# 708 Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 14:37 Then He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, "Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not watch one hour? 38 "Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."
How often have you heard this phrase, “the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak?” It is the summation of the battle that every follower of Jesus faces. It is a restatement of Ga 5:17, “For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.”
It is the battle that Paul agonizes over in Ro 7:15, “For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do..”
It's a fact of life for the Christian. I do not rejoice over the countless times that I give into my flesh and fall into sin, but I do rejoice in the fact that there is a battle within. The struggle is evidence of true faith. It is a mark of the Christian.
Keep struggling! And remember to be as Paul and turn to Jesus for forgiveness when you fail. How did he put it?
“O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?
I thank God--through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Rom 7:24,25a)
Keep turning to Jesus!
And let me encourage you with the phrase “indeed willing.” In the Greek it means that the Holy Spirit that God has placed in you, is predisposed (indeed willing) to help you in your time of temptation. Call on Him. He is ever cheerfully ready to help you overcome any and all temptations to fall into sin.
Father, thank You for the Helper. Thank You for the struggle, for the battle proves that faith is active on our lives.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
The Third Time Jesus Wept
# 706 Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 14:36 And He said, "Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will."
Here's a pop quiz for you. How many times are the tears of Jesus recorded in Scripture?
The usual answer is two. Once when Lazarus died and once over the fate of Jerusalem. But wait, here in the Garden is still another time, and we read of it in Heb 5:7, “who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear,”
No human being has ever cried as our Savior cried this night in Gethsemane!
Strong forceful sobbings of the soul of His humanity, the sum total of the sobbing of the damned as He takes on the wrath of God for the sins of the world.
Yes, we rightly commemorate Good Friday and Easter Sunday, but it was here in Gethsemane on Maundy Thursday that the real battle was fought. The writer of Hebrews tells us that the Father heard the pleas of His Son. His prayer was answered.
It was? How? It was answered in the angel that came to strengthen Jesus. (Luke 22:43) It was this heaven sent strength that enabled Jesus to say, “Thy will be done!”
In our own strivings of the flesh against doing the will of God, let us take heart from this passage. Jesus has been there, may He help us in our hour of temptation. May he give us the strength to say, Thy will be done” and the power to walk us through whatever it may be.
Father, there are times when our flesh rebels against what You would have us do. Strengthen us during these times. Give us the resolve to do what is right in accordance with Your Word.
Here's a pop quiz for you. How many times are the tears of Jesus recorded in Scripture?
The usual answer is two. Once when Lazarus died and once over the fate of Jerusalem. But wait, here in the Garden is still another time, and we read of it in Heb 5:7, “who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear,”
No human being has ever cried as our Savior cried this night in Gethsemane!
Strong forceful sobbings of the soul of His humanity, the sum total of the sobbing of the damned as He takes on the wrath of God for the sins of the world.
Yes, we rightly commemorate Good Friday and Easter Sunday, but it was here in Gethsemane on Maundy Thursday that the real battle was fought. The writer of Hebrews tells us that the Father heard the pleas of His Son. His prayer was answered.
It was? How? It was answered in the angel that came to strengthen Jesus. (Luke 22:43) It was this heaven sent strength that enabled Jesus to say, “Thy will be done!”
In our own strivings of the flesh against doing the will of God, let us take heart from this passage. Jesus has been there, may He help us in our hour of temptation. May he give us the strength to say, Thy will be done” and the power to walk us through whatever it may be.
Father, there are times when our flesh rebels against what You would have us do. Strengthen us during these times. Give us the resolve to do what is right in accordance with Your Word.
Monday, February 27, 2012
"Daddy?"
# 705 Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 14:36 And He said, "Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will."
In this day and age of busted families, and gender role reversal, I'm afraid most of us miss the power of this personal plea from Jesus to His Daddy. Oh that we would see a rise in biblical courageous fatherhood in this land!
