false shepherds against whom the Lord called centuries earlier through Ezekiel (34:2-4).
Many religious leaders today are still endeavoring to keep people out of the kingdom by distorting and contradicting God’s Word and perverting the way of salvation. By telling people they are already saved because “a good God would never condemn anyone to hell,” they lead people to be content with themselves and see no need for repentance and salvation—thereby shutting tight the gracious door God has provided. Similarly, when people are told they can work their way into God’s favor by avoiding certain sins or by performing certain good deeds or participating in some prescribed ritual, they are likewise deceived and left in their lost condition.
How wonderfully refreshing it must have been to hear Jesus say, “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Matt. 11:28-30). What a contrast those words were from the teaching of the scribes and Pharisees.
More to come…
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
STUBBORN FURY AGAINST JESUS
Hi everyone....has anything occurred in your life lately to cause you to doubt God's goodness or feel unsure about His faithfulness? Why is such a conclusion always incorrect? How can you guard against being subject to this kind of spiritual confusion?
STUBBORN FURY AGAINST JESUS
Matt. 9:3 And some of the scribes said to themselves, "This fellow blasphemes."
To charge someone with blasphemy was truly a serious statement for ones to make in the religious culture in which Jesus ministered. But that was the outlandish accusation against Him brought by the scribes because they rejected His claim to forgive sins (Luke 5:21, Mark 2:7). They knew that forgiveness comes only from God (Isa. 42:25, Mic. 7:18-19), but because they didn't believe Jesus was God's Son, they had to conclude He was blaspheming.
Unlike the paralytic and his friends, the scribes felt no need for forgiveness-they considered themselves already righteous. They rejected Jesus' authority to forgive and further believed it wrong for someone simply to ask in faith that he or she be forgiven. For the Jewish leaders, real forgiveness came only by self-righteous and legalistic efforts to earn it.
The scribes' furious apposition to Jesus was part of a growing pattern of persecution of Him by the establishment-a situation that led to His death. The Jew themselves, ironically, were guilty of blaspheming their Messiah when they accused Him of being satanic: "He casts out the demons by the ruler of the demons" (Matt. 9:34).
Every miracle that proved who Jesus was served only to burden the hearts of the scribes and Pharisees and drive them further from belief and repentance. We can thank God for His Spirit spared us from such a condition, and pray always that our hearts remain soft toward Him.
more to come...
STUBBORN FURY AGAINST JESUS
Matt. 9:3 And some of the scribes said to themselves, "This fellow blasphemes."
To charge someone with blasphemy was truly a serious statement for ones to make in the religious culture in which Jesus ministered. But that was the outlandish accusation against Him brought by the scribes because they rejected His claim to forgive sins (Luke 5:21, Mark 2:7). They knew that forgiveness comes only from God (Isa. 42:25, Mic. 7:18-19), but because they didn't believe Jesus was God's Son, they had to conclude He was blaspheming.
Unlike the paralytic and his friends, the scribes felt no need for forgiveness-they considered themselves already righteous. They rejected Jesus' authority to forgive and further believed it wrong for someone simply to ask in faith that he or she be forgiven. For the Jewish leaders, real forgiveness came only by self-righteous and legalistic efforts to earn it.
The scribes' furious apposition to Jesus was part of a growing pattern of persecution of Him by the establishment-a situation that led to His death. The Jew themselves, ironically, were guilty of blaspheming their Messiah when they accused Him of being satanic: "He casts out the demons by the ruler of the demons" (Matt. 9:34).
Every miracle that proved who Jesus was served only to burden the hearts of the scribes and Pharisees and drive them further from belief and repentance. We can thank God for His Spirit spared us from such a condition, and pray always that our hearts remain soft toward Him.
more to come...
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
JESUS VS. DEMONS
Hi everyone....seeing the demons so obviously in fear of Christ's domination should encourage us that He is more than able to handle any situation. Have you been withholding a need from Him, not sure He cared or could do anything about it? Bring it boldly to Him today.
JESUS VS. DEMONS
Matt. 8: 28-29 When He came to the other side into the country of the Gadarenes, two men who were demon-possessed met Him....and they cried out, saying, "What business do we have with each other, Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?"
Demons can attack people mentally, physically, or spiritually, they oppose true religion, promote the false, and control the occult. Intellectually, they advocate false ideologies, insanity, and masochism. Our Lord always recognized demonized people as being victims of powers beyond their control and in need of deliverance, not condemnation or exhortation.
By calling Jesus "Son of God," the demons controlling the Gadarenes men showed they knew His true identity. They recognized Him as their spiritual antagonist who had the full authority to destroy them at will. Their question "Have you come here to torment us before the time?" further recognized that there is a God-ordained schedule, not yet completed, when He will relegate them to eternal damnation. As in other subjects, the demons had a correct doctrine of last things. But such belief is mere recognition, not acceptance. James reveals that even they tremble at the consequence of unbelief: "the demons also believe, and shudder" (James 2:19).
Demons despise everything about God and His Son. Yet they can't do anything but pay Jesus the greatest deferential respect when in His presence. That supports Paul's teaching that one day at the name of Christ, "every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Phil. 2:10-11).
more to come...
JESUS VS. DEMONS
Matt. 8: 28-29 When He came to the other side into the country of the Gadarenes, two men who were demon-possessed met Him....and they cried out, saying, "What business do we have with each other, Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?"
Demons can attack people mentally, physically, or spiritually, they oppose true religion, promote the false, and control the occult. Intellectually, they advocate false ideologies, insanity, and masochism. Our Lord always recognized demonized people as being victims of powers beyond their control and in need of deliverance, not condemnation or exhortation.
By calling Jesus "Son of God," the demons controlling the Gadarenes men showed they knew His true identity. They recognized Him as their spiritual antagonist who had the full authority to destroy them at will. Their question "Have you come here to torment us before the time?" further recognized that there is a God-ordained schedule, not yet completed, when He will relegate them to eternal damnation. As in other subjects, the demons had a correct doctrine of last things. But such belief is mere recognition, not acceptance. James reveals that even they tremble at the consequence of unbelief: "the demons also believe, and shudder" (James 2:19).
Demons despise everything about God and His Son. Yet they can't do anything but pay Jesus the greatest deferential respect when in His presence. That supports Paul's teaching that one day at the name of Christ, "every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Phil. 2:10-11).
more to come...
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
THE APOSTLES MARVEL AT JESUS' POWER
Hi everyone...pause long enough to marvel at the glory of your ever-present God. Put your feelings of awe into words of worship.
THE APOSTLES MARVEL AT JESUS' POWER
Matt. 8:17 The men were amazed, and said, "What kind of a man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?"
There are no realities more overwhelming than a glimpse of God's glory and the sense of His presence. Such occurrences make it impossible to be utterly dumbfounded before Him.
The disciples realized after Christ stilled the storm that He indeed was God standing in their boat with them. Peter displayed the same reaction of awe and terror when he briefly walked on water after his Lord did. A storm surged up and caused Peter to panic. When Jesus rescued the disciples and calmed the storm, all the disciples in the boat worshipped Him saying, "You are certainly God's Son.!" (Matt. 14:33). That is simply the proper reaction any believer should have when getting a first glimpse of the Lord's power in this world.
