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!!!

20150811 YOUR KINGDOM YOUR WILL

YOUR KINGDOM YOUR WILL

Matthew 6:10 May Your Kingdom come soon. May Your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.

Jesus has already begun to preach, "Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near." (Mat 4:17) And in Matthew 12:28 He says, “But if I am casting out demons by the Spirit of God, then the Kingdom of God has arrived among you.” In other places Jesus says that the Kingdom is “near” or “already among you.” I won’t take time to go into all of this here, but I believe that Jesus clearly showed that the Kingdom is indeed here and is indeed active. However, not everyone sees it. It is not fully established as it will be one day. Therefore, our prayer is, “Fully establish Your Kingdom here on earth as it is in Heaven.” When His will is done His Kingdom is being established.

This brings us to the part of this verse that we should pray more fervently, “May Your will be done.” God whose ways are far above our ways and whose thoughts are far above our thoughts (Isa 55:9) desires that we would seek His will over our own.

Life is full of trouble. Jesus even promised it would be (John 16:33) but He also promised He had overcome and would be with us. Much of our prayers are for God to get us out of the trials of life when they should be for God’s purposes to be fulfilled in them. Now, I cannot pretend to fully understand, nor interpret God’s purpose in any given trial, but I know He desires that we would be like Christ (Rom 8:29). I know that sometimes He will use us to help others be like Christ (Gal 4:19). And I know that He is not willing that any should perish (2Pet 3:9).

So, knowing these things let us be found faithful in our prayers, crying out to God for His Kingdom to be fully established and for His will to be done even through our suffering, in our suffering and, when it is His will, through sufferings removal. Our brothers and sisters who are imprisoned for the faith often ask us to pray; 1. Not for our release 2. For the salvation of our captors and fellow prisoners 3. For God’s will to be done through our suffering. 4. And that our faith will not fail. It seems they get that God has a purpose in their suffering that goes beyond just setting them free from it.

Father in heaven, fully establish Your Kingdom in my heart, in our hearts and lives and upon this planet. May Your will be done today for Your glory. As John Ortberg says, “Father, bring up there down here.” In Jesus Name, AMEN!!!