In using the term “Abba,” Jesus helps us to see the perfect love relationship between a Son and His Father. “Abba” is the equivalent of our word “daddy.” Have you ever heard a child speak that word to his earthly father? Go ahead, say it out loud right now and put a question mark behind it. “Daddy?”
A child asks it because they believe their daddy loves them dearly and that daddy is capable of helping them through any predicament they may find themselves in.
Well, listen, you may not have had such an earthly daddy, but because you have faith in Jesus you have been adopted by a heavenly Daddy. Ro 8:15b says, “but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, (Daddy) Father." and
Ga 4:6 says, “And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, (Daddy) Father!"
Because of this adoption you can address Father God with the same confidence that Jesus addressed Him. “Daddy? Will You help me through this predicament?” And because He is the perfect Daddy, He will.
Daddy, one of our predicaments today is we have lost the model of biblical fatherhood in the land. Will You help us through this and help us restore it?
In this day and age of busted families, and gender role reversal, I'm afraid most of us miss the power of this personal plea from Jesus to His Daddy. Oh that we would see a rise in biblical courageous fatherhood in this land!
In using the term “Abba,” Jesus helps us to see the perfect love relationship between a Son and His Father. “Abba” is the equivalent of our word “daddy.” Have you ever heard a child speak that word to his earthly father? Go ahead, say it out loud right now and put a question mark behind it. “Daddy?”
A child asks it because they believe their daddy loves them dearly and that daddy is capable of helping them through any predicament they may find themselves in.
Well, listen, you may not have had such an earthly daddy, but because you have faith in Jesus you have been adopted by a heavenly Daddy. Ro 8:15b says, “but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, (Daddy) Father." and
Ga 4:6 says, “And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, (Daddy) Father!"
Because of this adoption you can address Father God with the same confidence that Jesus addressed Him. “Daddy? Will You help me through this predicament?” And because He is the perfect Daddy, He will.
Daddy, one of our predicaments today is we have lost the model of biblical fatherhood in the land. Will You help us through this and help us restore it?
Sunday, February 26, 2012
When You Are Totally Spent
# 704 Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 14:35, He went a little farther, and fell on the ground, and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him."
The “little farther” here was about a stones throw away according to Luke, and in the gospel of Matthew we read that Jesus literally was on His face as He prayed. Lying like a worm on the ground just as was prophesied in Ps 22:6, “But I am a worm,”
He prays “Father if there is any possibility of redeeming this world, without going through the agony of receiving Your full wrath against sin, then show it to Me now.” No answer! There is no other way.
The only answer Jesus was given by the Father we read about in Luke: “Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. (Luke 22:43)
The word “strengthening” here in the Greek means “invigorated.” Jesus in His human nature was totally spent. He left it all in the dirt on His face in Gethsemane, It was then that God supplied the necessary strength He would need to endure the trial.
Our trials will never be as severe as this one, nonetheless, when we have spent ourselves in prayer asking God to remove our thorns, asking Him for relief, know from this incident in Scripture that relief may not be forthcoming, but the strength necessary to endure is on the way.
So hold on Brother, hold on sister. God will get you through!
Thank You again Father, for the reminder that Your strength is made perfect in our weakness.
The “little farther” here was about a stones throw away according to Luke, and in the gospel of Matthew we read that Jesus literally was on His face as He prayed. Lying like a worm on the ground just as was prophesied in Ps 22:6, “But I am a worm,”
He prays “Father if there is any possibility of redeeming this world, without going through the agony of receiving Your full wrath against sin, then show it to Me now.” No answer! There is no other way.
The only answer Jesus was given by the Father we read about in Luke: “Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. (Luke 22:43)
The word “strengthening” here in the Greek means “invigorated.” Jesus in His human nature was totally spent. He left it all in the dirt on His face in Gethsemane, It was then that God supplied the necessary strength He would need to endure the trial.