God's servants in Scripture had far more astounding encounters with His magnificence than we ever will, but their examples are instructive. Daniel, for example, after beholding the Almighty, remarked, "No strength was left in me, for my natural color turned to a deathly pallor" (Dan. 10:8; Isa. 6:1, 5). When the risen Christ halted Paul (Saul of Tarsus) on his way to Damascus, "he fell to the ground" (Acts 9:4).
Our daily dependence on God and sense of His presence should be no less important for us than for the prophets and apostles of old. Isaac Watt's lyrics capture this concept well:
On thee each moment we depend,
If thou withdraw we die.
O may we ne'er that God offend,
Who is forever nigh.
more to come...
THE APOSTLES MARVEL AT JESUS' POWER
Matt. 8:17 The men were amazed, and said, "What kind of a man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?"
There are no realities more overwhelming than a glimpse of God's glory and the sense of His presence. Such occurrences make it impossible to be utterly dumbfounded before Him.
The disciples realized after Christ stilled the storm that He indeed was God standing in their boat with them. Peter displayed the same reaction of awe and terror when he briefly walked on water after his Lord did. A storm surged up and caused Peter to panic. When Jesus rescued the disciples and calmed the storm, all the disciples in the boat worshipped Him saying, "You are certainly God's Son.!" (Matt. 14:33). That is simply the proper reaction any believer should have when getting a first glimpse of the Lord's power in this world.
God's servants in Scripture had far more astounding encounters with His magnificence than we ever will, but their examples are instructive. Daniel, for example, after beholding the Almighty, remarked, "No strength was left in me, for my natural color turned to a deathly pallor" (Dan. 10:8; Isa. 6:1, 5). When the risen Christ halted Paul (Saul of Tarsus) on his way to Damascus, "he fell to the ground" (Acts 9:4).
Our daily dependence on God and sense of His presence should be no less important for us than for the prophets and apostles of old. Isaac Watt's lyrics capture this concept well:
On thee each moment we depend,
If thou withdraw we die.
O may we ne'er that God offend,
Who is forever nigh.
more to come...
Friday, September 9, 2011
JESUS REBUKES THE FAITHLESS DISCIPLES
Hi everyone....when was the last time you despaired of life and safety, feeling as though there was no escape from your current situation without divine intervention? In fact, how many of these has God allowed you to live through-and to see His capable deliverance?
JESUS REBUKES THE FAITHLESS DISCIPLES
Matt. 8:26A Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?
Sometimes events seem so obvious to us, we wonder why others don't see the problems or difficulties just as clearly? During the storm the disciples wondered two things: why Jesus could ask them what was so frightening, and how He could not be afraid Himself. In the midst of chaos, any response seemed absurd. They even accused Him of insensitivity: "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing? (Mark 4:38).
But Christ had to rebuke His men because their fear sprang from faithlessness. He basically asked them, "Haven't you been with Me long enough to see what I can do and to know you are perfectly safe? Even if you should drown, that would mean instant heaven. There's nothing to worry about." They should have remembered Psalm 89:8-9, "O Lord God of hosts, who is like You, mighty Lord? Your faithfulness also surrounds You. You rule the swelling of the sea: when it's waves rise, You still them" (cf46:1-3; 107:23-30).
For the disciples, Jesus would literally fulfill the psalms. And for believers today who are aware of His power and love, there is still no need to be afraid of anything. God will see us through the most tumultuous of life's storms because He can and will take care of His children.
more to come....
Have a restful weekend and a good worship!
JESUS REBUKES THE FAITHLESS DISCIPLES
Matt. 8:26A Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?
Sometimes events seem so obvious to us, we wonder why others don't see the problems or difficulties just as clearly? During the storm the disciples wondered two things: why Jesus could ask them what was so frightening, and how He could not be afraid Himself. In the midst of chaos, any response seemed absurd. They even accused Him of insensitivity: "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing? (Mark 4:38).
But Christ had to rebuke His men because their fear sprang from faithlessness. He basically asked them, "Haven't you been with Me long enough to see what I can do and to know you are perfectly safe? Even if you should drown, that would mean instant heaven. There's nothing to worry about." They should have remembered Psalm 89:8-9, "O Lord God of hosts, who is like You, mighty Lord? Your faithfulness also surrounds You. You rule the swelling of the sea: when it's waves rise, You still them" (cf46:1-3; 107:23-30).
For the disciples, Jesus would literally fulfill the psalms. And for believers today who are aware of His power and love, there is still no need to be afraid of anything. God will see us through the most tumultuous of life's storms because He can and will take care of His children.
more to come....
Have a restful weekend and a good worship!
Thursday, September 8, 2011
FAITH OUT OF DESPERATION
Hi everyone....what do we forget on ordinary days, times when we feel like we can manage well enough on our own without God's help or provision? What would desperate faith look like on a typical, average day?
FAITH OUT OF DESPERATION
Matt 8:25-26A And they came to Him saying, "Save us, Lord, we are perishing!" He said to them, "Why are you afraid, you men of little faith."
Sometimes God has to bring us to a point of desperate need before He can get us to turn to Him. That's what happened to the disciples when the storm was about to swamp their boat. They had no other human solution for their emergency and had to come to Jesus with their need. If He could cleanse the lepers and heal every other sort of disease, maybe He could control nature.
Even the greatest believers in redemptive history have wavered in their faith in their most difficult circumstances. The psalmist asked, "Why do You stand afar off, O Lord? Why do You hide Yourself in times of trouble?" (Ps. 10:1; 44:22-23). Isaiah even wondered why God seemed not able to help His people: "Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the Lord; awake as in the days of old; the generations of long ago" (Isa. 51:9). Much like the disciples on the lake, the prophet could not see why God was asleep when His people were dying.
God wants people to turn to Him especially for salvation when it's a matter of spiritual life and death. We can often get out of dire situations involving finances, health, or family relations without the Lord's direct intervention. But when it comes to spiritual salvation, there is no other resource but God. After we are saved, the Father still wants to hear from us-in that way we show we have not forgotten Him, even in desperate circumstances.
more to come...
FAITH OUT OF DESPERATION
Matt 8:25-26A And they came to Him saying, "Save us, Lord, we are perishing!" He said to them, "Why are you afraid, you men of little faith."
Sometimes God has to bring us to a point of desperate need before He can get us to turn to Him. That's what happened to the disciples when the storm was about to swamp their boat. They had no other human solution for their emergency and had to come to Jesus with their need. If He could cleanse the lepers and heal every other sort of disease, maybe He could control nature.
Even the greatest believers in redemptive history have wavered in their faith in their most difficult circumstances. The psalmist asked, "Why do You stand afar off, O Lord? Why do You hide Yourself in times of trouble?" (Ps. 10:1; 44:22-23). Isaiah even wondered why God seemed not able to help His people: "Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the Lord; awake as in the days of old; the generations of long ago" (Isa. 51:9). Much like the disciples on the lake, the prophet could not see why God was asleep when His people were dying.
