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Friday, December 31, 2010

Matthew: Got To Tell Somebody!

# 305 - Today's Living Word comes from Mr 3:18, “Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Cananite; 19 and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.”

Next on our list of the apostles is Matthew. He is also referred to as Levi in other places of Scripture. His biggest claim to fame is he is the writer of the Gospel according to Matthew. We all know him as the tax collector.

He was likely familiar with Jesus before Jesus invited him to be a disciple, and yet that day in which Jesus showed up at Matthews office and invited him to follow Him, he IMMEDIATELY left his job and all it's prestige among the heathen and followed Jesus. (Lk 5:27,28)

He was so excited about the fact that Jesus chose him that he threw a party for all his friends from his old lifestyle and invited Jesus, so his friends could meet the Lamb of God, who had the power to take away their sins! ( Lk 5:29)

This is all we know of Matthew. That his life was changed by Jesus is without question. That he desired others to experience forgiveness and change was also evident by the party that he threw. How fitting that he should become a pillar of the New Testament church.

Matthew, had to tell somebody what Jesus did for him. Has Jesus forgiven and changed you? Anyone you need to tell?


I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word.

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Nathaniel: Check Your Motivation

# 304 - Today we read from Mr 3:18, “Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Cananite; 19 and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.”

Next on our list of the apostles is Bartholomew, (known as Nathanael) In John 1:44-51 we read of how Phillip sought out Nathanael and told him that they had found the Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth, and then invited him to “come and see.”

Nathaniel was puzzled by the reference to Nazareth. He was not aware of any Messiah that was to come out of Nazareth, nonetheless, he had a sincere desire to find the one who was spoken of by Moses and the prophets. So he comes to Jesus and when Jesus saw him coming he said, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no guile.” (Jn 1:47)

What a compliment! Jesus saw the purity of Nathanael's, heart. He was a man of right motives. A great reminder for each of us to check our motives for following and imitating Christ.

If our motives are wrong, we may become victimized by life's circumstances, and when things don't match up to our expectations, our faith could become derailed.

Jesus said in Mt 5:8, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”

Do you want to see God? Keep your motivation pure. Simply stated, “Love Him because He first loved us.” (1 Jn 4:19)

There is no purer motivation than this kind of love. And when God puts the love of Jesus in your heart by grace through faith, you cannot help but be rightly motivated. You will no longer have to pursue purity.....it will overtake you, as you yield to the rule of the Holy Spirit in your life.

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word.

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Philip: Found By Jesus

# 303 - Today's Living Word comes from Mr 3:18, “Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Cananite; 19 and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.”

Next on our list of the pillars of the church is Philip. He is not to be confused with the Philip who was elected as a deacon in the church (Acts 6:5) and then went on to serve as an evangelist in Samaria, (Acts 8:5) and then personally led the Ethiopian eunuch to Christ. (Acts 8:35)

They are two different people.

Philip is a Greek name and may explain why he was the apostle who was approached by some Greeks who wished an audience with Jesus in Jn 12:21.

He was from the same city as the first 4 apostles, (Bethsaida (Jn 1:44) ) and unlike the others who sought out Jesus, he was sought out by Jesus. We are told that “Jesus found him,” (Jn 1:43)

Phillip then found Nathaniel and invited him to “come and see” the Messiah, (Jn 1:46)

Have you noticed that there is a lot of “finding,” “inviting,” and “seeking” going on here as we talk about the gathering of the apostles?

Remember this about faith, whether we find Him, or He finds us, it's the Holy Spirit working through the Word that brings us to faith. And once there, it seems like those who have come to faith, can't help but tell others about it! They too, want their acquaintances to become acquainted with Jesus and His amazing grace!

"Once lost, I have been found, once blind, now I see."

Ps 107:1 Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. 2 Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy,

Have you been touched by the mercy of God and redeemed from your sins? Then say so!

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word.

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Andrew: A Lesson In Humility

# 302 - Today's Living Word comes from Mr 3:18, “Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Cananite; 19 and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.”

If we were to look at the church of Jesus Christ as an actual building, Christ would be the cornerstone, the starting point and the foundation, the first pillar, the other three corner pillars would be Peter, James, and John. The rest of the pillars would be these 9 men, with Judas being a weak pillar that eventually gave way and had to be replaced.

Let's look at the rest of these “lesser known” apostle's and see if we can learn more about them.

Andrew was Peter's brother. If we would use modern church language we would say that Andrew was the one who led Peter to Christ. Jn 1:42 says this about Andrew, “He brought him (Peter) to Christ.

If you look at the other references to Andrew in Scripture, you will see that he was very close to the inner circle of Peter, James, and John, but not quite in it. He is mentioned with the inner circle just one time and that was in Mark 13:3, when the four of them asked Jesus privately about the destruction of the temple.

Imagine that! He led Peter to Christ, and Peter was given a higher place in the pecking order. Did Andrew go in a corner and pout about it? Did he ever grumble about it to others? If he did, we never read about it in Scripture.

I think Andrew is a great example of humility for all of us.

I’m Duane Matz and that’s today’s Living Word.

Monday, December 27, 2010

The Three Amigos

# 301 - Today's Living Word comes from Mr 3:17, “James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James, to whom He gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder.”

After naming Simon as an apostle, the next two appointed are James and John. These three would constitute the inner, inner circle of the twelve. These three amigos were (1) with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration, (2) present at the healing of Peter's mother, (3) present when Jesus raised Jairus's daughter from the dead, (4) present with Him in the Garden of Gethsemane.

These two are also given a nickname by Jesus. Collectively, He called them Boanerges. We aren't told why Jesus called them Sons of Thunder. The word “Boanerges,” literally means commotion. Which could mean that these guys were a little hyper. A little excitable if you will.

Remember, John was the one who tried to stop someone who wasn't with Jesus from casting out demons. ( Mr 9:38) And James and John wanted to send down fire from heaven to destroy the Samaritans. (Luke 9:54) And who can forget their plea to Jesus in Mr 10:37, “Can we sit at Your right hand Jesus? In all three cases, Jesus reprimanded them for not thinking through their requests. Yes these guys were a little rambunctious.

When you think of it, isn't it amazing, how Jesus transformed the instability of all three of these men into pillars of His church. But then Jesus is in the business of transformation. He will transform you if you let Him.

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word.

Friday, December 24, 2010

The Significance of the Naming of Peter

# 300 - Today's Living Word comes from Mr 3:16, “Simon, to whom He gave the name Peter;”

The time has come. Jesus is about to name the twelve who made the final cut if you will. It's interesting to note that this list of Apostles is found in Matthew, and Luke, and both of these lists also lead off with Peter. It would lead one to believe that Jesus probably called out his name first. But even if he didn't, this listing would make Peter the most prominent of the twelve.

Peter is often referred to as “the Rock.” Where did he get such a nickname and what is its significance? When Jesus asked His disciples whom they thought HE was it was Peter who blurted out, “You are the Christ the Son of the living God!.” And Jesus responded by saying, “you are blessed Peter, because this was revealed to you by My Father who is in heaven, and then He gave Him his name: “you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church,”

Peter would no longer be known as Simon, (which means “hearing,”) He will be called Peter, which means “rock.” You see, Simon “was hearing,” and he responded with faith, acknowledging Jesus as the Christ. This acknowledgment is the rock solid confession upon which Jesus will build His church, and it “comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.” (Rom 10:17)

Have you heard? Have you allowed the Holy Spirit working in the Word of God to open your spiritual ears to this truth? Jesus is the Christ! Believe it! Acknowledge Him as Lord and Savior and be saved. Hear and believe!

I'm Duane Matz and that's Today's Living Word.

Thursday, December 23, 2010

The Apostles Have Served Their Purpose

# 299 - Today's Living Word comes from (Mark 3:14-15) Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach, and to have power to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons:”

So Jesus establishes the office which is to be the pillar of His New Testament church....the Apostles. He draws them close that they may be properly trained. His ultimate goal is to send them out to proclaim His Word.

And His plan was to endow them with the same kind of power that He had exhibited when he walked this earth. They would be specially gifted to be able to heal people of their afflictions and cast out demons.

Jesus bestowed this power on His disciples on the Day of Pentecost, and we read about it's first application in the 3rd chapter of Acts when Peter is accosted by a lame man begging for money. “Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give to you; In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” (Acts 3:6)

What was it that Peter had? He had the power to heal, given to him and all the Apostles on the Day of Pentecost by Christ. This power added clout and verification to their message and the Apostles used it wisely as they went into the world to build the Lord's church.

The office of Apostle in it's strictest sense no longer exists. They have served the purposes of our Lord. They have verified their message with signs and wonders and preserved their message in the words of the New Testament. Remember, their message is His message, and we are to heed their words.

You may not be an apostle, but the Lord has gifted you, use your gifts wisely in service to Him and His church, so that the verified message of the Apostles continues to go forth.

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word.

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

The Importance of the Apostles

# 298 - Today's Living Word comes from (Mark 3:14-15) Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach, and to have power to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons:'

The Strong's concordance defines apostle as a delegate. So Jesus appoints or “delegates” these twelve men. Strong's continues the definition with, “specifically an ambassador of the Gospel, officially a commissioner of Christ with miraculous powers.”

The word “apostle comes from another Greek Word that means to set apart, to send out on a mission.” Pretty much sums up what's taking place here.