Our trials will never be as severe as this one, nonetheless, when we have spent ourselves in prayer asking God to remove our thorns, asking Him for relief, know from this incident in Scripture that relief may not be forthcoming, but the strength necessary to endure is on the way.
So hold on Brother, hold on sister. God will get you through!
Thank You again Father, for the reminder that Your strength is made perfect in our weakness.
Saturday, February 25, 2012
The Greatest Temptation
# 703 Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 14:35, He went a little farther, and fell on the ground, and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him."
In the gospel of Luke we read that before Jesus went deeply into the olive grove, He asked His disciples to “pray that you may not enter into temptation.” This instruction was for all of His disciples. But what did HE mean?
The eleven had no clue about what was about to go down in the next several hours, but Jesus did. What door of temptation were they to ask God to keep them from walking through? (entering into) He didn't tell them, but in hindsight we see that it's the door of losing their faith. This is the greatest temptation that one faces during a trial.
They were to pray that the thought of leaving the faith would not even cross their minds, no matter what they were about to experience.
Hey. we all go through ordeals, and the disciples were about to go through a dandy, a true test of their very faith. Jesus was telling them to not pray to escape the ordeal, but to not enter into the temptation to ditch their faith that would come with it.
Ordeals, crises, if you will, become temptations when we listen to the devilish suggestion that God has abandoned us, and that it is useless to cling to Jesus. We never know when these ordeals will strike, but when they do beloved, get it straight in your mind now, to cling to Jesus no matter how bleak the situation looks. Pray that you may not enter into temptation.
Father, I'm so glad that Jesus Himself prays for me when I find myself in these situations. Help me to endure any trial I may face today, and remind me to intercede on behalf of those who experiencing tough times today.
In the gospel of Luke we read that before Jesus went deeply into the olive grove, He asked His disciples to “pray that you may not enter into temptation.” This instruction was for all of His disciples. But what did HE mean?
The eleven had no clue about what was about to go down in the next several hours, but Jesus did. What door of temptation were they to ask God to keep them from walking through? (entering into) He didn't tell them, but in hindsight we see that it's the door of losing their faith. This is the greatest temptation that one faces during a trial.
They were to pray that the thought of leaving the faith would not even cross their minds, no matter what they were about to experience.
Hey. we all go through ordeals, and the disciples were about to go through a dandy, a true test of their very faith. Jesus was telling them to not pray to escape the ordeal, but to not enter into the temptation to ditch their faith that would come with it.
Ordeals, crises, if you will, become temptations when we listen to the devilish suggestion that God has abandoned us, and that it is useless to cling to Jesus. We never know when these ordeals will strike, but when they do beloved, get it straight in your mind now, to cling to Jesus no matter how bleak the situation looks. Pray that you may not enter into temptation.
Father, I'm so glad that Jesus Himself prays for me when I find myself in these situations. Help me to endure any trial I may face today, and remind me to intercede on behalf of those who experiencing tough times today.
Friday, February 24, 2012
Saturated With Sorrow
# 702 Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 14:34 Then He said to them, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch."
Every living human being has a soul, and the first thing we should note here is that Jesus says, “My soul.” This affirms the incarnation. He has a soul! In His humanity, He is about to enter an unheard of realm of suffering.
No, not just the scourging, whipping, insults, nails, and crucifixion. (That would be bad enough for sure) But His soul was about to take on the full wrath of God against all the sins of the world, past, present, and future. His soul, at this point was rightfully saturated (exceedingly filled) with grief and sorrow.
This moment in Gethsemane was spoken of prophetically several times in the Scriptures: 2Sa 22:6, and Ps 18:5 say, “The sorrows of Sheol surrounded me; The snares of death confronted me.” This was what Jesus confronted in the garden and this is what saturated His soul with sorrow.
He was sorrowful to the point of wanting to die now, before the cross, before the full wrath of God would come upon Him. Talk about the intensity of spiritual warfare! This was it. Jesus endured this battle for you and I.
