20160118 Pay Attention

Pay Attention

Matthew 13:3-9 He told many stories in the form of parables, such as this one: "Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seeds.  (4)  As he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them.  (5)  Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow.  (6)  But the plants soon wilted under the hot sun, and since they didn't have deep roots, they died.  (7)  Other seeds fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants.  (8)  Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted!  (9)  Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand."

Earlier today I had a conversation with a representative from my mobile phone provider. She ended the call with this request, “Please don’t text and drive.” What she was telling me was, “When you’re driving pay attention to driving. Watch out for obstacles and other drivers. Obey the road signs. Be aware of what is going on around you. Don’t allow yourself to be distracted by your phone while you’re doing something as dangerous as driving.”

What does that have to do with our passage today? The words of Jesus are life. John 6:63.

The word translated in verse 3 as, “Listen” is often translated as “behold.” We are being called to pay attention to what is about to be said. Today we find ourselves easily distracted, by our own thoughts, by our gadgets, our schedules and a myriad of other things that vie for our attention.

Think about how often you don’t really hear what your spouse or co-worker is saying even though he or she is in the same room with you. I don’t know about you but that has caused some pretty serious contention for me at times. How much more important is it for us to hear what our Lord and Savior says to us?

Jesus ends this short parable with the same warning, “listen and understand.” He wanted His followers to really get what He was saying.

What distracts you? How often do you look at your phone in one day? Track it for a day and find out. I challenge you to set times for checking email and social media and only check them at those times. Have some times during your day that are “No Tech” times. Turn all the gadgets off and really listen and strive to understand your loved ones.

Father in heaven, give us ears to hear and hearts of understanding. Fill us with Your love for You and for our fellow man so we desire to really hear. In Jesus Name, AMEN!!!

20160114 The Will of God

The Will of God

Matthew 12:46-50 As Jesus was speaking to the crowd, His mother and brothers stood outside, asking to speak to Him.  (47)  Someone told Jesus, "Your mother and Your brothers are outside, and they want to speak to You."  (48)  Jesus asked, "Who is My mother? Who are My brothers?"  (49)  Then He pointed to His disciples and said, "Look, these are My mother and brothers.  (50)  Anyone who does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother!"

We do not know the reason for His mother and brothers visit to the Messiah. There is much we could speculate about, but that would not aid us in being disciples. What we do know is that Jesus chose to do the will of the Father over pleasing His fleshly relatives.

He asks and answers the question. Who is my mother and who are my brothers? The answer, “Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven.” Okay, so what is the will of the Father? How often I’ve heard people ask, “What is the will of God for my life?” For years I thought God’s will for my life would be revealed to me in some magnificent way and I would then go do some great deed. Then in one reading through the scriptures these verses all stood out…

John 6:40  For it is My Father's will that all who see His Son and believe in Him should have eternal life. I will raise them up at the last day."

1 Thessalonians 4:3  God's will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin.

1 Thessalonians 5:18  Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

Hebrews 10:10  For God's will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time.

Ephesians 6:6-7  Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. As slaves of Christ, do the will of God with all your heart.  (7)  Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.

What is the will of God for all of us?

1.   Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. (John 6:40)

2.   Stay away from sexual sin. (1 Thessalonians 4:3)

3.   Be thankful in all circumstances. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

4.   Walk in the holiness that was purchased by the blood of Jesus Christ. (Hebrews 10:10)

5.   Do what you do for the Lord (rather than for people) and do it with enthusiasm, or with all your heart. (Ephesians 6:6-7)

So you see the will of God for all of us is very plain. And according to Romans 12:2 when we get these down we will learn the rest of the will of God for us.

Romans 12:1-2  And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all He has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind He will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship Him.  (2)  Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

1Peter 4:1  So then, since Christ suffered physical pain, you must arm yourselves with the same attitude He had, and be ready to suffer, too. For if you have suffered physically for Christ, you have finished with sin.

1Peter 4:2  You won't spend the rest of your lives chasing your own desires, but you will be anxious to do the will of God.

How do you get a desire to do the will of God?