These twelve (with the exception of Judas, hence the use of the phrase, that He might send them out) would be the pillars of the New Testament church, with Jesus of course, the foundation.

To be a commissioner of Christ is to be so linked with Him, that all that is done by the commissioned is the act of Jesus through the commissioned. Jesus gave them a temporary taste of being such conduits, when he sent them out to preach and heal with the seventy in Luke 10.

The permanent power to preach and heal was given to them on Pentecost. All of this is vital for us to understand so that we may hold a high view of the apostolic teachings found in the New Testament.

Their “New Testament” teachings came directly from Jesus. The New Testament church then “continued steadfastly in these apostle's doctrine, and so should we. Receive their teachings as if they come directly from Jesus, because they do.

Maybe if we would heed ALL of the New Testament teachings, the church wouldn't be in the mess it's in today.

I’m Duane Matz and that’s today’s Living Word.

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Be Prepared and Be Ready

# 297 - Today's Living Word comes from (Mark 3:14) Then He appointed twelve, that they should be with Him.”

The twelve apostles. What sets them apart from the rest of the followers of Jesus? How are they foundational to the church? First of all, apostles are appointed by Jesus. Secondly, they were to men who forsook all in order to spend their time with Jesus.

Even as the disciples who were gathered in the upper room after the ascension of Jesus sought to replace Judas, they used this connection with Jesus as a criteria: (Acts 1:21-22) "Therefore, of these men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, "beginning from the baptism of John to that day when He was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection."

It's interesting that of the 120 persons present in the upper room, there were only two who met that qualification, and the lot fell to Matthias. He didn't make the original starting 12, but his perseverance in following Jesus paid off, and when his name was called off the bench, he was ready.

Sometimes in ministry and in life, we feel like we have been passed over, don't become bitter. Rather be patient, ever learning and ever ready. For you don't know when your name might be called to get into the game.

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word.

Monday, December 20, 2010

Apostles: Appointed By Jesus

# 296 - Today's Living Word comes from (Mark 3:14) Then He appointed twelve, that they should be with Him and that He might send them out to preach, and to have power to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons:”

Although the word “apostle” isn't used here, all the elements of what it means to be an apostle are present. First of all an apostle was to be appointed by Jesus. Some may argue that Matthias (the man selected to replace Judas after the ascension of Jesus) did not meet that criteria, however, he did meet the other criteria and his selection was ultimately in the hands of Jesus. You can read about this incident in the first chapter of the Book of Acts.

The disciples were gathered in the upper room, praying, and waiting for the promise of the Holy Spirit. Peter had obviously been reflecting in the Psalms, (by the way, it's a good idea to bring your Bible with you when you pray because prayer is supposed to be a two-way conversation) and realized that Judas needed to be replaced. Acts 1:20 says,

"For it is written in the book of Psalms: 'Let his dwelling place be desolate, And let no one live in it'; and, 'Let another take his office.'

Notice too, that they didn't dilly dally. God's Word told them to replace Judas and they set about to do it immediately. Oh that we would learn to be so prompt in our response to God's Word!

Well, they narrowed their selection down to two candidates and then, “they prayed and said, "You, O Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which of these two You have chosen "to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas by transgression fell,” And they cast their lots, and the lot fell on Matthias. And he was numbered with the eleven apostles. (v24,25,26)

With this prayer, and all the preliminary work of screening for the proper candidates, and the disciples trust in the Word of God which states, “The lot is cast into the lap, But its every decision is from the LORD. (Prov 16:33) there can be no doubt that Matthias was indeed appointed by Jesus.

There is a great lesson here for you and I. Search the Scriptures for guidance in all our decisions, then come to the Lord in prayer because “He knows!” He will guide you into the right decision. And if we are presented with several equally good choices, it's okay to prayerfully and carefully cast lots for the final decision.

Just remember....it's not, “two out of three?” and this method is never to be abused or taken lightly. When lots are used this way, they have passed through the holy hands of Jesus.

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word.

Friday, December 17, 2010

Who Are the 144,000?

# 295 - Today's Living Word comes from Mr 3:13,14, And he went up on the mountain and called to Him those He Himself wanted, And they came to Him. Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach,

Have you ever wondered, “Why twelve?” Where have we heard that number before in Scripture? The first thing that comes to mind are the twelve tribes of Israel. Simply put these tribes represent the Old Testament church The twelve Apostles then, would represent the New Testament Church.

In Revelation 14:3 we read of the 144,000 who are redeemed from the earth. Much has been written and speculated about concerning the identity of these 144,000. But if you multiply the 12 tribes by the 12 apostles you get 144, and if you multiply 144 times one thousand (which is a symbolic number for the greatest completeness) you get 144,000. This number then symbolizes every last redeemed soul that will spend eternity in heaven with Jesus. This number is the sum total of all believers of all time.

The song says, “Lord, I want to be in that number, when the saints go marching in.” Are you in that number? Have you bowed your knee to Jesus and in faith received Him as your Lord and Savior?

(See the September Archive and the blog entitled (“What Does It Mean To Believe?”)

I’m Duane Matz and that’s today’s Living Word.

Thursday, December 16, 2010

The Greatest Hindrance To Saving Faith

# 294 - Today's Living Word comes from Mr 3:13,14, “And he went up on the mountain and called to Him those He Himself wanted, And they came to Him. Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach,”

This is church business. Jesus and His disciples go into the mountain, away from the world. Once there, and in the presence of the witness of His church, (the disciples) He chooses twelve apostles from their midst.

Don't overlook the little phrase, “And they came to Him.” Jesus calls, but we must respond.

In answering His call, these men became models for all who would follow Christ. They became forsakers. They would forsake all just to be with Him. And as He would say later on in Luke 14:33, “So likewise whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.”

(This lack of a willingness to forsake all is perhaps the greatest hindrance to saving faith in Jesus. Most people are quick to acknowledge the existence of God, but few are willing to give up their own existence. They mistakenly believe they can have the best of both worlds.)

Now Jesus had a very special task in mind for the twelve, and he has a special task or tasks in mind for you and I as well. But we will never know what those tasks are until we first (1) respond to His call and come to Him, then (2) forsake all, that is, be willing to prioritize our lives in such a way that being with Him is the most important thing in our lives.

Remember this, especially at those times when the cares of the world and the desires of our flesh would attempt to pull us away. Come to Him...fully!

A couple of Keith Green lyrics come to mind here: First of all from To Obey Is Better Than Sacrifice, “ To obey is better than sacrifice I want more than Sundays and Wednesday nights. Cause if you can't come to me everyday, then don't bother coming at all”

And from Make My Life A Prayer To You I want to die, and let you give,Your life to me, so I might live,And share the hope you gave to me, The love that set me free,

Make it your song today.

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word.

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

When's the Last Time You Pulled An All Nighter?

# 293 - Today's Living Word comes from Mr 3:13, And he went up on the mountain and called to Him those He Himself wanted, And they came to Him.”

This is a very important time for Jesus and His church. He is about to appoint the 12 apostles. These apostles would ultimately be responsible for passing along the teachings of Jesus to His church and for seeing that the Gospel would continue to go forth after the ascension of Jesus. Some would be more successful than others, one would fail completely and even betray Jesus, but all would fulfill His purposes.

By this time, Jesus had acquired quite a following. He had quite a few “students,” or disciples. But only 12 would be selected for the more personal intensive training that He had in mind. 12 would become the pillars of the New Testament church.

So how did He make the choices? Did He pour over reports from the personnel department? Did he say “eenie meenie minee mo?” Scissors, paper, rock? No! We read in Luke 6:12 that “He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.”

When's the last time you or your church pulled an “all nighter” with God? Or have we run out of important decisions to be made?

Prayer meetings, prayer vigils, seem to fading from the American church scene, and so too, it would seem, is the power and anointing of God.

I’m Duane Matz and that’s today’s Living Word.

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Demons and Frogs

# 292 - Today we read from Mr 3:11,12. “And the unclean spirits, whenever they saw Him, fell down before Him and cried out, “You are the Son of God.” But He sternly warned them that they should not make Him known.”

I wonder what it sounded like when demons spoke through their victims, acknowledging Jesus as the Son of God? There is a big difference between speaking in a normal tone and “crying” out.

When Jesus entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, the crowds “cried” out, they raised their voices in praise. That is one of the uses of the word “cried.” But it also means to croak as a raven or to shriek. This would seem more fitting here for demons and is in line with the description of reports we hear from missionaries and their dealings with the demon possessed in foreign lands.

Not only that but, when we hear the word “croak,” we think of frogs, and frogs are used to typify demons in Scripture. In Re 16:13, we read, “And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.”

No wonder Jesus sternly warned them not to speak. If there is to be any proclamation of Jesus as the Son of God, let it be done by the Holy Spirit, not by screeching frogs.

I’m Duane Matz and that’s today’s Living Word.

Monday, December 13, 2010

No Room In the Baptized Soul For Demons

# 291 - Today we read from Mr 3:11,12. “And the unclean spirits, whenever they saw Him, fell down before Him and cried out, “You are the Son of God.” But He sternly warned them that they should not make Him known.”

Demonic possession. A fallen angel, a slave of Satan, residing in the soul of a human being and tormenting that person, placing them in a living hell on earth. They manifest themselves in all manner of painful maladies and behaviors embodied in sin. They are capable of controlling the actions of the body that they occupy.

One thing they are not able to do and that is to deny God or His authority over them. Mark states it well here, “WHENEVER” they saw Jesus, they were compelled to fall down at His feet. Why? Because Jesus is God!