God wants people to turn to Him especially for salvation when it's a matter of spiritual life and death. We can often get out of dire situations involving finances, health, or family relations without the Lord's direct intervention. But when it comes to spiritual salvation, there is no other resource but God. After we are saved, the Father still wants to hear from us-in that way we show we have not forgotten Him, even in desperate circumstances.
more to come...
Monday, September 5, 2011
RESPONSE TO THE GREATEST SERMON
Hi everyone...think back on the many lessons taken from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. Which struck you with new force? Which are your children in greatest need of hearing? Don't let His Word grow quiet within you.
RESPONSE TO THE GREATEST SERMON
Matt. 7:28-29 "When Jesus had finished these words, the crowd were amazed at His teaching for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as their scribes."
The response to the best and most astounding preaching ever-the Sermon on the Mount-was itself very remarkable. Likely some among our Lord's audience that day believed in Him for salvation. But quite probably the number converted was small, affirming Jesus' assertion about the narrow gate. "there are few who find it" (Matt. 7:14).
The verb translated "were amazed" means to be struck out of oneself, or to be beside oneself with astonishment. The crowd utterly flabbergasted by the power, comprehensiveness, and extraordinary insight of Christ's words. Never had people heard such a penetrating description of true righteousness or such a relentless condemnation of self-righteousness.
Even more remarkable is the way Jesus spoke with a power ("authority") that proved and reflected His sovereignty. Unlike the Jewish teachers, who quoted the rabbis' words and additional sacred writings. He quoted only Scripture and spoke as the final authority on truth.
The Sermon on the Mount is important for everyone to hear. But the response to it must not conclude with mere amazement but real, saving faith. If we have read it and meditated upon its instructions and imperatives, we also need to move from astonishment to obedience. Such obedience entails moving from intellectual knowledge of the narrow gate and way to actually entering the gate by faith and following the way to eternal life.
more to come..
RESPONSE TO THE GREATEST SERMON
Matt. 7:28-29 "When Jesus had finished these words, the crowd were amazed at His teaching for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as their scribes."
The response to the best and most astounding preaching ever-the Sermon on the Mount-was itself very remarkable. Likely some among our Lord's audience that day believed in Him for salvation. But quite probably the number converted was small, affirming Jesus' assertion about the narrow gate. "there are few who find it" (Matt. 7:14).
The verb translated "were amazed" means to be struck out of oneself, or to be beside oneself with astonishment. The crowd utterly flabbergasted by the power, comprehensiveness, and extraordinary insight of Christ's words. Never had people heard such a penetrating description of true righteousness or such a relentless condemnation of self-righteousness.
Even more remarkable is the way Jesus spoke with a power ("authority") that proved and reflected His sovereignty. Unlike the Jewish teachers, who quoted the rabbis' words and additional sacred writings. He quoted only Scripture and spoke as the final authority on truth.
The Sermon on the Mount is important for everyone to hear. But the response to it must not conclude with mere amazement but real, saving faith. If we have read it and meditated upon its instructions and imperatives, we also need to move from astonishment to obedience. Such obedience entails moving from intellectual knowledge of the narrow gate and way to actually entering the gate by faith and following the way to eternal life.
more to come..
Friday, September 2, 2011
NOT COUNTING THE COST
Hi everyone.....what have been some of the major costs of discipleship in your own life? How have you responded to them? Have they ultimately drawn you closer to Christ, or have you often allowed them to drive a wedge between you and the Lord?
NOT COUNTING THE COST
Matt. 8:19-20 Then a scribe came and said to Him, "Teacher, I will follow You wherever you go"..........but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head."
There is no record that the eager scribe ever counted the cost of discipleship. When considering various costs such as self-denial, homelessness, and maybe suffering, the man disappears. No doubt Christ's words struck where he was most vulnerable, and he could not overcome loyalty to himself and his comfort.
Jesus never watered down the gospel message as many evangelistic appeals do today. That only compromises God's Word and does a severe disservice to those who her such a message. The Lord, by contrast, did not mince words with the apostles. "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves" (Matt. 10:16). And He continued that tone at the end of His ministry. "These things I have spoken to you so that you may be kept from stumbling. They will make you outcasts from the synagogue, but an hour is coming for everyone who kills you to think that he is offering service to God" (John 16:1-2). Neither did Paul waver from stern words of reminder that "all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted" (2 Tim. 3:12).
Knowing and following Jesus Christ includes thrills and joys unlike any others, but they are not the kind the world can understand or appreciate (John 14:27). Living the Christian life is not simply adding Jesus on to your own lifestyle, but it entails the renouncing of your ways for His and being ready to pay the price He may require (Matt. 16:24).
more to come...
Have a wonderful, long weekend...rest and be refreshed..and have a good worship!!
NOT COUNTING THE COST
Matt. 8:19-20 Then a scribe came and said to Him, "Teacher, I will follow You wherever you go"..........but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head."
There is no record that the eager scribe ever counted the cost of discipleship. When considering various costs such as self-denial, homelessness, and maybe suffering, the man disappears. No doubt Christ's words struck where he was most vulnerable, and he could not overcome loyalty to himself and his comfort.
Jesus never watered down the gospel message as many evangelistic appeals do today. That only compromises God's Word and does a severe disservice to those who her such a message. The Lord, by contrast, did not mince words with the apostles. "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves" (Matt. 10:16). And He continued that tone at the end of His ministry. "These things I have spoken to you so that you may be kept from stumbling. They will make you outcasts from the synagogue, but an hour is coming for everyone who kills you to think that he is offering service to God" (John 16:1-2). Neither did Paul waver from stern words of reminder that "all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted" (2 Tim. 3:12).
Knowing and following Jesus Christ includes thrills and joys unlike any others, but they are not the kind the world can understand or appreciate (John 14:27). Living the Christian life is not simply adding Jesus on to your own lifestyle, but it entails the renouncing of your ways for His and being ready to pay the price He may require (Matt. 16:24).
more to come...
Have a wonderful, long weekend...rest and be refreshed..and have a good worship!!
Thursday, September 1, 2011
COST OF COMMITMENT
Hi everyone...are we guilty of trying to make Christian faith so attractive that we disguise its demands and difficulties? What are the logical consequences of such a tactic on those who come to Christ without counting the cost?
Matt. 8:19-20 Then a scribe came and said to Him, "Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go." Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head."
Superficially, Jesus' expression "The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head" has nothing to do with the scribe's confident words. In proverbial style He simply wanted to caution the man that even though He was God's Son, His ministry did not include comfortable living-He actually had fewer amenities than some animals.
Christ wanted the scribes to assess the sincerity of his assertion. It's easy to make a bold, impressive profession of loyalty, especially if you don't first think about the cost of commitment. Early in His ministry, our Lord knew that many did not have a genuine faith. He "was not entrusting Himself to them, for He knew all men....He did not need anyone to testify concerning man, for He Himself knew what was in man" (John 2:24-25). Many committed only to the thrill of following Jesus around and seeing miracles performed, not to His Person and saving works. They were examples of the seed that had no root but fell away soon because of adversity (Matt. 13:5-6, 20-21).
