20151102 WHAT HAVE YOU SEEN AND HEARD?

WHAT HAVE YOU SEEN AND HEARD?

Mat 11:4-6 Jesus told them, "Go back to John and tell him what you have heard and seen—  (5)  the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor.  (6)  And tell him, 'God blesses those who do not turn away because of Me. '"

The question asked of Jesus at this point was inspired by John the Baptist. He sent his disciples to ask, “Are you the Messiah?” Based on Jesus’ answer these followers of John had been with Him long enough to see some of His miracles.

How long have you walked with Jesus? What have you seen and heard? If someone asked you about Jesus what would your answer be? Would it be just the academic answers from Sunday School or would you be able to recount blessings and miracles?

I guess the real question here is this, “Is your walk with God just academic or is it a relationship full of stories you can share about His goodness, His character, His provision, love, joy, peace?” Only you and God can answer that question. I urge you to spend some time meditating on that question today.

Father in heaven, thank You that you desire such a relationship with us. May we be found faithful in walking with You and in sharing You with others. In Jesus Name, AMEN!!!

20151014 KEEP IT SIMPLE

KEEP IT SIMPLE

Matthew 10:9-10 "Don't take any money in your money belts—no gold, silver, or even copper coins.  (10)  Don't carry a traveler's bag with a change of clothes and sandals or even a walking stick. Don't hesitate to accept hospitality, because those who work deserve to be fed. 

These instructions are about trust and faith as you carry the Good News to others. They were not to have a great fund raiser for their own needs before going. They were to take very little with them, in fact they were to take the clothes and shoes they were wearing. Keep in mind that this was a short term mission trip. Never-the-less Jesus instructs them to “accept hospitality.” Whatever was offered they were to receive with gratefulness knowing that a worker deserved to be fed.

They were to present the Good News in the power the Holy Spirit provided for healing and other miracles. Zechariah 4:6 Then he said to me, "This is what the LORD says to Zerubbabel: It is not by force nor by strength, but by My Spirit, says the LORD of Heaven's Armies.

I’m going to reiterate this on purpose. They were to go in the power of the Holy Spirit, trusting God to meet their needs and trusting God for the outcome of the work they were doing. This was a very simple approach and yet it worked in spreading the Gospel of the Kingdom.

Do we rely too much on technology and stage production in our services today and not enough on the Holy Spirit? Do we do the same when dealing with individuals, relying more on our intellect and fancy words?

Father in heaven, Paul told us to be being filled with Your Holy Spirit (Eph 5:18b My translation). Help us to understand what that means and position us for empowering from and by You. Help us to yield all our earthly devices to You. I do not doubt that You can use technology to draw others to You, but I also know we must rely on Your power. In Jesus Name, AMEN!!!

GODLY SORROW = REPENTANCE

GODLY SORROW = REPENTANCE

Matthew 5:4 God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

To “mourn” is to grieve. The Israelites mourned over the losses they had experienced through the years. The Temple at this time was a fraction of the size it was in Solomon’s day. It’s splendor had dwindled as well. The Israelites, though they had some religious freedom, were captive to the Roman government. This was another reason to grieve. But the biggest reason for them to grieve is the reason they and the Temple were in this condition. It was because of sin.

2 Corinthians 7:10 For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There's no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death.

We’ve all seen people cry on national television because some “indiscretion” has come to light. The question arises in us, “Is this person grieving because they got caught, or because they really see the devastation of their sin?” In other words, “Are they sorry enough to make a change?” I see it with my grandchildren. One will hit the other causing a cacophony of screaming, crying, wailing and gnashing of teeth. A parent will get involved and part of the discipline involved is to make the offending party tell the victim, “I’m sorry for hitting you.” Sometimes the apology comes with little cajoling and sometimes it comes after more screaming, crying, wailing and gnashing of teeth. Is it true godly sorrow or godly mourning if in 30 minutes we are re-living the entire scenario all over again?

Most theologians seem to agree that the type of mourning Jesus is talking about here is godly sorrow over one’s own sin, the sin of her people and her nation. Do you mourn over your sin? Do you mourn over the sin you see around you? Do you mourn over the sin of your nation?

Those who do so will be comforted. Mourning over your own sin that leads to repentance (See “REPENT” from July 8 for more on this) results in salvation. What an awesome comfort that is; saved from eternal death, from hell; saved to a new abundant life in Christ and saved to eternal life with Him forever. And He gives His Holy Spirit, the Comforter to each of His children (John 14:16).

Read this Old Testament promise in Isaiah… Isaiah 61:1-4 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is upon Me, for the LORD has anointed Me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent Me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed.  (2)  He has sent Me to tell those who mourn that the time of the LORD's favor has come, and with it, the day of God's anger against their enemies.  (3)  To all who mourn in Israel, He will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the LORD has planted for His own glory.  (4)  They will rebuild the ancient ruins, repairing cities destroyed long ago. They will revive them, though they have been deserted for many generations.