This same Jesus now lives in the souls of all baptized believers. There is no room in the soul for the Holy Spirit and a demon. They cannot co-exist in the same soul. That's the good news we read of in Acts 2:38, “Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

O you may be oppressed externally by demonic influences, but you cannot be possessed, for He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

I’m Duane Matz and that’s today’s Living Word.

Friday, December 10, 2010

They Weren't Coming To Jesus With Hangnails

# 290 - Today's Living Word comes from Mr 3:9,10 “And He told His disciples that a small boat should be kept ready for Him because of the multitude, lest they should crush Him. For He healed many, so that as many as had afflictions pressed about Him to touch Him.”

I don't think we can fully appreciate this scene. These people were so desperate for relief from their maladies that they actually put Jesus in jeopardy of being crushed. He was like a door in a crowded movie theater during a fire. And so He had a boat at the ready in case he needed it to get some space.

Why the crush? Why the desperation? We get a clue from the Greek word used here for affliction. It literally means the contact of a whip. These people weren't coming to Jesus with hangnails.

Most likely, you have never felt the pain of a leather whip slicing open your skin. The closest we ever get to having our skin flayed is through an annoying paper cut or a shaving mishap. Well try multiplying the sharpness and duration of that pain by a thousand!

Now, these people weren't there because they had literally been whipped, but they were there because of the intense pain they were feeling. Whether it was brought on by physical, mental, or emotional problems. The pain and the scarring were real, and they clamored for the only one who could give them relief.

How's your pain these days? How's your emotional scarring? All pain and all emotional scarring is a result of sin. Either our own sin or the sin of others. Come to Jesus for your relief. Isa 53:5 says, “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.”

May you experience His healing today.

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word.

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Hunger For His Touch

# 289 - Today's Living Word comes from Mr 3:7-9 “ But Jesus withdrew with His disciples to the sea. And a great multitude from Galilee followed Him, and from Judea and Jerusalem and Idumea and beyond the Jordan; and those from Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, when they heard how many things He was doing, came to Him. And HE told His disciples that a small boat should be kept ready for Him because of the multitude, lest they should crush Him.”

While the Pharisees and Herodians are off plotting to destroy Jesus, He and His disciples hop into a boat on the Sea of Galilee so that they would be out of harms way.

The Pharisees have HAD enough of Him, but the people can't GET enough of Him, and they follow Him from shore. The word was out and the Holy Spirit's mere mention of all these different places tells us that people came from all over to experience the touch of Jesus.

Can you blame them? The lame were walking, the deaf were hearing, the blind were seeing, people imprisoned in their own bodies by demons were being set free!

These people were focused, determined. They were willing to stumble around a very large lake just for His touch. How far are you willing to go for a spiritual touch from Jesus?

Knowing His love, knowing His power, knowing His wisdom, that comes to us through the digesting of His Word, I am amazed at how easily our flesh wins the battle of skipping daily quiet time in His Word.

Keith Green sang a very convicting song about the apathetic church many years ago called “Asleep In the Light,” and one of the lines of the song was this: “How can you be so dead, when you've been so well fed? Jesus rose from the grave and you, you can't even get out of bed.”

May I encourage you today to set your alarm just fifteen minutes earlier every day, then get up and find a quiet spot in your house where you can curl up with a cup of coffee, a Bible, a notebook, and Jesus.

It takes just 40 days to establish a habit, and you'll be amazed at the difference this habit will make in your life. He's not asking us to stumble around a lake to meet with Him.......just stumble out of bed.

I’m Duane Matz and that’s today’s Living Word.

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

But Jesus Withdrew

# 288 - Today's Living Word comes from Mark 3:7 “But Jesus withdrew with His disciples to the sea.

But Jesus withdrew,” The Pharisees were furious with Jesus, and in there anger they wanted to destroy Him, but Jesus did not give them opportunity to vent their fury. He slips away and it reminds me of another time that another Herod had sought to kill Jesus, but Joseph being warned in a dream fled to Egypt.

God is always at least one step ahead of the evil one. He will determine when His Son will go to the cross and no one else. But why flee? Why not just supernaturally confound the enemy?

I don't know, but maybe, the Lord was trying to teach us the usefulness of being prudent. Prov 22:3 says, “A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself,” In Is 26:20,21 we read, “Come, My people, enter your chambers, and shut your doors behind you; Hide yourself, as it were for a little moment, until the indignation (the fury) is past. For behold the Lord comes out of His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity.”

It's okay to take safety measures to protect yourself from the fury of others. It's not only prudent for yourself, but you may even prevent those who are bent on doing you harm from rash behavior that will prompt God to “come out of His place” and “punish” them “for their iniquity.”

I’m Duane Matz and that’s today’s Living Word.

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Gossip and Thou Shalt Not Kill

# 287 - Today's Living Word comes from Mark 3:6, “Then the Pharisees went out and immediately plotted with the Herodians against Him, how they might destroy Him.”

Do you have to physically kill someone to destroy them? The Greek word used here definitely speaks of physical destruction, and of course that's why the Pharisees decide to buddy up with the Herodians. They had the pull to get it done.

If you doubt that, think of what Herod was able to do to John the Baptist. But the word destroy here can also mean to mar. And this was still another tactic the Pharisees used in their attempts to destroy Jesus. They tried name calling, accusing Him of being a winebibber. They tried to alienate Him from others by forcing Him to take sides. “Is it lawful to pay tribute to Caesar or not?” It was their life's mission to seek to ruin His reputation with the people and thus “destroy” Him.
When all that failed, they resorted to killing Him.

Do you see now, why Jesus equates character assassination with murder? “Whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment, but I say to you whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment.” (Mt 5:21,22)

Think about that before your tongue begins to wag with others around the electronic water cooler of Facebook, Twitter, or Myspace, or over the back fence, or in your church. Think about that before you let loose with words designed to destroy someone's character.

Luther's explanation of the 8th Commandment says it best, “ We should fear and love God so that we do not deceitfully lie about, betray. Backbite, nor slander our neighbor BUT DEFEND HIM, SPEAK WELL OF HIM, AND PUT THE MOST CHARITABLE CONSTRUCTION ON ALL THAT HE DOES.

I’m Duane Matz and that’s today’s Living Word.

Monday, December 6, 2010

Isn't It Amazing How Sin Blinds?

# 286 - Today's Living Word comes from Mark 3:6, “Then the Pharisees went out and immediately plotted with the Herodians against Him, how they might destroy Him.”

With the words of Jesus, “is it lawful on the Sabbath to save life or kill,” still ringing in their ears, the Pharisees immediately plot with the Herodians to destroy Jesus!

Isn't it amazing how sin blinds? How do you react when sin is pointed out in your life? Do you allow the Word of God to penetrate your heart to the point where you desire to change your thinking, (repent) or do you seek to remove those convicting words from your ears?

Just listen to these Pharisees! Using the pretense of Jesus violating the Sabbath, they IMMEDIATELY plot ways to destroy Him. Who does this Guy think He is, to come in here and telling us to change the ways we have come to accept as biblical?

And because these people have come to accept the unbiblical as biblical, they don't even flinch at the thought of destroying someone who gets in their way. Doesn't thou shalt not kill hold any water with these people?

Not anymore, because they have accepted unbiblical practices for years. This should be a huge warning for the church today, for we too have come to accept that which is unbiblical, setting us up for the same spiritual blindness and hardening of the heart that these Pharisees were experiencing.

Oh God, give us hearts that are eager to receive Your correction from our wayward ways and let the blessings of Your forgiveness restore our souls.

Ps 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.

I'm Duane Matz and that’s today’s Living Word.

Friday, December 3, 2010

The Withered Soul

# 285 - Today's Living Word comes from Mark 3:5, “He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand,” And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored as whole as the other.”

Jesus had just reached out (stretched out) to the Pharisees, one by one, giving them an opportunity to see things His way. But instead of responding to Him with hearts eager to receive Him, they pulled back.

Now, Jesus turns to the man with the withered hand and asks him to “stretch” out his crippled hand. The man responded to the invitation of Jesus, stretched out his hand and it was restored.

The Greek word used here for restored is beyond my pronunciation skills, but it is a very interesting word. It means to “reconstitute.” In one sense the man's withered hand was “reconstituted,” restored to wholeness, but the word “reconstitute,” is also used to describe the ministry of John the Baptist!

Jesus said in Mt 17:11, Elijah (John the Baptist) is truly coming first, and will restore, (reconstitute) all things.”

How did John do this? Well, he preached repentance. As he preached the Law, the thoughts of many were “reordered, or reconstituted if you will. People were convinced of their sin and they saw their need for forgiveness.

Jesus desires to “reconstitute” to restore you to spiritual wholeness. He desires to forgive you of your sins. He invites you today to stretch out your withered soul to Him, a soul that has been paralyzed by sin. Will you respond in faith as the man with the withered hand did and be restored to the beauty that God intended for you or will you pull back as the Pharisees did and just wither away?

I’m Duane Matz and that’s today’s Living Word.

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Hardening of the Spiritual Arteries

# 284 - Today's Living Word comes from Mark 3:5, “So when He had looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the hardness of their hearts,”

In the physical realm, hardening of the arteries is very serious and if not corrected can lead to death. In the spiritual realm, hardening of the heart is also very serious and the end is spiritual death. It is vital that we learn to keep our hearts pliable and moldable in accordance with the Word of God.