1.   Change the way you think. Agree with God on what is important and be a living sacrifice. Don’t copy the world. Copy God.

2.   Have the attitude of Jesus. Be ready to suffer for the truth.

3.   In that you will be finished with sin. It will lose its luster and appeal. You will see it for the lie that it is.

Father in heaven, help us to walk in Your perfect will today. May we be found walking in faith and purity and holiness gratefully and with enthusiasm. May our thoughts agree with You. May we be ready to suffer for the Gospel and may we be done with sin. In Jesus Name, AMEN!!!

20160113 Evil, Adulterous Generation

Evil, Adulterous Generation

Matthew 12:38-45 One day some teachers of religious law and Pharisees came to Jesus and said, "Teacher, we want You to show us a miraculous sign to prove Your authority."  (39)  But Jesus replied, "Only an evil, adulterous generation would demand a miraculous sign; but the only sign I will give them is the sign of the prophet Jonah.  (40)  For as Jonah was in the belly of the great fish for three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights.  (41)  "The people of Nineveh will stand up against this generation on judgment day and condemn it, for they repented of their sins at the preaching of Jonah. Now someone greater than Jonah is here—but you refuse to repent.  (42)  The queen of Sheba will also stand up against this generation on judgment day and condemn it, for she came from a distant land to hear the wisdom of Solomon. Now someone greater than Solomon is here—but you refuse to listen.  (43)  "When an evil spirit leaves a person, it goes into the desert, seeking rest but finding none.  (44)  Then it says, 'I will return to the person I came from.' So it returns and finds its former home empty, swept, and in order.  (45)  Then the spirit finds seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they all enter the person and live there. And so that person is worse off than before. That will be the experience of this evil generation."

The request, “Show us a miraculous sign to prove your authority,” is met with a strong declaration. First of all, he had just performed a miracle and they accused Him of being possessed of a demon. Second, Jesus is not a side show for anyone’s entertainment pleasure.

He starts and finishes His answer by declaring they are an evil generation. In the beginning He includes the term, “adulterous.” When the Bible uses the term “adulterous generation” it is talking about idolatry, worshipping something other than God. He still promises them a sign, but it is one that was planned from before the beginning of the dawn of time. It is His death, burial and resurrection. He leaves it vague enough they do not understand at the time and perhaps they didn’t understand until their own demise and judgment.

He then reminds them of people who listened in the past. One group listened to a prophet who did not want to preach to them but did and they repented. Another, a queen who traveled many miles to learn and to gain wisdom.

Then He throws a curve ball and starts talking about evil spirits leaving and returning and matters becoming worse for the one possessed… Did you catch that? He turned the table on them. He is now telling them they are demon possessed, or at least have been and will be again. Take a peek at 2Timothy 3:1-5.

They acted religious… had a form of godliness… but they denied the power that could bring about real change in their hearts and lives. They wanted to see a miracle but refused to let the Miracle Worker do a miracle in them.

What or who is at work in your life? What is more important to you? Is time with God important? I’m talking about time where you shut everything else out and listen and let the Holy Spirit search your heart and bring conviction for sin. I’m talking about letting the Miracle Worker work in you, change you to be what He made you to be. Ephesians 2:10

You see the Pharisees, for the most part were just putting on a show. Inside they were dead. Outside they had the rules down, they looked good, they spoke the right jargon, but inside they were void of real life.

Jesus offers abundant life. Have you received Him as Lord and Savior? Or are you just going through religious motions? Here is a link to Lifeway’s ABC’s of Salvation.

Father in heaven, perhaps someone will read this and realize their need for Jesus to make a miraculous change in them. Please draw the lost to Yourself. And show us the truth of our own hearts. Are we…, am I more in love with You or this world? Bring Your Holy Spirit conviction to our hearts and grant us the gift of repentance. In Jesus Name, AMEN!!!