Bible commentator R. C. Lenski once noted that people with eager but uncertain vows of allegiance to Christianity are like those who view "the soldiers on parade, the fine uniforms, and the glittering arms and [are] eager to join, forgetting the exhausting marches, the bloody battles, the grave, perhaps unmarked.
more to come...
Matt. 8:19-20 Then a scribe came and said to Him, "Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go." Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head."
Superficially, Jesus' expression "The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head" has nothing to do with the scribe's confident words. In proverbial style He simply wanted to caution the man that even though He was God's Son, His ministry did not include comfortable living-He actually had fewer amenities than some animals.
Christ wanted the scribes to assess the sincerity of his assertion. It's easy to make a bold, impressive profession of loyalty, especially if you don't first think about the cost of commitment. Early in His ministry, our Lord knew that many did not have a genuine faith. He "was not entrusting Himself to them, for He knew all men....He did not need anyone to testify concerning man, for He Himself knew what was in man" (John 2:24-25). Many committed only to the thrill of following Jesus around and seeing miracles performed, not to His Person and saving works. They were examples of the seed that had no root but fell away soon because of adversity (Matt. 13:5-6, 20-21).
Bible commentator R. C. Lenski once noted that people with eager but uncertain vows of allegiance to Christianity are like those who view "the soldiers on parade, the fine uniforms, and the glittering arms and [are] eager to join, forgetting the exhausting marches, the bloody battles, the grave, perhaps unmarked.
more to come...
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
STRONG PROFESSION IS NOT ALWAYS SINCERE
Hi everyone....think of the bold promises you've made to the Lord before and the many times you've failed to follow through. Have your past inabilities kept you from making statements anymore? Is that what God wants you to learn from these expectations?
STRONG PROFESSION IS NOT ALWAYS SINCERE
Matt. 8:19-20 "Then a scribe came and said to Him, "Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go." Jesus said to him, "The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head."
The issue of commitment is one to be evaluated very carefully. The scribe here was an authority of Jewish law and a close ally of the Pharisees. As such he would have broken with his allies had he become one of Jesus' true disciples. He knew a decision like that would be costly, and thus he might have been testing Jesus' reaction to his words.
Normally the scribes were teachers, not followers of other teachers. And one such as this man would have been reluctant to follow a rabbi like Jesus, who was not from the scholarly class, not educated in a rabbinic school, and not loyal to Jewish religious traditions.
For this scribe to address Jesus as he did was quite out of the ordinary and probably impressive to the apostles and the crowds, since he issued the claim as a Jewish leader. It's not certain that the man ever really believed in Jesus, but he probably felt sincere in his own mind with what he professed. He was likely just as convinced as Peter that he would always follow the Lord (Matt. 26:33, 35), but neither could be sure about that, as Peter's temporary denial illustrates.
Unlike today's evangelical church, always eager to instantly embrace a prominent person who professes Christ, Jesus knew that every strong profession does not necessarily translate to strong commitment. Hence He compared His living situation to the foxes and the birds as a testing of the man's true dedication, which ought to be a self-examining device for us too.
more to come...
STRONG PROFESSION IS NOT ALWAYS SINCERE
Matt. 8:19-20 "Then a scribe came and said to Him, "Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go." Jesus said to him, "The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head."
The issue of commitment is one to be evaluated very carefully. The scribe here was an authority of Jewish law and a close ally of the Pharisees. As such he would have broken with his allies had he become one of Jesus' true disciples. He knew a decision like that would be costly, and thus he might have been testing Jesus' reaction to his words.
Normally the scribes were teachers, not followers of other teachers. And one such as this man would have been reluctant to follow a rabbi like Jesus, who was not from the scholarly class, not educated in a rabbinic school, and not loyal to Jewish religious traditions.
For this scribe to address Jesus as he did was quite out of the ordinary and probably impressive to the apostles and the crowds, since he issued the claim as a Jewish leader. It's not certain that the man ever really believed in Jesus, but he probably felt sincere in his own mind with what he professed. He was likely just as convinced as Peter that he would always follow the Lord (Matt. 26:33, 35), but neither could be sure about that, as Peter's temporary denial illustrates.
Unlike today's evangelical church, always eager to instantly embrace a prominent person who professes Christ, Jesus knew that every strong profession does not necessarily translate to strong commitment. Hence He compared His living situation to the foxes and the birds as a testing of the man's true dedication, which ought to be a self-examining device for us too.
more to come...
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
JESUS CHRIST'S AMAZING MINISTRY
Hi everyone! Today is my Grandma Perla's Birthday! She is the one who writes the devotions I post. She is amazing and I LOVE her!!! Okay here's the devotion for today!
Think of all the things that are truly amazing about Christ. If you were asked what you love the most about Him, what would you say? You never want to be at a loss to share the specific ways He makes life distinctly abundant.
JESUS CHRIST'S AMAZING MINISTRY
Even excluding the miraculous healings, Jesus' ministry was unprecedented and amazing. "Never has a man spoken the way this man speaks" (John 7:46). The man born blind, whom Jesus healed, told the Jewish leaders, "Since the beginning of time it has never been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. If this man [Christ] were not from God, He could do nothing" (John 9:32-33).
When Jesus healed the paralytic, the onlookers "were awestruck, and glorified God" (Matt. 9:8), and after He expelled a demon they said, "Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel" (v.33). When He stood before Pilate, Jesus did not say a word in His own defense, "so the governor was quite amazed" (Matt. 27:14).
Everything about our Lord was astonishing, excellent, and humanly beyond explanation. It is hard to understand how anyone who witnessed His preaching and miracles, or has even just read about Him in the gospels, can still refuse to accept and obey Him. Some are drawn by His charisma and power, and they marvel at the things He taught and did, but they still take nothing to heart and don't believe. Sometimes they are willing to call themselves Christians, but they need a commitment that is more than superficial- one that perseveres in faith to the end.
more to come...
Monday, August 29, 2011
THE CONVINCING NATURE OF JESUS' MINISTRY
Hi everyone......how do you think you would have responded to the ministry of Christ, had you been there to witness it firsthand? Are the reasons for doubting Him today any different than they were then?
THE CONVINCING NATURE OF JESUS' MINISTRY
Matt. 8:17 "This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet: "He Himself took our infirmities and carried away our diseases."
Jesus Christ died for the sins of all who trust him, yet believers still sin. By His resurrection He conquered death, yet Christians still die. He overcame suffering and illness, yet believers still have pain and disease. Jesus' main purpose in the atonement was to conquer sin and death, not just to conquer physical suffering. That latter fulfillment is still in the future (Rom. 8:22-25; 13:11).
It is hard to argue that Jesus' healing ministry and crucifixion now mean that Christians should no longer expect illness. If that argument is true, then we would expect not to die-but that's false. Again, the gospel is all about forgiveness from sin, not deliverance from disease (1 Peter 2:24).