The psalmist says in Ps 96:8-11, “Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, and as in the day of trial in the wilderness. When your fathers tested Me. They proved Me though they saw My work. For forty years I was grieved with that generation and said, “it is a people who go astray in their hearts, and they do not know My ways,” So I swore in My wrath, they shall not enter My rest.”

There are serious consequences when our hearts begin to set up as concrete. Hardening of the heart occurs when we become so set in our ways that we refuse to allow the Word of God to change our actions and opinions. Do you feel like you pretty much know it all when it comes to living according to God's Word? Be careful! Statistics on abortion, fornication, divorce, remarriage, giving to the poor, among professing Christians tell a different story. Keep your heart open to change. Always be willing to receive God's gift of repentance.

The whole idea of repentance is to “think differently.” Think differently about what? Think differently about who Jesus is and think differently about the veracity of His Word.

Mt 7:21 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word.

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Squirming In Church?

# 283 Today's Living Word comes from Mark 3:5, “So when He had looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the hardness of their hearts,”

How would've you liked to have been one of the Pharisees in that room at this moment? Jesus had just asked them what is more important to them, extending mercy or leaving this man in his need? He was greeted with silence. And so He takes the time to “look around at them” and He meets the eyes of every single person in that room.

Perhaps this has happened to you in church, the pastor comes to a point in the sermon and his eyes meet your eyes and you feel like he is talking to you alone, and you want him to look away because you have just been convicted of some sin in your life.

Well, Praise the Lord! There is still some spiritual life in your heart!

Not so with the Pharisees! The Good Shepherd is giving every single Pharisee an opportunity to see the light, to see the wrongness in their attitude, and HE is greeted by silence. And know this: Jesus would've loved someone, anyone to answer Him audibly, “Heal the man Jesus! Show him mercy!” But He was looking even deeper than the lips, He was looking at the heart, and this is what grieved Him. It was the lack of response in the individual heart to His Word.

Oh God, make our hearts tender to Your Word!

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word.

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

The Indoor Version of the Good Samaritan

# 282 – Today's Living Word comes from Mark 3:3,4 “Then He said to the man who had the withered hand, “Step forward.” And he said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill.”

The man with the withered hand is told by Jesus to “step forward.” Jesus wanted him to be front and center. He is to serve as a visible example for the Pharisees and for us as well. See the withered hand? See the need? You can't miss it, it is right before your very eyes.

Will you respond to that need or will you withhold mercy? What can YOU do to extend mercy to this individual? Jesus is able to heal the hand and HE will, but He challenges us here to face the age old problem of apathy, fueled by legalism. This is the parable of the Good Samaritan brought inside the church walls.

When faced with the needs of others, such as a withered hand or any other kind of malady, the question is, will we do good, or look for ways to justify our walking on the other side of the road.

To ignore the need, to withhold mercy is to do evil. The Holy Spirit speaking through James puts it this way: Jas 4:17 “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.”

You and I may not be called upon to heal someone, but you and I are called upon to extend mercy. You and I will likely encounter someone in need of mercy today. Will we extend it, or look for a legalistic excuse to avoid it?

Are we really looking to be legalistic? Do we really want to follow the Law? “The commandments are summed up in this word: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the Law.” (From Romans 13:9,10)

I’m Duane Matz and that’s today’s Living Word.

Monday, November 29, 2010

God's Got His Fingers In His Ears

# 281 – Today's Living Word comes from Mark 3:1,2 “And He entered the synagogue again, and a man was there who had a withered hand. So they watched Him closely, whether He would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse Him.”

Still another Sabbath incident! No pun intended, but don't you wish these Pharisees would give this Sabbath thing a rest? As I read this I am drawn to two words: “Closely,” and “accuse.”

Did you know that at this very minute you and I are being watched very closely, and one of the reasons we are being watched is to be accused? Yup! The devil and his demons are always on the prowl, looking for ways to separate us from Christ, and one of their methods is accusation.

They will nit-pick, as the Pharisees were doing here with Jesus, looking for some legalistic angle to get you to doubt your salvation, or they will try to stir up memories of your past sins causing you to doubt God's ability to wipe your slate clean.

If you struggle with these accusations remember this from Rev. 12:10, “for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.”

Cast down from where? From heaven, where, until the death of Jesus he had God's ear. (read the first two chapters of Job and you'll see what I mean. Please note his accusations against Job.) But when Jesus died and paid for all the sins of the world, God tossed him out on his ear! With all sins paid for there is no one to accuse!

In a nutshell, that means that even though the accuser is ranting and raving against you on earth, as a believer, God's got His fingers in His ears and singing a tune. (la la la la) He's not hearing any of it. Cling to God's promises of forgiveness through faith in Jesus Christ.

But beware, because on the Last Day (Judgment Day) the devil will have one final opportunity to make his case against you, and only those who are found in Christ will be spared.

“Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. (Mr 16:16)

I’m Duane Matz and that’s today’s Living Word.

God's Got His Fingers In His Ears

# 281 – Today's Living Word comes from Mark 3:1,2 “And He entered the synagogue again, and a man was there who had a withered hand. So they watched Him closely, whether He would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse Him.”

Still another Sabbath incident! No pun intended, but don't you wish these Pharisees would give this Sabbath thing a rest? As I read this I am drawn to two words: “Closely,” and “accuse.”

Did you know that at this very minute you and I are being watched very closely, and one of the reasons we are being watched is to be accused? Yup! The devil and his demons are always on the prowl, looking for ways to separate us from Christ, and one of their methods is accusation.

They will nit-pick, as the Pharisees were doing here with Jesus, looking for some legalistic angle to get you to doubt your salvation, or they will try to stir up memories of your past sins causing you to doubt God's ability to wipe your slate clean.

If you struggle with these accusations remember this from Rev. 12:10, “for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.”

Cast down from where? From heaven, where, until the death of Jesus he had God's ear. (read the first two chapters of Job and you'll see what I mean. Please note his accusations against Job.) But when Jesus died and paid for all the sins of the world, God tossed him out on his ear! With all sins paid for there is no one to accuse!

In a nutshell, that means that even though the accuser is ranting and raving against you on earth, as a believer, God's got His fingers in His ears and singing a tune. (la la la la) He's not hearing any of it. Cling to God's promises of forgiveness through faith in Jesus Christ.

But beware, because on the Last Day (Judgment Day) the devil will have one final opportunity to make his case against you, and only those who are found in Christ will be spared.

“Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. (Mr 16:16)

I’m Duane Matz and that’s today’s Living Word.

Friday, November 26, 2010

Jesus Is Our Sabbath

# 280 Today’s Living Word comes from Mark 2:27 And He said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. 28 "Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath."

It is just as Moses said in Exodus 16:29, “See! For the Lord has given you the Sabbath!” The Sabbath, the day of rest was made for man by God. It was His gift to Adam! It is still His gift to us today.

The Sabbath and everything about it pointed to Jesus, and when Jesus (the Son of Man) came and fulfilled His mission, the legal requirements were no longer necessary.

The word Sabbath means to “desist from exertion,” You see in the Old Testament, it was necessary to exert one’s self to follow the ceremonial Law because it was a display of trust in God’s promise of a coming Savior. But now that Jesus has come, we no longer need to exert our self. We just need to rest in what He accomplished for us on Calvary.

This is what the command “Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy is all about. Remember that Jesus has done it all! You must not add work to your salvation. Keep His rest holy, or separate from your works! It is grace alone, works are only a fruit of the joy and peace we find as we rest in Him!

I’m Duane Matz and that’s today’s Living Word.

Jesus IS Our Sabbath

# 280 Today’s Living Word comes from Mark 2:27 And He said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. 28 "Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath."

It is just as Moses said in Exodus 16:29, “See! For the Lord has given you the Sabbath!” The Sabbath, the day of rest was made for man by God. It was His gift to Adam! It is still His gift to us today.

The Sabbath and everything about it pointed to Jesus, and when Jesus (the Son of Man) came and fulfilled His mission, the legal requirements were no longer necessary.

The word Sabbath means to “desist from exertion,” You see in the Old Testament, it was necessary to exert one’s self to follow the ceremonial Law because it was a display of trust in God’s promise of a coming Savior. But now that Jesus has come, we no longer need to exert our self. We just need to rest in what He accomplished for us on Calvary.

This is what the command “Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy is all about. Remember that Jesus has done it all! You must not add work to your salvation. Keep His rest holy, or separate from your works! It is grace alone, works are only a fruit of the joy and peace we find as we rest in Him!

I’m Duane Matz and that’s today’s Living Word.

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Be Thankful For the Thorns

1Th 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.


I want to share a story with you today that came across my desk some nine years ago. It’s called the Thanksgiving Special:

Nancy walked into the florist shop feeling as cold as the November breeze. Her life had been going along just fine but then in the 4th month of her pregnancy, a minor automobile accident took the life of her unborn child. The child would’ve arrived sometime during this Thanksgiving week. But now, she felt so empty.

If that weren’t enough her husband was facing possible job transfer to another state. Then her sister, who’s holiday visits were always a highlight called to say that she wouldn’t be able to make it this year. Nancy was just not in the holiday spirit this year.