20160111 Evil Hearts, Idle Words

Evil Hearts, Idle Words

Matthew 12:31-37 "So I tell you, every sin and blasphemy can be forgiven—except blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, which will never be forgiven.  (32)  Anyone who speaks against the Son of Man can be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven, either in this world or in the world to come.  (33)  "A tree is identified by its fruit. If a tree is good, its fruit will be good. If a tree is bad, its fruit will be bad.  (34)  You brood of snakes! How could evil men like you speak what is good and right? For whatever is in your heart determines what you say.  (35)  A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart.  (36)  And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak.  (37)  The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you."

It’s been several weeks since I last wrote here, so let me remind you what the Pharisees had said. Matthew 12:24 But when the Pharisees heard about the miracle, they said, "No wonder He can cast out demons. He gets His power from Satan, the prince of demons."

In verses 22-30 Jesus sheds some logic on their thinking. In this passage He sheds some frightening light on their dark hearts. Those who blaspheme the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. What is blasphemy of the Holy Spirit? Jesus explains it clearly here. It is speaking against the Holy Spirit. It is calling the work of God, demonic. For that reason, we must be careful about judging another man’s work. Romans 14:4 Who are you to condemn someone else's servants? Their own master will judge whether they stand or fall. And with the Lord’s help, they will stand and receive his approval.

We have discussed this before. We can judge an action as good or bad, sinful or righteous, but we cannot judge the motive of the heart. And, in the case of good works, we cannot judge the power behind them. God often used wicked people to accomplish His works.

What we should really concern ourselves with is our own hearts. I must ask myself and you must ask yourself, “What is in my heart? Is my heart wicked? What pours forth from my mouth?

In verses 36 and 37 Jesus takes it back to our words. It is with words that we blaspheme. It is with words that we praise and give thanks. It is with words that we condemn our fellow man. It is with words we criticize, gossip, encourage, console, bless.

What do your words reveal about your heart? Jesus said we will be judged for every idle word. Strong defines “idle word” as a word that produces no good effect. Are your words producing good? Are they building someone up? Encouraging someone? Bringing joy to someone?

I know I quote this passage often, but it should be the cry of our hearts and today it is my prayer for all of us.

Father in heaven, Psalms 19:14 May the words of my (our) mouth and the meditation of my (our) heart(‘s) be pleasing to You, O LORD, my (our) rock and my (our) redeemer.

And Father, put a guard on our lips. Let no blasphemous words escape us. Cleanse our hearts of all evil. Fill them with praise for You and Your marvelous works. Fill them with encouragement for our fellow human beings, especially those of the household of faith. In Jesus Holy Name, AMEN!!!

Lord willing, We'll be back after the New Year.

20151202 A WARNING ABOUT DIVISION

A WARNING ABOUT DIVISION

Matthew 12:22-30 Then a demon-possessed man, who was blind and couldn't speak, was brought to Jesus. He healed the man so that he could both speak and see.  (23)  The crowd was amazed and asked, "Could it be that Jesus is the Son of David, the Messiah?"  (24)  But when the Pharisees heard about the miracle, they said, "No wonder He can cast out demons. He gets His power from Satan, the prince of demons."  (25)  Jesus knew their thoughts and replied, "Any kingdom divided by civil war is doomed. A town or family splintered by feuding will fall apart.  (26)  And if Satan is casting out Satan, he is divided and fighting against himself. His own kingdom will not survive.  (27)  And if I am empowered by Satan, what about your own exorcists? They cast out demons, too, so they will condemn you for what you have said.  (28)  But if I am casting out demons by the Spirit of God, then the Kingdom of God has arrived among you.  (29)  For who is powerful enough to enter the house of a strong man like Satan and plunder his goods? Only someone even stronger—someone who could tie him up and then plunder his house.  (30)  "Anyone who isn't with Me opposes Me, and anyone who isn't working with Me is actually working against Me.

A demon possessed man is set free. “Hallelujah! The Kingdom of God is among us.”

All too quickly that man is forgotten, dismissed, if you will. The religious leaders of the day attack the healer and the Spirit with which He operates. Their motive is not revealed in this passage and Jesus does not address it. First He addresses the foolishness of their argument. A house divided cannot continue to stand. It will fall miserably.