In view of the convincing nature of Jesus' healing ministry, it's hard to understand why anyone who heard or saw any of those miracles would not receive Him. It is especially hard to fathom that God's own people, with all their special blessings-the law, the prophets, the covenant-would mostly reject the Son of their God. But from the outset of Christ's incarnation, John speaks of this rejection: "Those who were His own did not receive Him: (John 1:11).
Any denial of Jesus flies in the face of the facts, whether such unbelief was by people in Jesus' day or skeptics today. As His healing ministry progressed, the proofs of His divinity, power, mercy, and goodness became obvious beyond contradiction. They all demand a saving faith in the one true Savior and Lord.
more to come...
THE CONVINCING NATURE OF JESUS' MINISTRY
Matt. 8:17 "This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet: "He Himself took our infirmities and carried away our diseases."
Jesus Christ died for the sins of all who trust him, yet believers still sin. By His resurrection He conquered death, yet Christians still die. He overcame suffering and illness, yet believers still have pain and disease. Jesus' main purpose in the atonement was to conquer sin and death, not just to conquer physical suffering. That latter fulfillment is still in the future (Rom. 8:22-25; 13:11).
It is hard to argue that Jesus' healing ministry and crucifixion now mean that Christians should no longer expect illness. If that argument is true, then we would expect not to die-but that's false. Again, the gospel is all about forgiveness from sin, not deliverance from disease (1 Peter 2:24).
In view of the convincing nature of Jesus' healing ministry, it's hard to understand why anyone who heard or saw any of those miracles would not receive Him. It is especially hard to fathom that God's own people, with all their special blessings-the law, the prophets, the covenant-would mostly reject the Son of their God. But from the outset of Christ's incarnation, John speaks of this rejection: "Those who were His own did not receive Him: (John 1:11).
Any denial of Jesus flies in the face of the facts, whether such unbelief was by people in Jesus' day or skeptics today. As His healing ministry progressed, the proofs of His divinity, power, mercy, and goodness became obvious beyond contradiction. They all demand a saving faith in the one true Savior and Lord.
more to come...
Saturday, August 27, 2011
JESUS HEALS PETER'S MOTHER-IN-LAW
Hi everyone.....among all religions, none has a higher view of women than does Christianity. And yet, it's fair to ask ourselves if chauvinism is present within our hearts. Christ honored women. So should we.
JESUS HEALS PETER'S MOTHER-IN-LAW
Matt 8:14-15 "When Jesus came into Peter's home, He saw his mother-in-law lying sick in bed with a fever. He touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she got up and waited on Him."
Through the centuries, most male Jews have displayed much prejudice toward women, as evidenced by the old prayer, "Lord, I thank Thee that I was not born a slave, a Gentile, or a woman." But here Jesus, just as with the leper and the gentile centurion, shows mercy and compassion to an outsider-a woman-someone not favored by the Jewish establishment. He cuts through the unscriptural attitude of proud Jewish men to demonstrate again that physical health, race, status, or a person's sex gained no advantage with Him.
When Jesus arrived at Peter's house with some of the disciples, Peter's mother-in-law was ill, and Mark adds, "immediately they spoke to Jesus about her" (Mark 1:30). Luke the physician notes that she had "a high fever" Luke 4:28), though none of the narrative says what caused her illness. That the fever was high suggests she was seriously ill and maybe in danger of death.
Christ once again responded without delay and healed Peter's mother-in-law immediately. She was not only a woman but also a Jew, which means that although the Lord had warned the Jews about presuming upon salvation, He had not completely forsaken them, as ministry to Peter's relative powerfully showed. The fact that salvation was available to faithful Gentiles did not mean it was now unavailable to faithful Jews. Peter later wrote, "God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew.....In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God's gracious choice" (Rom. 11:2, 5).
more to come...
JESUS HEALS PETER'S MOTHER-IN-LAW
Matt 8:14-15 "When Jesus came into Peter's home, He saw his mother-in-law lying sick in bed with a fever. He touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she got up and waited on Him."
Through the centuries, most male Jews have displayed much prejudice toward women, as evidenced by the old prayer, "Lord, I thank Thee that I was not born a slave, a Gentile, or a woman." But here Jesus, just as with the leper and the gentile centurion, shows mercy and compassion to an outsider-a woman-someone not favored by the Jewish establishment. He cuts through the unscriptural attitude of proud Jewish men to demonstrate again that physical health, race, status, or a person's sex gained no advantage with Him.
When Jesus arrived at Peter's house with some of the disciples, Peter's mother-in-law was ill, and Mark adds, "immediately they spoke to Jesus about her" (Mark 1:30). Luke the physician notes that she had "a high fever" Luke 4:28), though none of the narrative says what caused her illness. That the fever was high suggests she was seriously ill and maybe in danger of death.
Christ once again responded without delay and healed Peter's mother-in-law immediately. She was not only a woman but also a Jew, which means that although the Lord had warned the Jews about presuming upon salvation, He had not completely forsaken them, as ministry to Peter's relative powerfully showed. The fact that salvation was available to faithful Gentiles did not mean it was now unavailable to faithful Jews. Peter later wrote, "God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew.....In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God's gracious choice" (Rom. 11:2, 5).
more to come...
Friday, August 26, 2011
HEALINGS AND EXISTENCE OF DISEASE
Hi everyone....the question is not whether or not Jesus can heal, but rather why He chooses to sometimes withhold the healing we seek. When He does what eternal purpose might He have in mind?
HEALINGS AND EXISTENCE OF DISEASE
Matt. 8:16-17 "When evening came, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed; and He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were ill. This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet: " He Himself took our infirmities and carried away our diseases."
Jesus performed healing miracles for reasons far more profound than to wipe out all disease, which did happen in Palestine while He ministered. First, He healed to personally participate in humanity's suffering and illness. He knew people's inner feelings of agony, bewilderment, despair, and frustration because of disease, and He wanted to sympathize with our weakness" (Heb. 4:15).
Second, Christ healed people because He experienced the awful effects of disease's root cause, sin. He could not see the pain of disease and death without feeling the sting of sin and evil that brings death to everyone. Sin and sickness both operate as effects of the Fall, and only divine power can cure either.
Third, our Lord "took our infirmities and carried our diseases" as a preview of His kingdom's most wonderful elements - the permanent removal of sin, sorrow, and disease (Rev. 21:1-4). His redeeming work to remove the penalty and guilt of sin for His own would be complete. Just as with His transfiguration, in which He pulled back the veil over His flesh and gave three disciples a glimpse of His divine glory, Jesus gave those healed and all who witnessed a gracious preview of His eternal kingdom.
more to come...have a restful weekend and a good worship.
HEALINGS AND EXISTENCE OF DISEASE
Matt. 8:16-17 "When evening came, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed; and He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were ill. This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet: " He Himself took our infirmities and carried away our diseases."
Jesus performed healing miracles for reasons far more profound than to wipe out all disease, which did happen in Palestine while He ministered. First, He healed to personally participate in humanity's suffering and illness. He knew people's inner feelings of agony, bewilderment, despair, and frustration because of disease, and He wanted to sympathize with our weakness" (Heb. 4:15).