To make it worse, a close friend of hers infuriated her just a couple of days ago by suggesting that her grief was a God-given path to maturity that would allow her to empathize with others who suffer. Who did this high and mighty friend think she was????? Had she lost a child?? No! She had no idea what Nancy was feeling. Thanksgiving? Thankful for what? For a careless truck driver whose truck was hardly scratched when he rear-ended her? For an airbag that saved her life but took that of her child?

Just then the clerk interrupted her thoughts with a “Good morning, can I help you?

Uh, .....I need an arrangement.

“For Thanksgiving”

Yes please,

Do you want beautiful but ordinary? a harvest theme? or are you looking for something that conveys gratitude? If so may I suggest the Thanksgiving Special?


Nancy couldn’t believe the next words that came out of her mouth. She found herself sharing her story of grief with this perfect stranger, and then apologizing for dumping all her troubles on the clerk, but the clerk said, “Oh, I have the perfect arrangement for you!” But before she could explain another customer came into the shop.

Hi Barbara! I’ll be out with your order shortly. She whisked into the back room and soon appeared with an arrangement of greenery, bows, and long-stemmed thorny roses............only, the ends of the rose stems were neatly snipped off.....there were no flowers.

Nancy couldn’t believe it, but even more she couldn’t believe Barbara’a reaction.

“Oh these are just beautiful!” You’d think after three years of getting the special I wouldn’t be as moved , but its happening again. My family will love this arrangement.” And she walked out the door very pleased.

Nancy couldn’t remain silent.....’Uh.....that lady just paid you money and left with no flowers!

Right, the clerk said, I cut off the flowers.”

Off?

Yep, that’s the Thanksgiving Special.

But why do people pay for that?

DO you really want to know?

Yes I do.

Barbara came to my shop 3 years ago feeling pretty much the way you are feeling today. She thought she had very little to be thankful for. She had lost her father to cancer, the family business was failing, her son was into drugs, and she was facing major surgery.

That same year, I had lost my husband. I took over full responsibility for running the business, and for the first time in my life I was going to be marking the holidays alone. No family nearby and too great a debt to allow for any travel. I was very depressed.

What did you do?

I learned to be thankful for the thorns.

For the thorns?

Yes, the rough things in life. Oh I was quick to thank God for the good things in my life, but very slow to say thanks for the tough things. It took time for me to learn that the dark times are important too.

I always enjoyed the “roses” of life but it took thorns to show me the beauty of God’s comfort. . The Bible says that God comforts us when we’re afflicted and from His consolation, we learn to comfort others. (2Co 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,
4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.)

Nancy gasped audibly, “Why that’s what my friend was trying to tell me, but she just made me mad! I guess the truth is I really don’t want comfort. I’ve lost a baby and I’m angry with God!

Just then another customer came in.

Hey Phil, the clerk said are you here for the yearly special?

You bet I am. The clerk handed the thorny arrangement to him and he joyfully exclaimed, “Oh my wife will love these!”

Nancy asked, “These are for your wife?”

Oh, yea. 4 years ago my wife and I nearly divorced. After 40 years, we were in a real mess, but we slogged through, problem by rotten problem. Today our marriage is stronger than ever. Last year when I stopped in here I was a little down in the dumps and that’s when I found out about the Thanksgiving special. My wife and I decided to label each thorny stem for the different thorny situations we have encountered. It’s becoming a tradition at our house. The man left the floral shop with a little more bounce in his step.

Nancy, looked at the clerk and said, “I don’t know if I can be thankful for the thorns in my life.

The clerk replied, “Well, my experience has been that thorns make roses more precious. We treasure God’s providential care more during trouble than at any other time. Don’t forget.....Jesus wore a crown of thorns so that we might know His love.......I’ve learned to never resent thorns.”

Tears rolled down Nancy’s cheeks. For the first time since the accident she loosened her grip on her resentment. Between sobs she managed to say, “I’ll take 12 long-stemmed thorns please.”

I hoped you would, every time you see them appreciate the good and the bad times, for all are in God’s hands.

How much do I owe you.

Nothing, the first year is always free and I always attach this card. It is a saying from George Matheson, Read it!

“My God, I have never thanked You for my thorns. I have thanked You a thousand times for my roses, but never once for my thorns. Teach me the glory of the cross I bear. Teach me to value my thorns. Show me that I have climbed to You by the path of pain. Show me that my tears have made my rainbow.

Happy Thanksgiving Nancy!

Nancy smiled and opened the door Happy Thanksgiving she said, and took her first step toward hope and healing.

And Happy Thanksgiving to you! May this little story help all of us in our journeys of hope and healing.

Duane

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Mercy Trumps Judgment

# 279 Today’s Living Word comes from Mark 2:25,26 “But He said to them, "Have you never read what David did when he was in need and hungry, he and those with him: "how he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the showbread, which is not lawful to eat, except for the priests, and also gave some to those who were with him?"

Jesus gives the Pharisees something to chew on and it wasn't showbread. He says, “you are upset with My disciples because they have violated the ordinances associated with the Sabbath, but what about David?

There was a time when he and his men were hungry and he went into the temple and ate the showbread. The showbread was twelve loaves that were placed on a gold covered table in the Holy Place every Sabbath. When they were removed they were to be eaten only by the priests according to God’s CEREMONIAL Law.

In this instance, the bread had served it’s sacred purpose and was available so David and his men ate it. It would be like some very hungry people coming to your church on a communion Sunday and all you had to give them to eat was the communion elements. What would you do? Mercy demands that you give them what you have.

God, in His mercy was okay with that, how much more should we be okay with it? James 2:13 says, “Mercy triumphs over judgment.”

I’m Duane Matz and that’s today’s Living Word.

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

The Gift of the Sabbath

# 278 Today’s Living Word comes from Mark 2:23-24 “Now it happened that He went through the grainfields on the Sabbath; and as they went His disciples began to pluck the heads of grain. And the Pharisees said to Him, "Look, why do they do what is not lawful on the Sabbath?"

What? A mere picking of a few heads of grain is a violation of the Sabbath Day? That's work?????? Where did the Pharisees get this crazy idea?

They got it from Exodus 20:10 which says that no work should be done on the Sabbath, and from Exodus 16:22 in which the people were commanded to gather enough manna on the day before the Sabbath so that they would have food to eat on the Sabbath.

God took a break from the kitchen on the Sabbath to emphasize the importance of a day of rest. Exodus 16:25 says, “Then Moses said, "Eat that today, for today is a Sabbath to the LORD; today you will not find it in the field.”

Was God being mean? Not at all, because in making the children eat that leftover manna, He wrapped up a gift that we would do well to open up in our hectic paced world today. The gift of rest. Moses said in Exodus 16:29, “See! For the Lord has given you the Sabbath!”

The Lord has what? The Lord has GIVEN! The Sabbath is a gift! It has been given to you by God as a graceful opportunity to rest, and it should also serve as a reminder that we can find our eternal rest in Jesus, for as He said in Mr 2:28, “He is the Lord of the Sabbath. (The Lord of rest)

I am old enough to remember simpler days in this country when the unwritten rule of Sunday reserved that day for church and family gatherings............you know, looking back, I can see why God calls it a gift!

I’m Duane Matz and that’s today’s Living Word.

Monday, November 22, 2010

Providing For the Needy

# 277 Today’s Living Word comes from Mark 2:23,24, “Now it happened that He went through the grain fields on the Sabbath; and as they went His disciples began to pluck the heads of grain. And the Pharisees said to Him, "Look, why do they do what is not lawful on the Sabbath?"

Make no mistake about it...the disciples were hungry. This was no afternoon snack of granola. There was a merciful provision in Mosaic law that allowed for the hungry to pick grain from a farmers field. This privilege was not to be abused, it was just a stop-gap measure for relief of hunger. Deuteronomy 23:25 reads:

"When you come into your neighbor's standing grain, you may pluck the heads with your hand, but you shall not use a sickle on your neighbor's standing grain.”

This was the equivalent of our modern day food pantries and churches would do well to make similar provisions for the poor today. The poor need a place where they can meet their immediate need to satisfy their hunger. Furthermore, giving to the poor is one of the three spiritual disciplines mentioned in the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus said, “WHEN (not if) you give to the needy.” (Mt 6:2)

At the same time we must gently warn the poor....don't bring your sickle, (don’t abuse the system.) Take just what you need and if you able bodied, continue to earnestly seek legitimate employment.

And if you are an able-bodied follower of Jesus Christ, you ought to be connected and involved with a local congregation who will not only provide for your emergency needs, but will seek to provide opportunities for you to “work for your food.” As Paul said in 2 Thessalonians 3:10, “If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. “

I’m Duane Matz and that’s today’s Living Word.

Friday, November 19, 2010

Don't Be Left Holding the Bag

# 276 Today’s Living Word comes from Mark 2:22 "And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine bursts the wineskins, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But new wine must be put into new wineskins."

Jesus uses still another example to show the necessity of breaking free from the traditional ceremonial law and works of the Pharisees and relying on His grace alone for salvation.

Putting new wine into an old container will cause the old container to burst because the old container no longer has any give in it, and the fermenting activity of the new wine will cause the container to burst resulting loss of wine and the container.

That’s the trouble with salvation by tradition, ceremony, and works...it has no give in it, and those who rely on it will be left holding an empty bag. Ceremonial traditions can be a beautiful way to express worship, but beware of the trap of rigidity. Never allow ceremony, tradition, or works to become a substitute for a personal relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ.

Are we saved by the overflowing grace of God............. or by unbending rules, ceremonies, and traditions of men?