There is also an ominous warning here. Jesus alludes to His power and ability to plunder and bind Satan and then He says this, "Anyone who isn't with Me opposes Me, and anyone who isn't working with Me is actually working against Me.”

Today three armed gunmen killed several people and wounded others in San Bernardino, CA. Before the attackers were caught, their motives known and the bodies of the dead had a chance to get cold, social media lit up with arguments over gun control. Well-meaning believers on both sides of this issue pulled out all stops to disgrace the other side.

Many people posted things like, “Praying for San Bernardino.” In the midst of it all, a friend far away in Pakistan contacted me. Not being fully aware of our geography here, she was concerned for my safety. I was touched even though I’m over 2,000 miles away. Her posts on social media was all about praying for the nations of the world.

I was… no, I am convicted by her faith and her conviction to pray instead of argue.

Yes, I have a conviction on the issue of gun control, but this is neither the place, nor the time. Now is the time to pray, “Our Father in heaven, holy is Your name. Bring Your Kingdom in all its fullness to this planet. Cause Your will to be done here as it is in heaven. Meet our needs. Forgive our sins, and remind us, empower us to forgive those who sin against us. Lead us away from temptation. Deliver us from evil and the evil one. Yours is the Kingdom, the power and the glory forever. Comfort those in San Bernardino and bring the truth to the forefront. Draw the lost to Yourself. And, Father, unite Your church. Even so, Lord Jesus, come. In Jesus name, AMEN!!!

20151201 HOPE OF ALL THE WORLD

HOPE OF ALL THE WORLD

Matthew 12:14-21 Then the Pharisees called a meeting to plot how to kill Jesus.  (15)  But Jesus knew what they were planning. So He left that area, and many people followed Him. He healed all the sick among them, (16) but He warned them not to reveal who He was.  (17)  This fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah concerning Him: (18) "Look at My Servant, whom I have chosen. He is My Beloved, who pleases Me. I will put My Spirit upon Him, and He will proclaim justice to the nations.  (19)  He will not fight or shout or raise His voice in public.  (20)  He will not crush the weakest reed or put out a flickering candle. Finally He will cause justice to be victorious.  (21)  And His name will be the hope of all the world."

Although there are no red letters in this passage the words of Christ are implied and His actions speak volumes.

Someone recently asked me why Jesus often told people not to tell who He was. 1) In this case there were people out to kill Him and it was not yet time for Him to die. 2) Jesus goal was always to glorify the Father, not Himself. His glory would come in the Father’s time. 3) Where there is light there will be bugs. Larger crowds don’t necessarily mean more faithful followers. And larger crowds can impede helping those who really need help.

The quote from Isaiah 42 is one of my favorite prophecies because it clearly proclaims the gentleness of our Savior. It proclaims, “If there is the least flicker of light, any hint of hope, the smallest seed of faith God will help.” In Mark 9 A man brings his son to Jesus seeking deliverance for the lad. He has tried for some time to help his boy, and even tried the disciples of Jesus to no avail. In speaking with Christ he expresses some doubt. “Heal him if you can.” Jesus addresses the doubt, not because He wishes to heap condemnation on the man. Rather, Jesus is causing him to search his heart for that which pleases the Father and overcomes the world, faith and honesty. (See Hebrews 11:6, 1John 5:4, John 4:23-24)

Mark 9:24 The father instantly cried out, "I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!"

This dad does it. He gets it right. He is honest about how much faith he has. And Jesus looks beyond all the doubt and sees that flicker of light, that hint of hope. Yes, Jesus sees that tiny seed of faith and He pulls it to the forefront. And then Jesus commands the evil spirit to leave and of course, it does. In that moment that dad is strengthened, that weak reed becomes unbreakable, the flickering candle flares up into a bright light. He is victorious in Jesus and hope has returned to his heart.

Father in heaven, may our words and our lives point to You and Your glory. Grant us the ability to see the light in those around us, however dim that light may be. And rather than snuffing it out grant us wisdom to fan it into healing, faithful hope. In Jesus Name, AMEN!!!