Can you imagine such great love for others? “I know You are angry at sin God, but take Your anger out on me instead of them.” If any of us would self-righteously claim that we would be willing to take the wrath of God for someone else's sins, then we have a skewed, mamby pamby view of God's wrath!
Jesus knew what He was getting in to. He is one with the Father and He knows fully well the wrath of God, yet He willingly took it in our place.
Jesus, thank You for enduring in the Garden, and on the cross, that we might escape the wrath of the Father.
Every living human being has a soul, and the first thing we should note here is that Jesus says, “My soul.” This affirms the incarnation. He has a soul! In His humanity, He is about to enter an unheard of realm of suffering.
No, not just the scourging, whipping, insults, nails, and crucifixion. (That would be bad enough for sure) But His soul was about to take on the full wrath of God against all the sins of the world, past, present, and future. His soul, at this point was rightfully saturated (exceedingly filled) with grief and sorrow.
This moment in Gethsemane was spoken of prophetically several times in the Scriptures: 2Sa 22:6, and Ps 18:5 say, “The sorrows of Sheol surrounded me; The snares of death confronted me.” This was what Jesus confronted in the garden and this is what saturated His soul with sorrow.
He was sorrowful to the point of wanting to die now, before the cross, before the full wrath of God would come upon Him. Talk about the intensity of spiritual warfare! This was it. Jesus endured this battle for you and I.
Can you imagine such great love for others? “I know You are angry at sin God, but take Your anger out on me instead of them.” If any of us would self-righteously claim that we would be willing to take the wrath of God for someone else's sins, then we have a skewed, mamby pamby view of God's wrath!
Jesus knew what He was getting in to. He is one with the Father and He knows fully well the wrath of God, yet He willingly took it in our place.
Jesus, thank You for enduring in the Garden, and on the cross, that we might escape the wrath of the Father.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
The Oil Press
# 700 Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 14:32 Then they came to a place which was named Gethsemane; and He said to His disciples, "Sit here while I pray." 33 And He took Peter, James, and John with Him, and He began to be troubled and deeply distressed.
Gethsemane. The word means oil press. Jesus takes His disciples to a garden, or we might call it a grove of olive trees. The closest thing we could liken this to in our country would be an apple orchard. In this apple orchard you might see an apple cider press on site.
In this Garden, there would likely be a similar press for olives. Jesus, the Son of God, saturated with the oil of the Holy Spirit, was about to be squeezed. This squeezing is similar to the soul squeezings you and I might experience today, when we find ourselves in situations that don't seem to have a way out. But there is a huge difference. There has never been a soul squeezing on par with this one!
Peter, James, and John, have never seen Jesus like this! So troubled and distressed! The word troubled here means amazed. Jesus in His HUMANITY was amazed by this sense of things closing in on Him. And the roiling (distress) in His soul was boiling over. He had never experienced such a strong desire to escape! Yet, He was able to endure it
Beloved, know that whatever is closing in on you in your life right now, Jesus has been there and beyond! Hang in there, cling to Him. He will get you through!
1Co 10:13 No temptation (trial) has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted (trialed) beyond your strength, but with the temptation (trial) will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
The way out is to endure.
Father, help those in trial today, strengthen them as You did Jesus. Help them endure.
Gethsemane. The word means oil press. Jesus takes His disciples to a garden, or we might call it a grove of olive trees. The closest thing we could liken this to in our country would be an apple orchard. In this apple orchard you might see an apple cider press on site.
In this Garden, there would likely be a similar press for olives. Jesus, the Son of God, saturated with the oil of the Holy Spirit, was about to be squeezed. This squeezing is similar to the soul squeezings you and I might experience today, when we find ourselves in situations that don't seem to have a way out. But there is a huge difference. There has never been a soul squeezing on par with this one!