Ephesians 2:8, 9 says, “ For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.

I’m Duane Matz and that’s today’s Living Word.

Thursday, November 18, 2010

The Old and New Garment

# 275 Today’s Living Word comes from Mark 2:21 "No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; or else the new piece pulls away from the old, and the tear is made worse.

From the matter of fasting Jesus gently reminds His audience that things are going to have to be different now that He has arrived with the Gospel. The old garment that He speaks of is the religious practices of the day. The formalism and outward observances that had become a substitute for a personal relationship with God and thus had to be discarded completely.

Adherence to religious duties had created a system of self-righteousness that had to be replaced by a brand new garment. It won’t do to take a little part of Jesus’ teachings and try to patch the old system. You cannot co-mingle Law and Gospel! Since we are saved by grace through faith, we must continue to live by grace and faith.

Jesus has fulfilled the ceremonial Law perfectly, and so when we don Him in baptism, ( Ga 3:27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.) we are clothed in His seamless garment of righteousness. Nothing of the old is lost, it is just swallowed up in the new. The new that no longer looks to superficial ceremonies and duties for it’s righteousness, but to Him alone.

I'm Duane Matz and that’s today’s Living Word.

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Fasting Before Commissioning

# 274 Today's Living Word comes from Mark 2:18 “The disciples of John and of the Pharisees were fasting.”

One final benefit of fasting that we will talk about is fasting for commissioning. We read of it in the Book of Acts. It was the practice of Paul and Barnabas to appoint elders in their newly planted churches. Acts 14:23 says, “And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.” Look what the church at Antioch did before they sent them off on their mission trip, “”Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.” (Acts 13:3)

Most churches today still practice praying and laying on of hands at commissioning services, but I honestly have never heard of any church engaging in a FAST before such ceremonies. This should not be so! If this practice was good enough for our church fathers, it should be good enough for us.

The next time your church is engaged in a commissioning, why not call on the congregation to purposefully fast that morning thereby giving the newly commissioned a spiritual jump start in their new area of ministry.

I’m Duane Matz and that’s today’s Living Word.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Fasting For Assurance of Salvation

# 273 Today’s Living Word comes from Mark 2:18 “The disciples of John and of the Pharisees were fasting.” Mark 2:18

You never know what might happen as you practice the spiritual discipline of fasting. In Acts 10, we read of a Gentile named Cornelius. In Acts 10:2, we read that he was “a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always.”

Here was a religious man. He does all the right things, but something is missing. Has he been devout enough? Has he given enough alms? Has he prayed enough? This is the lot of the Christ-less existence. Namely the lack of ASSURANCE OF SALVATION. Such a person is always wondering, “did I do enough to please God to be saved?” Or even worse, they arrive at the conclusion that they are basically a good person who God in no wise would send to hell.

But the Bible is clear. Jesus said in Jn 14:6, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
During a time of prayer and fasting, Cornelius received a vision of an angel coming to him and was instructed to send some men to Joppa to fetch Peter and Peter would then tell Cornelius what he must do.

His prayer and fasting opened up the ears of God to His plea and Peter was sent to him to “tell him words by which he and all his household would be saved” (Acts 11:14) namely the Gospel.

Cornelius and his household heard the Word, responded to it, and all were baptized and brought into God’s family. For Cornelius and his family, it was no longer a matter of what they had done for God, but what God had done for them through Christ.

Are you wrestling with assurance of your salvation? Do you find yourself wondering if you've done enough to please God? Or do you think you deserve to go to heaven because you are basically a good person?

This is a pained existence in the first case and a false hope in the second. Would you sincerely desire to know the way to heaven? Have you tried seeking the assurance of God through prayer and fasting?

Cornelius did and God granted he and his family “repentance that leads to life.”

I’m Duane Matz and that’s today’s Living Word.

Monday, November 15, 2010

Sexual Fasting

# 272 Today’s Living Word comes from Mark 2:18 “The disciples of John and of the Pharisees were fasting.”

Fasting is a beneficial spiritual tool that God has given to His people. We read of an unusual kind of fasting in 1 Corinthians 7:5, “Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.”

Here Paul is suggesting a consensual withholding of sexual activity so husband and wife may devote themselves more fully to fasting and prayer. As Daniel gave up pleasurable food, here we have a call to give up pleasurable activity for the purpose of seeking God’s face.

Marriage brings with it the potential for much spiritual and emotional strain. God loves marriage, but the devil hates it and he will do everything in his power to separate man and wife.

Why not prepare yourself for any and all such attacks of the enemy against your marriage by practicing this spiritual discipline BEFORE they occur. Consensual sexual fasting invites the greatest Counselor of all, (the Holy Spirit) into your particular situation. As you each practice self-denial in the physical realm, you give Him more room to operate in the spiritual realm.

I’m Duane Matz and that’s today’s Living Word.

Friday, November 12, 2010

Fasting For Understanding

# 271 Today’s Living Word comes from Mark 2:18 “The disciples of John and of the Pharisees were fasting.” Mark 2:18

Fasting is a beneficial spiritual tool that God has given to His people. It can be used as an inaudible expression of sorrow before the throne of God. Rather than the sobbing and moaning associated with grieving, it is the growl of the stomach, and the unmet yearnings of the flesh that only God can hear.

We read of such a fast in Daniel 10. In verses 2 and 3 we read, “In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks. I ate no pleasant food, no meat or wine came into my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.”

Something was grieving Daniel. We get a clue in Dan 10:12, 'Then he said to me, “fear not Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard.”

Daniel found himself in a situation where he just didn't understand. “Why God? Why must we be in captivity? Why is this happening to Your people? But instead of moping around the king's court in Babylon, he decided to bring his grief and his questions to God in the form of a fast.

A notable feature of his fast was giving up those things he found pleasurable. He ate food, but abstained from that which gave him pleasure. It's sort of like giving up a favorite food for Lent. He even denied himself the pleasure of pampering himself with body oils!

Have you ever considered giving up some things you enjoy for a season just so you might express your sorrows to the Lord over the “why God” questions in your life?

I don't know how the Lord will react to such a fast for you or I, but His response to Daniel's fast is mind-blowing!

God sent a special angel to Daniel and he was given one great and final vision that revealed not only the near future for Israel, but the distant future of all of God’s children all the way up to great day of God’s final judgment! (Dan 11,12) And Daniel's “why God” questions melted away before this great plan of God!

When all was said and done Daniel was left with strength, (“And as he spoke to me I was strengthened,” (Dan 10:19) and personal assurance. (“And you shall rest and shall stand in your allotted place at the end of the days.” (Dan 12:12)

Strength and assurance. Sounds like something you and I could use when the “why God's?” of our lives bring sorrow to our hearts.

I’m Duane Matz and that’s today’s Living Word.

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Fasting For Those Who Are In Peril

# 270 Today’s Living Word comes from Mark 2:18 “The disciples of John and of the Pharisees were fasting.” Mark 2:18

Fasting is a beneficial spiritual tool that God has given to His people. Did you know that you can use a fast to stand in the gap for those who are being ill-treated?

There was a time in the Old Testament, when King Saul sought to kill David. Saul’s son, Jonathon was David’s best friend and when he became aware of his father’s desire to do David in, Jonathon fasted. The Bible says that “Jonathon arose from the table in fierce anger, and ate no food the second day of the month for he was grieved for David, because his father had treated him shamefully.” (1 Samuel 20:34)

We don’t know how God responded to this fast, we do know that David survived all of Saul’s attempts to kill him. Perhaps you know of someone who is being unfairly singled out for harsh treatment, maybe even to the point where their life is in danger.

I think about those times when missionaries or others find themselves in hostage situations. There is often a sense of helplessness on our part as we are so far removed from the situation, but here we have Jonathon’s example to follow, we can fast. We can use our time of fasting to call on our heavenly Father who is not far removed from any situation, and trust Him for the results.

Many churches will be observing a day of prayer this Sunday on behalf of the persecuted church. Brothers and sisters in Christ around the world are suffering greatly for their faith. Can we not be like Jonathon for them and arise from the table, and spend some time grieving over their shameful treatment?

I’m Duane Matz and that’s today’s Living Word.

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Fasting For Direction

# 269 Today’s Living Word comes from Mark 2:18 “The disciples of John and of the Pharisees were fasting.”

Fasting is a beneficial spiritual tool that God has given to His people. There are times and situations that arise in our lives when we just don’t know what to do. We need guidance and we don’t know where to turn. Such was the case for Ezra.

He was looking for a safe route to return to Jerusalem for he and his family. What did he do? “Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from Him the right way for us and our little ones and all our possessions.” (Ezra 8:21) In verse 23 he said, “and God answered our prayer.”

Maybe you’re faced with a decision regarding the welfare of your family. Perhaps it’s a move or a job change. You’ve looked at the pluses and the minuses of the situation, but you’re still not sure what to do. Have you tried fasting? Have you tried what Ezra tried? Have you humbled yourself before the Lord and waited for His peace in the matter?

You may not get your answer as quickly as Ezra, but it will come. God knew the right way for Ezra and He knows the right way for you, and He is far more concerned about the welfare of you and your family than you are.

I’m Duane Matz and that’s today’s Living Word.

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Fasting To Avert God's Judgment

# 268 Today’s Living Word comes from Mark 2:18 “The disciples of John and of the Pharisees were fasting.”

Fasting is a beneficial spiritual tool that God has given to His people. Often in the Old Testament, fasts were called to avert God’s judgment. Perhaps the most unusual fast in that regard was the fast proclaimed in Ninevah.