Jesus quotes from this passage in Luke 4. He is the fulfillment of this promise. Count the number of times the word, “mourn” is used here and look at the blessings that are coming to those who do so.

Today I urge you to see your own sin as God sees it. He does not laugh, nor joke about our sin. It breaks His heart and it causes great trouble for us and for our nation. Proverbs 14:34 NKJV Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a reproach to any people.

Please note that this sorrow that leads to repentance does not lead to discouragement, depression or suicide. That kind of sorrow is worldly sorrow. See 2 Cor 7:10 above. 

James 4:7-10 So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  (8)  Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.  (9)  Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy.  (10)  Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up in honor.

Oh Lord God, May we see our sin the way You see it. May we truly grieve such that our hearts turn away from sin and turn to You and Your righteousness. May others see our lives and know we are Your true disciples because we keep Your commands and truly love each other. In Jesus Name, AMEN!!!

POOR IN SPIRIT

POOR IN SPIRIT

Matthew 5:3  "God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for Him,  for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

The word “poor” here can be either literal or figurative. In this case it is often translated, “poor in spirit.” Either way it is a picture of one who sees his need for help which he cannot provide himself, nor can any human source. God alone can help. God alone can suffice.

Those who are humble enough to see they need God are the ones Jesus is talking about. We live in a world of “self-made men and women.” They take credit for all their accomplishments and claim to have no need of their Creator. In many cases they mock Him and proclaim, “Look what I have built, what I have done.” The Kingdom of Heaven is not theirs. It is reserved for the humble who know they need their Creator.

1.  The poor in spirit are those who are contentedly poor. They are thankful for what they have and set out to use it for God’s glory, but if all they have is taken from them they do not fret for no one can take their greatest treasure from them. No one can remove their Savior, Friend, God.

2.  The poor in spirit are humble and lowly in their own eyes. They value others more than themselves. When others are blessed they rejoice. When others weep they weep with them.

3.  The poor in spirit have no confidence in their own righteousness. They rely fully on the finished work of Christ on the cross of Calvary for their salvation. They do works of righteousness not to earn God’s love, but because they love God who first loved them. They are confident in His love, keeping their eyes on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith.

Father in heaven, grant that we may hold fast to You, keeping our eyes on Jesus. Help us to hold the things of this world loosely enough that should you see the need to remove them from us, we willingly release them with no sorrow. Rather may we release them with joy knowing that Your love has something better in store for us, knowing that You will never leave us, nor forsake us. Grant also, that we may serve You without fear of punishment, but with love for You. Free our hearts to by humble. In Jesus Name, AMEN!!!

-The idea for the three points on “poor in spirit” are taken from Matthew Henry’s commentary on Matthew.

REPENT

REPENT

(Matthew 4:17)  From then on Jesus began to preach, "Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near. "

Repent:

1) to change one’s mind, i.e. to repent

2) to change one’s mind for better, heartily to amend with abhorrence of one’s past sins

The above definition is from Thayer's Greek dictionary. When John the Baptist spoke to the Pharisees he said, (Matthew 3:8) “Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God.”

Repentance calls for three things:

1. To change our minds so that we agree with God.

a. agree that we are sinners

b. agree that sin as defined by God is heinous

c. agree that to live by God's standards is right

2. To hate our sin.

3. To start living and continue living according to God's standards.

Note this is the message that Jesus preached "from then on." This was and is His Gospel or good news. The good news part is that the Kingdom of God is near, at hand, here right now and you are invited to partake in it. The Apostle Paul makes it clear that there are ways of living that will keep one out of the Kingdom of God.

1 Corinthians 6:9-10

Don't you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don't fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, [10] or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people-none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God.

Galatians 5:19-21

When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, [20] idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, [21] envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

Ephesians 5:5

You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.

There is a teaching that says, “All you have to do is believe and you will be saved.” It is based on pulling a few verses from their context and is often referred to as “easy believism.” It is true that one receives salvation by believing in the heart that God raised Jesus from the dead and by confessing with the mouth that Jesus is Lord. (Romans 10:9 my paraphrase) But, to believe in the heart means a change in the life. 2 Corinthians 5:17 “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!”

The heart will change causing a change in the outward actions. A toddler doesn’t believe that touching a flame on a candle will hurt her hand, and therefore she will reach for the pretty glow. Hopefully the parent can persuade the child, but in most cases one touch is what it takes. After that, the child is a believer and that believing will forever after alter her behavior around fire.

Likewise, believing that Jesus Christ died to pay the penalty for our sin and that God raised Him from the dead, and proclaiming Jesus as LORD will change the heart, which will subsequently change the actions. This is repentance; agreeing with God, seeing sin as He sees it, and changing our actions to match His standards.

Repentance becomes a lifestyle for the believer, daily turning away from evil and turning toward our Heavenly Father. It is continuously seeking His Kingdom and Righteousness.

Father in Heaven, Help us today to seek You, Your kingdom and righteousness. Lead us in paths of righteousness for Your Name’s sake. Keep us from evil.

In Jesus Name, AMEN!!!