Second, Christ healed people because He experienced the awful effects of disease's root cause, sin. He could not see the pain of disease and death without feeling the sting of sin and evil that brings death to everyone. Sin and sickness both operate as effects of the Fall, and only divine power can cure either.
Third, our Lord "took our infirmities and carried our diseases" as a preview of His kingdom's most wonderful elements - the permanent removal of sin, sorrow, and disease (Rev. 21:1-4). His redeeming work to remove the penalty and guilt of sin for His own would be complete. Just as with His transfiguration, in which He pulled back the veil over His flesh and gave three disciples a glimpse of His divine glory, Jesus gave those healed and all who witnessed a gracious preview of His eternal kingdom.
more to come...have a restful weekend and a good worship.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
A TESTIMONY TO THE JEWS
Hi everyone.....how would you describe your spiritual state after a season of great accomplishment or at the culmination of a long struggle that has ended in victory? Is this a time when you deliberately focus on the basics of Christian faith, or when you decide to take a break for a while?
A TESTIMONY TO THE JEWS
Matt 8:4 "Jesus said to him, "See that you will tell no one, but go, show yourself to the priest and present the offering that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them."
Following times of greatest blessings and triumph, our Lord often tests us to see if our faith is obedient. In the case of the cleansed leper, Jesus commanded him to fulfill the ritual requirements of the law and let the priests attest to his healing (Lev. 14).. This responsibility had to precede any celebration of his newfound health or telling others about his cure.
Perhaps Jesus told the man not to tell others of this healing so that people would not merely give adulation to Him as a miracle worker. Furthermore, He would not have wanted this event to encourage any speculation that He was a political deliverer. Christ was still on His period of humiliation, and any exaltation of Him by the crowd would have been premature within the Father's plan.
However, the major reason for Jesus' command to the healed man to respect the Mosaic requirements was to testify to the crowd, particularly the Jewish leaders. He blasted their hypocrisy, superficiality, and unscriptural methods, but He did not want to communicate that He had no regard for God's law at all. When the priest declared the man healed-and the evidence would be obvious-it would allow Jesus' miracle to be verified by the Jewish establishment. That would give added weight to His credibility as Messiah, as One who "did not come to abolish but to fulfill" (Matt.5:17).
more to come...
A TESTIMONY TO THE JEWS
Matt 8:4 "Jesus said to him, "See that you will tell no one, but go, show yourself to the priest and present the offering that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them."
Following times of greatest blessings and triumph, our Lord often tests us to see if our faith is obedient. In the case of the cleansed leper, Jesus commanded him to fulfill the ritual requirements of the law and let the priests attest to his healing (Lev. 14).. This responsibility had to precede any celebration of his newfound health or telling others about his cure.
Perhaps Jesus told the man not to tell others of this healing so that people would not merely give adulation to Him as a miracle worker. Furthermore, He would not have wanted this event to encourage any speculation that He was a political deliverer. Christ was still on His period of humiliation, and any exaltation of Him by the crowd would have been premature within the Father's plan.
However, the major reason for Jesus' command to the healed man to respect the Mosaic requirements was to testify to the crowd, particularly the Jewish leaders. He blasted their hypocrisy, superficiality, and unscriptural methods, but He did not want to communicate that He had no regard for God's law at all. When the priest declared the man healed-and the evidence would be obvious-it would allow Jesus' miracle to be verified by the Jewish establishment. That would give added weight to His credibility as Messiah, as One who "did not come to abolish but to fulfill" (Matt.5:17).
more to come...
Saturday, August 20, 2011
JESUS' TOUCH AND INSTANTANEOUS HEALING
Hi everyone....are there certain people you are wary of touching-either by physical embrace or even eye contact? What gives us the right of being too good or polished or educated or privileged to look lovingly into the face of another, to offer ourselves and our acceptance?
JESUS' TOUCH AND INSTANTANEOUS HEALING
Matt. 8:3 "Jesus stretched His hand and touched him, saying, "I am willing, be cleansed." And immediately his leprosy was cleansed."
The Mosaic law forbade the Jews from touching lepers, because they were unclean and would expose healthy people to ceremonial and physical contamination. But lepers, in their social ostracism, yearned for even a brief, up-close contact with another person beside a fellow leper.
Jesus could have healed this man, with just a single word, but He made a point of touching him. This action was truly amazing-not in a spectacular, sensational manner, but simply because the Son of God would lovingly reach out and reach down to touch an outcast as no one else would.
The Lord bestowed instantaneous healing: "immediately his leprosy was cleansed." When He touched the man's defiled body, his disease simply disappeared. (Christ could have chosen to heal in stages, as He sometimes did [Mark 8:22-26; John 9:6-7], but there was no necessity to do so.) The picture for the eyewitnesses would have been dramatic. A bent-over, withered derelict, with skin ravaged by scaly, ugly sores, would suddenly stand up, his limbs were now perfectly normal, his face smooth and unscarred, his eyes clear and bright, and his voice strong and confident.
Modern medical science, with all its wonderful expertise and abilities to cure, can never equal the miraculous restoration Jesus provided.
more to come...have a wonderful restful weekend and a good worship.
JESUS' TOUCH AND INSTANTANEOUS HEALING
Matt. 8:3 "Jesus stretched His hand and touched him, saying, "I am willing, be cleansed." And immediately his leprosy was cleansed."
The Mosaic law forbade the Jews from touching lepers, because they were unclean and would expose healthy people to ceremonial and physical contamination. But lepers, in their social ostracism, yearned for even a brief, up-close contact with another person beside a fellow leper.
Jesus could have healed this man, with just a single word, but He made a point of touching him. This action was truly amazing-not in a spectacular, sensational manner, but simply because the Son of God would lovingly reach out and reach down to touch an outcast as no one else would.
The Lord bestowed instantaneous healing: "immediately his leprosy was cleansed." When He touched the man's defiled body, his disease simply disappeared. (Christ could have chosen to heal in stages, as He sometimes did [Mark 8:22-26; John 9:6-7], but there was no necessity to do so.) The picture for the eyewitnesses would have been dramatic. A bent-over, withered derelict, with skin ravaged by scaly, ugly sores, would suddenly stand up, his limbs were now perfectly normal, his face smooth and unscarred, his eyes clear and bright, and his voice strong and confident.
Modern medical science, with all its wonderful expertise and abilities to cure, can never equal the miraculous restoration Jesus provided.
more to come...have a wonderful restful weekend and a good worship.
Monday, August 15, 2011
DIFFERENCE IN WITHSTANDING THE STORM
Hi everyone...Those who are foolish in planning and preparation are often foolish as well in their assessment of the damage. Why do some whose lives are falling apart not seem to notice? How can you help one you know?
DIFFERENCE IN WITHSTANDING THE STORM
Matt. 7:25, 27 "The rain fell and the flood came, and the winds blew and slammed against the house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock.....The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against the house, and it fell -and great was its fall."