Remember Ninevah? God sent Jonah to “Ninevah, that great city,” to “call out against it, for their evil has come up before Me.” (There comes a time when God gets fed up with evil)

Jonah's message was simple to the Ninevites. Repent or you will be destroyed in 40 days. “And the people of Ninevah believed God,” . They called for a fast and put on sackcloth.” Even the animals were put on a mandatory fast by proclamation of the king! The king urged all the citizens to cry out to God that He might turn away from His judgment, and God saw their works and He relented. (Jonah 3:10)

When one considers the current state of affairs in our own land, one has to wonder why we aren’t engaged in fasting. How long will it be before our own national evil comes up before Him?

Unborn children continue to be slaughtered at the rate of 3000 per day. Blasphemy fills our movie screens and television sets. Divorce and fornication (sex before marriage) are rampant. Idolatry in the form of materialism and hedonism abounds. Evolution is accepted as fact and required teaching in our public schools. Many mainline denominations have even called the Bible into question.

How long do you think God will withhold judgment from such a land? Don’t you think it might be time for the remnant (the followers of the Lord Jesus Christ) to consider fasting and crying out to God once again?

I’m Duane Matz and that’s today’s Living Word.

Monday, November 8, 2010

Fasting For Favor

# 267 - Hello friend. Today’s Living Word comes from Mark 2:18 “The disciples of John and of the Pharisees were fasting.”

The spiritual discipline of fasting is often overlooked and misunderstood in the church today. Fasting is a beneficial spiritual tool that God has given to His people.

In the days ahead, we will look at some of the uses of this “tool” and pray that you will be moved to use it in your life on a regular basis.

Have you ever been in a situation where you could use some favor? Maybe its for a job you are applying for. Maybe in asking for a raise, or maybe a favorable attitude by a seller toward your offer to purchase a home. Is there a situation in your life where you need to hear an unexpected “yes,”?

Have you tried fasting?

Esther did. Do you remember the incident found in the Book of Esther? A decree had been put out by the king to annihilate all the Jews. Mordecai told Queen Esther about it and she told Mordecai to declare a three day fast among the Jews. After the three days were up Esther went before the king to win his favor.

She could’ve been killed for such a brash act, but we read in Esther 5:2,3 “She found favor in his sight.”....”And the king said to her, “What do you wish?” This granting of favor in the king’s eyes led to the deliverance of the Jews!

It’s always a matter of God’s will of course, but are you in need of favor? “What do you wish?” Have you tried the God-given tool of fasting?

I’m Duane Matz and that’s today’s Living Word.

Friday, November 5, 2010

Fasting Prompted By Fear

# 266 Today’s Living Word comes from Mark 2:18 “The disciples of John and of the Pharisees were fasting.”

Fasting is a beneficial spiritual tool that God has given to His people. Unfortunately, it seems to be one of the those tools that finds it’s way to the bottom of the toolbox and is forgotten about. In the days ahead, we'll continue to look at some of the uses of this “tool” and pray that you will be moved to use it in your life and in the life of your church on a regular basis.

Fasting was often used by God’s people during times of a national threat. In Second Chronicles 20 we read of a time when the Israelites were about to be attacked by the Moabites and the Ammonites. King Jehoshaphat proclaimed a national fast and the people gathered together for prayer and worship. The Lord heard their prayers, responded to their worship, and utterly defeated their enemies.

When is the last time that you heard of a call for a national fast in the churches of our land? The Moabites and the Ammonites are not arrayed against us, but an even greater enemy of apathy and secular humanism have amassed outside the gates of the church in America.

Biblical morality and standards are mocked. All manner of sin abounds in the land, and in many cases has become accepted by the church. Doesn't this frighten you? Aren't you concerned for your friends, loved ones, and neighbors who are being swept up and overtaken by the enemy? Jehoshaphat was.

“Then Jehoshaphat was afraid and set his face to seek the Lord and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.” ( 2 Chr 20:3)

Try reading Second Chronicles 20 this weekend. Be encouraged as you read of the results of this fast. May this Word of the Lord send you and I scurrying to the toolbox seeking victory over these enemies through prayer and fasting and praise and worship.

I’m Duane Matz and that’s today’s Living Word.

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Fasting For Healing

# 265 Today’s Living Word comes from Mark 2:18 “The disciples of John and of the Pharisees were fasting.”

Fasting is a beneficial spiritual discipline that seems to have been forgotten by the church today. In the days ahead, let us take some time to see what the Bible has to say about fasting and it’s benefits.

Do you know someone who is ill? Have you thought of fasting on their behalf? In the 35th Psalm, David speaks of such activity on behalf of his enemies! “But as for me, when they were sick, My clothing was sackcloth; I humbled myself with fasting;... I paced about as though he were my friend or brother; I bowed down heavily, as one who mourns for his mother.”

Imagine that! Instead of a “serves him right,” kind of attitude, David fasts on behalf of his enemy hoping and praying that God will make him well. Fasting for healing was the normal practice in Scripture.

When David’s child born out of his adulterous relationship with Bathsheba became ill, he fasted. Though the child did not live, David did all that he could do in the spiritual realm, the rest was left up to God and His perfect will.

Is someone among you sick? Have you thought of fasting on their behalf?

I’m Duane Matz and that’s today’s Living Word.

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Keep It Between You and Your Heavenly Father

# 264 Today’s Living Word comes from Mark 2:18 “The disciples of John and of the Pharisees were fasting.”

Let’s spend some time on this matter of fasting. Fasting was practiced by the Old Testament church and the New Testament church. The only required fast in Mosaic law was on the Day of Atonement. Four other annual fasts were instituted during the Babylonian captivity. Other fasts were called as needed during times of national calamity, repentance, and seeking the Lord’s favor. Personal fasting was also practiced as individuals faced crisis situations.

In the New Testament, fasting was a spiritual discipline that marked Christians and was practiced by the church on a personal and congregational level. On the personal level, Jesus placed one stipulation on fasting. It’s found in Matthew 6:16 "Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.”

He said, “go ahead, fast, but when you do keep it between you and your heavenly Father. Don’t use it as a method of parading your “supposed superior spirituality in front of others” It is His applause we seek, not the applause of men.

I’m Duane Matz and that’s today’s Living Word.

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

WHEN You Fast

# 263 Today’s Living Word comes from Mark 2:18-20 “The disciples of John and of the Pharisees were fasting. Then they came and said to Him, "Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?" And Jesus said to them, "Can the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast. "But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days.”

In commenting on this passage, the Lutheran commentator Lenski says, “ To fast or not to fast is determined by the conditions in which we find ourselves.” Well said, for this is the crux of New Testament fasting. It begs us to ask the question, “In what condition do we find ourselves today?”

While Jesus was walking with His disciples things were going great! But His passion, resurrection, and ascension were still coming, and the devil would be cast down and begin his roaring lion assault on God's children in earnest. “But woe to you , O earth and sea for the devil has come down to you in great wrath because he knows his time is short!” ( Rev 12:12)

This raging about of the devil should be cause for every Christian to be quick to go into their spiritual tool bag and use this supernatural tool of fasting given to them by God.

It saddens me to see how few Christians avail themselves of this spiritual weapon today. In the sermon on the mount, Jesus specifically mentioned fasting as one of the three disciplines that would mark His followers. He said in Mt 6:2, “WHEN you give to the needy,” and in Mt 6:5, “and WHEN you pray,” and in Mt 6:16, “and WHEN you fast.”

It's not IF, it's WHEN for all three! Sounds like expected behavior to me. What are conditions like in your world today, have you tried fasting?

I’m Duane Matz and that’s today’s Living Word.

Sunday, October 31, 2010

Thou Shalt Not Murmur!

# 262 Today’s Living Word comes from Mark 2:18. “The disciples of John and of the Pharisees were fasting. Then they came and said to Him, "Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?"

We don’t know what prompted this question, perhaps John’s disciples had noticed Jesus and His crew leaving the party that Matthew had just thrown and they were just making an observation. They had never seen Jesus’ disciples engage in the practice of fasting and they just wanted to know why?

Note their attitude and their procedure. First of all they came right to Jesus, they didn’t murmur behind His back! They went right to the source and their tone was so much different than the Pharisees. They weren’t challenging or judging, they simply wanted to hear the explanation. We could learn from that today couldn’t we?

Think of all the differences in the Body of Christ today. Think of how we typically address those differences. Instead of murmuring behind the back, why not learn to go to the source and seek to understand the differences. Hey, we might actually learn something! Romans 12:18 says, “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.”

I’m Duane Matz and that’s today’s Living Word.

Friday, October 29, 2010

Beware of Self-Righteousness

# 261 Today’s Living Word comes from Mark 2:16,17 And when the scribes and Pharisees saw Him eating with the tax collectors and sinners, they said to His disciples, "How is it that He eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners?" When Jesus heard it, He said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance."

The “righteous in their own eyes” scribes and Pharisees first mistake is going to Jesus’ disciples instead of Him. If you’ve got a problem with someone’s evangelism style or anything else they are doing, go to them one on one. Jesus gave us this principle in Matthew 18:15 "Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother.”

The scribes and Pharisees were uncomfortable with this “seeker sensitive” style of evangelism used by Jesus, and so they condemned it. But Jesus silenced them as He even silences those who would condemn today.