Peter, James, and John, have never seen Jesus like this! So troubled and distressed! The word troubled here means amazed. Jesus in His HUMANITY was amazed by this sense of things closing in on Him. And the roiling (distress) in His soul was boiling over. He had never experienced such a strong desire to escape! Yet, He was able to endure it
Beloved, know that whatever is closing in on you in your life right now, Jesus has been there and beyond! Hang in there, cling to Him. He will get you through!
1Co 10:13 No temptation (trial) has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted (trialed) beyond your strength, but with the temptation (trial) will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
The way out is to endure.
Father, help those in trial today, strengthen them as You did Jesus. Help them endure.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
You Will Fail Me
# 699 Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 14:29 Peter said to Him, "Even if all are made to stumble, yet I will not be." 30 Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you that today, even this night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times." 31 But he spoke more vehemently, "If I have to die with You, I will not deny You!" And they all said likewise.”
Have you memorized any Scripture? How about memorizing this one: “before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me.” You might ask, “How is that scripture going to help me in my daily walk?”
Well, as long as you and I live, roosters will be crowing. New days will be dawning. And in those days we often find ourselves saying such things as, “Starting today, I'm going to read my Bible more.” Or, “Starting today I'm going to watch my tongue more.” “Starting today”........well, just fill in the blank. Oh, the vows we have broken over the years.
No wonder the Holy Spirit reminds us to not make vows. Jas 5:12 But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your "Yes," be "Yes," and your "No," "No," lest you fall into judgment.”
Every time, we are tempted to make such vows, it would be wise to have those words of Jesus ringing in our ears. “Assuredly I say to you before morning breaks, you will fail Me.”
With this passage in our memory bank, the Holy Spirit will be able to remind us that our flesh will fail, just as Peter's did, but just as the cock signals the start of a new day, we too can start anew through confession and restoration through the free forgiveness given to us through Christ.
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 Jn 1:9)
Lord, let me never forget that I fail You on a daily basis, and thanks for forgiving my failures. Help me today to walk in newness of life.
Have you memorized any Scripture? How about memorizing this one: “before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me.” You might ask, “How is that scripture going to help me in my daily walk?”
Well, as long as you and I live, roosters will be crowing. New days will be dawning. And in those days we often find ourselves saying such things as, “Starting today, I'm going to read my Bible more.” Or, “Starting today I'm going to watch my tongue more.” “Starting today”........well, just fill in the blank. Oh, the vows we have broken over the years.
No wonder the Holy Spirit reminds us to not make vows. Jas 5:12 But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your "Yes," be "Yes," and your "No," "No," lest you fall into judgment.”
Every time, we are tempted to make such vows, it would be wise to have those words of Jesus ringing in our ears. “Assuredly I say to you before morning breaks, you will fail Me.”
With this passage in our memory bank, the Holy Spirit will be able to remind us that our flesh will fail, just as Peter's did, but just as the cock signals the start of a new day, we too can start anew through confession and restoration through the free forgiveness given to us through Christ.
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 Jn 1:9)
Lord, let me never forget that I fail You on a daily basis, and thanks for forgiving my failures. Help me today to walk in newness of life.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Never Say Never
# 698 Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 14:29 Peter said to Him, "Even if all are made to stumble, yet I will not be." 30 Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you that today, even this night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times." 31 But he spoke more vehemently, "If I have to die with You, I will not deny You!" And they all said likewise.”
Good old brash Peter! Even if everyone else scatters Lord, don't you worry I will never leave You! I will die with You if I have to! Have you learned the lesson of “never” from Peter yet?
I know it took some hard knocks in my own Christian life to learn it. Here's the lesson: “Never say never!” I learned it while the Lord was dealing with my temper.
Oh, the times I would lose my temper in front of my wife and my children. It would always end up as a very embarrassing moment. Thankfully, I never struck anyone or even threatened to strike anyone, no one ever got hurt except maybe me when I would attempt to put my hand through a wall. But just losing one's temper, no matter how it is expressed, leaves scars. That's what sin does. It leaves scars.