Everyone's religion, whether true or false , will be tried one day. that test will determine with great finality who are the wheat and who are the tares-in other words, the unredeemed will be revealed from the redeemed. When the storm of final test comes, those houses are on the bedrock of Jesus Christ and His Word will be spared "from the wrath to come" (1 Thes. 1:20). However, those whose houses are on the sand will not be spared, but like the goats in Jesus' prophesy of the end times, "will go away into eternal punishment" (Matt. 25:46, Rev.20:12,15).
The house of the wise man-the life and ministry of the genuine believer-is spared because he has built carefully and faithfully, with a sense of substance and divine importance. After obediently doing all that God commands, he humbly realizes he was only doing his duty (Luke 17:16).
The house of the foolish man-the life and ministry of the pseudo-believer suffers a devastating judgment from the storm and is destined for eternal punishment. Because of this inevitability, everyone who claims to be a Christian must carefully heed James' words: "Prove yourself doers of the Word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves" (James 1:22).
The greatest difference between "wise" and "foolish" resides in what promise from God they can claim. To the wise He says, in the words of the hymn, "Though all hell should endeavor to shake, I'll never, no, never forsake!"
more to come...
DIFFERENCE IN WITHSTANDING THE STORM
Matt. 7:25, 27 "The rain fell and the flood came, and the winds blew and slammed against the house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock.....The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against the house, and it fell -and great was its fall."
Everyone's religion, whether true or false , will be tried one day. that test will determine with great finality who are the wheat and who are the tares-in other words, the unredeemed will be revealed from the redeemed. When the storm of final test comes, those houses are on the bedrock of Jesus Christ and His Word will be spared "from the wrath to come" (1 Thes. 1:20). However, those whose houses are on the sand will not be spared, but like the goats in Jesus' prophesy of the end times, "will go away into eternal punishment" (Matt. 25:46, Rev.20:12,15).
The house of the wise man-the life and ministry of the genuine believer-is spared because he has built carefully and faithfully, with a sense of substance and divine importance. After obediently doing all that God commands, he humbly realizes he was only doing his duty (Luke 17:16).
The house of the foolish man-the life and ministry of the pseudo-believer suffers a devastating judgment from the storm and is destined for eternal punishment. Because of this inevitability, everyone who claims to be a Christian must carefully heed James' words: "Prove yourself doers of the Word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves" (James 1:22).
The greatest difference between "wise" and "foolish" resides in what promise from God they can claim. To the wise He says, in the words of the hymn, "Though all hell should endeavor to shake, I'll never, no, never forsake!"
more to come...
Friday, August 5, 2011
DISCERNING FALSE PROPHETS: SEEING THEIR CONVERTS
Sorry I haven't posted for a while, my internet was down. Anyway, Enjoy!!
Hi everyone.....discussions like these often get us labeled as haughty and narrow-minded. How do you handle these kinds of accusations? Why will some people never understand your concern for the church's purity?
DISCERNING FALSE PROPHETS: SEEING THEIR CONVERTS
Matt. 7:19-20 "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, you will know them by their fruits."
We can spot false prophets by the kind of people they attract. Their converts will have the same kind of superficial, self-centered, unbiblical orientation as they do. Of this sort of attraction Peter says, "Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned"(2 Peter 2:2). Many folks gravitate to false teachers because those men propagate what the majority of people want to hear and believe (cf. 2 Tim.4:3).
God has not ordained false prophets, but within His will He allows them to exist. And it is within His purpose that false factions develop. "For there must also be factions among you, so that those who are approved may become evident among you" (1 Cor. 11:19). Factions often attract followers of false teachers. And in a sense, this protects genuine saints by separating the chaff from the wheat in the church.
Ultimately, the Lord makes sure that the converts of false prophets, who do not bear good fruit, get cut down and thrown into the fire of judgment. Peter says they are "bringing swift destruction upon themselves" (2 Pet.2:1; cf. Jer. 23:30). A watchful, discerning, vigilant believer, armed with the Word of truth, will be able to isolate false teachers and withdraw from them, because he or she "will know them by their fruits."
more to come...
Have a restful weekend and a good worship
GRANDMA PERLA'S DEVOTIONS
Hi everyone.....discussions like these often get us labeled as haughty and narrow-minded. How do you handle these kinds of accusations? Why will some people never understand your concern for the church's purity?
DISCERNING FALSE PROPHETS: SEEING THEIR CONVERTS
Matt. 7:19-20 "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, you will know them by their fruits."
We can spot false prophets by the kind of people they attract. Their converts will have the same kind of superficial, self-centered, unbiblical orientation as they do. Of this sort of attraction Peter says, "Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned"(2 Peter 2:2). Many folks gravitate to false teachers because those men propagate what the majority of people want to hear and believe (cf. 2 Tim.4:3).
God has not ordained false prophets, but within His will He allows them to exist. And it is within His purpose that false factions develop. "For there must also be factions among you, so that those who are approved may become evident among you" (1 Cor. 11:19). Factions often attract followers of false teachers. And in a sense, this protects genuine saints by separating the chaff from the wheat in the church.
Ultimately, the Lord makes sure that the converts of false prophets, who do not bear good fruit, get cut down and thrown into the fire of judgment. Peter says they are "bringing swift destruction upon themselves" (2 Pet.2:1; cf. Jer. 23:30). A watchful, discerning, vigilant believer, armed with the Word of truth, will be able to isolate false teachers and withdraw from them, because he or she "will know them by their fruits."
more to come...
Have a restful weekend and a good worship
GRANDMA PERLA'S DEVOTIONS
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
FALSE TEACHERS ARE DECEPTIVE
Hi everyone....what constitutes false teaching today? Why do such philosophies continue to find room to work in hearts and minds, even of believers? What can we do to keep them away from our churches?
FALSE TEACHERS ARE DECEPTIVE
Matt 7:15 "Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves."
False prophet are most dangerous because of thier deceptive nature. We can easily recognize and defend against an enemy that poses for what it is. But when the enemy appears as a friend, it is much harder to defend against.
Heretics and apostates make no claim to biblical truth and are recognizable. But deceivers disguise themselves as true shepherds. They give the appearance of orthodoxy and claim to teach the truth, but their intent is to deceive and destroy God's people.
Paul explains this phenomenon: "Such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore, it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds" (2 Cor. 11:13-15); 2 Tim 3:13). Such false prophets are demonically deceived, convinced that their perverted, distorted views are correct. They are so steeped in falsehood that darkness seems to be light, blackness white, and error truth.
This calls for genuine discernment. But how is this best done? It's by realizing that such men show themselves by what they do not say - they seldom affirm the great doctrines of the faith, but rather ignores them. In our day of confusion and indifference, we need to pray and vigilantly "test the spirits to see whether they are from God....Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God" (1 John 4:1,2).
more to come...
Grandma Pearla's Devotions
FALSE TEACHERS ARE DECEPTIVE
Matt 7:15 "Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves."
False prophet are most dangerous because of thier deceptive nature. We can easily recognize and defend against an enemy that poses for what it is. But when the enemy appears as a friend, it is much harder to defend against.
Heretics and apostates make no claim to biblical truth and are recognizable. But deceivers disguise themselves as true shepherds. They give the appearance of orthodoxy and claim to teach the truth, but their intent is to deceive and destroy God's people.