In effect He says, “I come to those who see their need for a Savior. If you consider yourself righteous, then what’s the point of My calling on you? You don’t need Me!” Oh, the ramifications of such a thought! Beware of self-righteousness, lest you never hear the knocking of Jesus on the door of your heart.

I'm Duane Matz and that’s today’s Living Word.

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Seeker Friendly

# 260 Today’s Living Word comes from Mark 2:15. “Now it happened, as He was dining in Levi's house, that many tax collectors and sinners also sat together with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many, and they followed Him.”

Matthew has left all and decided to follow Jesus. He is so excited about his new life in following Christ, that he desires that others taste of this new found forgiveness, peace and joy. It’s obvious that Jesus had once again attracted a following.

These followers consisted of tax collectors like Matthew and others who were leading lives disconnected from God. In today’s lingo, we might call these lost people who expressed interest in Jesus and His teachings, “seekers.” It was Matthew’s intention to turn them into “finders.”

Being a man of means, he invited them to a dinner at his house where Jesus would be the main speaker. Matthew arranged a personal encounter with Jesus for these seekers, trusting Jesus for the results. Suddenly, the concept of a seeker friendly church doesn’t seem so bad does it?

Matthew used what he had, hoping that seekers would find the same peace, joy, and forgiveness that he had found in Jesus. Mega church or mini church, shouldn’t we do the same?

I’m Duane Matz and that’s today’s Living Word.

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Wrestling With A Call?

# 259 Today’s Living Word comes from Mark 2:13,14 “Then He went out again by the sea; and all the multitude came to Him, and He taught them. As He passed by, He saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, "Follow Me." So he arose and followed Him.”

Jesus leaves the cramped quarters of the house with the “new skylight” and finds a more open area in which to teach the multitudes. On His way back to where He was staying in Capernaum, He sees Matthew (Levi) at work in the customs office and beckons him to leave his lucrative profession and follow Him.

Notice Matthew’s immediate response. “He arose and followed him.” Matthew was well-educated, well-connected, and likely very well off, yet when he heard the Master’s call, he quietly turned his duties over to others and walked away from it all.

Matthew probably had wrestled with such a decision for some time, and at just the right time, Jesus “just happens” to walk past his office and call him. Are you wrestling with a call? Jesus knows.

Wait.

If it’s of Him, He’ll be by your office soon enough, and when He drops by to beckon, you will be just as strongly compelled as Matthew was to “arise and follow Him.

I’m Duane Matz and that’s today’s Living Word.

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

His Favorite Title For Himself

# 258 Today’s Living Word comes from Mark 2:10-12 "But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins" --He said to the paralytic, "I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house." Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, "We never saw anything like this!"

“For the first time in the Gospel of Mark, Jesus refers to Himself as “the Son of Man.” This was His favorite title for Himself as He used it over 80 times in the Gospels.

The title itself speaks of someone very special. He is not the “Son of mere men” but the “Son of Man.” This title speaks of lowliness and greatness at the same time embodied once and for all in one Person.

The prophet Daniel was the first to use the term in a way that clearly linked the title to the Messiah. So why didn’t Jesus just use the term Messiah? Because the people had WRONG ideas about the Messiah, they saw Him only as a political deliverer, not the suffering Servant who not only had the power to forgive sins, but the power to lay down His life and take it up again, in order for the sins of man to be paid in full. (John 10:17)

God uses government, (good and bad) for His purposes. We would do well to remember that, so we won't fall in the trap of getting so enamored with government that we forget the true kingdom affairs of forgiveness and laying down our lives for others.

2Ti 2:4 No soldier on service gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to satisfy the one who enlisted him. (RSV)

The key word here is “entangled.”

I’m Duane Matz and that’s today’s Living Word.

Monday, October 25, 2010

The Source of All Healing and Forgiveness

# 257 Today’s Living Word comes from Mark 2:9-12 "Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Arise, take up your bed and walk'? "But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins" --He said to the paralytic, "I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house." Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, "We never saw anything like this!"

“Well? What do YOU think? Which is easier? Is it easier for God to remove someone’s disease as far as east is from the west or is it easier to remove one’s sins as far as east is from the west?

With God, one is just as easy as the other. When God says, “sins be gone! They are gone! When God says, “disease be gone, it is gone! One need not question God’s ability or PREROGATIVE to do either one. Instead of questioning God’s power, perhaps we should learn to bless Him for it.

Psalm 103:2 says, “Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases.” God has the final say in these matters, and if you need healing or forgiveness, turn to Him, for he is the source of all healing and all forgiveness.

I’m Duane Matz and that’s today’s Living Word.

Saturday, October 23, 2010

All Powerful, All Knowing

# 256 Today’s Living Word comes from Mark 2:5-8 “When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven you." And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, "Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?" But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them, "Why do you reason about these things in your hearts? "

There were times when Jesus tapped into His divinity as He ministered in the flesh here on earth. With every disease healed and every demon exorcized we got a glimpse of His omnipotence. (a word that means “all powerful”) And as the scribes testified here we also see the divine prerogative to forgive sins.

We also see His omniscience ( a word that means “all knowing”) at work as He perceives the very thoughts of the scribes and Pharisees!.

But even with the evidence of the all powerful and all knowing God standing before them, the hardened hearts of these religious rulers refuse to acknowledge Jesus as God.

Physical evidence can help confirm our faith. But faith itself is a supernatural mystery. Why do some “get it” while others don't? Why do some lose it and others keep it?

In matters of saving faith it is best to remember two things that nobody can really explain.
(1)Faith is a gift from God (Ephesians 2:8) and (2) it comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. (Romans 10:17) Do you desire faith? Then get into God's Word and ask God to use His Word to open your spiritual ears. He knows what you need and He is powerful enough to provide it!

I'm Duane Matz and that's today's Living Word.

Friday, October 22, 2010

The Power and Authority To Forgive

# 255 Today’s Living Word comes from Mark 2:5-7 When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven you." And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, "Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?"

Did you notice? There is a new element in the crowd. “Some of the scribes” were there. In Luke’s account of this incident he also mentions Pharisees. Evidently the word of Jesus’ miracles had gotten back to Jerusalem and the religious authorities dispatched some representatives to check Him out. This was a good thing to do. As religious leaders they didn’t want their sheep to be taken in by some charlatan.

I suppose they were expecting Him to immediately heal the paralytic, but instead, it appears to them that He blasphemes God! They rightly reason that only God can forgive sins and if Jesus were a mere man, this indeed would be blasphemy.

But He’s not, and you and I have more evidence of that fact than theses scribes and Pharisees had. As the Holy Spirit stated in Romans 1:3,4 concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh,
and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.

The empty tomb proves that Jesus is the Son of God WITH POWER! He HAS the power to forgive our sins, and the power to meet our every need. Come to Him in your weakness today.

I’m Duane Matz and that’s today’s Living Word.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Infant Baptism

# 254 Today’s Living Word comes from Mark 2:3-5 Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men. And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven you."

This is a marvelous verse in connection with the doctrine of infant baptism. Notice that Jesus did not see the faith of the paralytic, He saw the faith of the four who brought the paralytic to Him. And what did He do when he saw their faith? He pronounced FORGIVENESS on the one who was brought to Him.

Just think for a moment as to how this relates to infant baptism. All of us are conceived in sin. Ps 51:5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me. We enter this world spiritually paralyzed and certainly in need of forgiveness. We are just like that paralytic, unable to do anything on our own to free us from our condition. We are faithless and still in our sins.

But by faith, parents bring their infant children to Jesus to be baptized, believing that Jesus will wash away the sin of their child and renew the child with the Holy Spirit just as promised in Titus 3:4 , “He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit.” and in Acts 2:38,39 “Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
"For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call."

What a blessed assurance for the parents of that child, and what a challenge to nurture the grace given faith of the child day by day.

For the parent also knows the truth of Mark 16:16: "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.”

In other words, baptism alone will not save, it must be accompanied by faith.”

But, one may ask, “Can an infant have faith?” The answer is yes! In Ps 22:9,10, we read, “But You are He who took Me out of the womb; You made Me trust while on My mother's breasts. I was cast upon You from birth. From My mother's womb You have been My God.”

I’m Duane Matz and that’s today’s Living Word.

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Persevering Prayer

# 253 Today’s Living Word comes from Mark 2:1-4 “And again He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house. Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door. And He preached the word to them. Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men. And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying.”

The first words that come to my mind to describe what takes place here are “persistent effort.” The crowd that gathered to hear Jesus talk, was so thick that no one could possibly get near the door. The four men with the paralytic could’ve given up and gone home and tried some other time, but instead they hoist the paralytic and the bed up to the roof, remove the tiles, and lower him to Jesus.

Just stop and consider the effort involved in this. Put yourself in the sandals of one of these four stretcher bearers and consider the bulkiness of the stretcher, the incline and height of the roof, the gear necessary to raise and lower the stretcher. This was planned, persevering effort on their part on behalf of a paralyzed friend, a loved one.

Know any people in need of a touch from Jesus?

Then beloved, stop and consider your own prayer life. What kind of things are you allowing to “crowd out” your time with Jesus? How much planned, persevering, effort do you put in when it comes to bringing others to His feet?

The actions of these men illustrate a principle that Jesus wants us all to learn; “men always ought to pray and not lose heart, (Luke 18:1)

I’m Duane Matz and that’s today’s Living Word.