Paul explains this phenomenon: "Such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore, it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds" (2 Cor. 11:13-15); 2 Tim 3:13). Such false prophets are demonically deceived, convinced that their perverted, distorted views are correct. They are so steeped in falsehood that darkness seems to be light, blackness white, and error truth.
This calls for genuine discernment. But how is this best done? It's by realizing that such men show themselves by what they do not say - they seldom affirm the great doctrines of the faith, but rather ignores them. In our day of confusion and indifference, we need to pray and vigilantly "test the spirits to see whether they are from God....Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God" (1 John 4:1,2).
more to come...
Grandma Pearla's Devotions
Saturday, July 30, 2011
THE WAY TO LIFE: BUT NOT EASY
Hi everyone...how have you experienced growth in your total dependence upon the Lord? Though we are often so hard on ourselves and perhaps weighed down with undue guilt, our hearts should rejoice to see the Spirit taking up residence in our attitudes and practices. Worship with this in mind today.
THE WAY TO LIFE: BUT NOT EASY
Matt. 7:14 "For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it."
God's way of salvation is remarkably simple, but it is not easy. Nothing we can give or give up can earn us entrance into the kingdom. But if we long to hold on to forbidden things, it can keep us out of the kingdom.
Even though we can pay nothing for salvation, coming to Jesus Christ costs us everything we have. Jesus says, "Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple" (Luke 14:27).
The person who says yes to Christ must say no to the things of the world, because to be in Christ is to rely on His power rather than our own and to be willing to forsake our own way for His. It can cost persecution, ridicule, and tribulation.
When we identify ourselves with Jesus Christ, we declare war on the devil, and he declares war on us. The one whom we formerly served now becomes our great enemy, and the ideas and ways we once held dear now become our great temptations and pitfalls.
Along with warnings of suffering, the Lord also gives permission that our hearts will rejoice (John 16:22) and that we are to take courage because He has overcome the world. (John 16:33) He promises to enable us to prevail over those times of suffering, not to escape them.
more to come...
Feel free to ask any questions you might have. Also, be sure to look up the verses!
Grandma Pearla's Devotions.
THE WAY TO LIFE: BUT NOT EASY
Matt. 7:14 "For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it."
God's way of salvation is remarkably simple, but it is not easy. Nothing we can give or give up can earn us entrance into the kingdom. But if we long to hold on to forbidden things, it can keep us out of the kingdom.
Even though we can pay nothing for salvation, coming to Jesus Christ costs us everything we have. Jesus says, "Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple" (Luke 14:27).
The person who says yes to Christ must say no to the things of the world, because to be in Christ is to rely on His power rather than our own and to be willing to forsake our own way for His. It can cost persecution, ridicule, and tribulation.
When we identify ourselves with Jesus Christ, we declare war on the devil, and he declares war on us. The one whom we formerly served now becomes our great enemy, and the ideas and ways we once held dear now become our great temptations and pitfalls.
Along with warnings of suffering, the Lord also gives permission that our hearts will rejoice (John 16:22) and that we are to take courage because He has overcome the world. (John 16:33) He promises to enable us to prevail over those times of suffering, not to escape them.
more to come...
Feel free to ask any questions you might have. Also, be sure to look up the verses!
Grandma Pearla's Devotions.
Friday, July 29, 2011
TWO GROUPS
Hi everyone....what are some of the greatest lies that lead the mildly religious into believing they have accepted Christ into their hearts? In what ways do our churches today accommodate these? How can we work against this devious scheme of the enemy?
TWO GROUPS
Matt. 7:13-14 "Enter through the narrow gate....that leads to life, and there are few who find it."
"Many" and "few" describe two groups of people. Those who enter through the wide gate and travel the broad way, toward destination of destruction, are many. They include pagans and nominal Christians, atheists and religionists, theists and humanists, Jews and Gentiles-every person from every age, background, persuasion, and circumstances who has not come to saving obedience in Jesus Christ.
In the day of judgment many will claim to be followers of Christ. "Many will say to Me that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles? And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you, depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness'" (Matt 7:22-23). Those who are excluded will not be just atheists or rank pagans, but nominal Christians who professed to know and trust Christ but who refused to come to Him on His terms.
The group that goes through the narrow gate and travels the narrow way and is destined for life are few in number. Jesus said, "Many are called, but few are chosen" (Matt. 22:14).
Make sure you are numbered with the few and not with those who will receive Jesus' shocking declarations at the day of judgment.
more to come...
Have a restful weekend and a good worship.
Grandma Pearla's Devotions.
TWO GROUPS
Matt. 7:13-14 "Enter through the narrow gate....that leads to life, and there are few who find it."
"Many" and "few" describe two groups of people. Those who enter through the wide gate and travel the broad way, toward destination of destruction, are many. They include pagans and nominal Christians, atheists and religionists, theists and humanists, Jews and Gentiles-every person from every age, background, persuasion, and circumstances who has not come to saving obedience in Jesus Christ.
In the day of judgment many will claim to be followers of Christ. "Many will say to Me that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles? And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you, depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness'" (Matt 7:22-23). Those who are excluded will not be just atheists or rank pagans, but nominal Christians who professed to know and trust Christ but who refused to come to Him on His terms.
The group that goes through the narrow gate and travels the narrow way and is destined for life are few in number. Jesus said, "Many are called, but few are chosen" (Matt. 22:14).
Make sure you are numbered with the few and not with those who will receive Jesus' shocking declarations at the day of judgment.
more to come...
Have a restful weekend and a good worship.
Grandma Pearla's Devotions.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
TWO DESTINATIONS
Hi everyone....celebrate today the eternal life promised to those who embrace the call of the narrow gate and the narrow way. Be grateful that none of the carry-ons and extras will ever give us the satisfaction we hope to find in them, but that in the wake of their emptiness we will be drawn ever deeper into the One whose way is both single and secure.TWO DESTINATIONS
Matt. 7:13-14 "Enter through the narrow gate.....that leads to life, and there are few who find it."
Both the broad and narrow ways point to the good life, to salvation, heaven, God, the kingdom, and blessing-but only the narrow way actually leads there. The broad way doesn't have a road sign on it with hell as the destination. Jesus' point is that this way is marked "heaven" but it doesn't lead there.That is the great lie of all false religion. The Lord makes clear the ultimate destinations of these two ways: the broad way leads to destruction; the narrow way leads to life. Every religion except Christianity follows the same spiritual way and leads to the same spiritual end, to hell.
There are many of those roads, and most of them are attractive, appealing, and crowded with travelers. But not a single one leads where it promises, and not a single one fails to lead where Jesus says it leads-to destruction, to total ruin and loss. It is a complete loss of well-being and the destination of all religions except the way of Jesus Christ.
But God's way-the way that is narrow-leads to eternal life, to everlasting heavenly fellowship with God, His angels, and His people. Everlasting life is quality of life, which is the life of God in the soul of man (see Ps. 17:15).
more to come...
Grandma Pearla's Devotions.
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