May I just say here that if you struggle with anger....get help. Ask your pastor about some good anger management programs that are out there and avail yourself of them.
At the end of these embarrassing moments for myself, (and fear filled moments for my family,) I would literally go somewhere and cool off by getting on my knees and asking the Lord to forgive me, and then I would go to my family and do the same. Then I would solemnly swear to myself, “I'll never let that happen again!” Only to fail again in the near future.
No matter the sin you are struggling with, learn to “never say never” folks. It puts too much emphasis on your flesh and your flesh will fail you every single time. Rather, learn to lean on the Lord, and ask Him for deliverance from “never again” behaviors.
Good old brash Peter! Even if everyone else scatters Lord, don't you worry I will never leave You! I will die with You if I have to! Have you learned the lesson of “never” from Peter yet?
I know it took some hard knocks in my own Christian life to learn it. Here's the lesson: “Never say never!” I learned it while the Lord was dealing with my temper.
Oh, the times I would lose my temper in front of my wife and my children. It would always end up as a very embarrassing moment. Thankfully, I never struck anyone or even threatened to strike anyone, no one ever got hurt except maybe me when I would attempt to put my hand through a wall. But just losing one's temper, no matter how it is expressed, leaves scars. That's what sin does. It leaves scars.
May I just say here that if you struggle with anger....get help. Ask your pastor about some good anger management programs that are out there and avail yourself of them.
At the end of these embarrassing moments for myself, (and fear filled moments for my family,) I would literally go somewhere and cool off by getting on my knees and asking the Lord to forgive me, and then I would go to my family and do the same. Then I would solemnly swear to myself, “I'll never let that happen again!” Only to fail again in the near future.
No matter the sin you are struggling with, learn to “never say never” folks. It puts too much emphasis on your flesh and your flesh will fail you every single time. Rather, learn to lean on the Lord, and ask Him for deliverance from “never again” behaviors.
Monday, February 20, 2012
Leaving Jesus Behind In the Deadly Box
# 696 Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 14:27 Then Jesus said to them, "All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written: 'I will strike the Shepherd, And the sheep will be scattered.' 28 "But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee."
The word “stumble” here carries with it the idea of a trap. A crude trap that has bait on a stick and when you go for the bait, the box falls on you and you're trapped. The idea is the suddenness of the springing of the trap. None of the disciples will be prepared for their reaction when the trap is sprung. They will react as any animal would.....scatter....leaving Jesus behind in the deadly box.
This is an amazing prophecy from Jesus for the eleven. He knew of the trap, (the plans of men to arrest Him,) and certainly could not be caught in such a trap if He chose, but He willingly allows Himself to be caught! Joh 10:17 "Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. 18 "No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.”
This prophecy alone should be mind-boggling to the disciples, but there's more! He tells them that the Scriptures even speak of their scurrying off when the trap is sprung!
But best of all He promises them that in spite of His being caught in this deadly trap, and in spite of their abandonment, He looks forward to overcoming death, being released from the box and being together with them again in Galilee!
Father, thank You again for this sure prophetic Word, may it be a source of encouragement for all who hear it today.
The word “stumble” here carries with it the idea of a trap. A crude trap that has bait on a stick and when you go for the bait, the box falls on you and you're trapped. The idea is the suddenness of the springing of the trap. None of the disciples will be prepared for their reaction when the trap is sprung. They will react as any animal would.....scatter....leaving Jesus behind in the deadly box.
This is an amazing prophecy from Jesus for the eleven. He knew of the trap, (the plans of men to arrest Him,) and certainly could not be caught in such a trap if He chose, but He willingly allows Himself to be caught! Joh 10:17 "Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. 18 "No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.”
This prophecy alone should be mind-boggling to the disciples, but there's more! He tells them that the Scriptures even speak of their scurrying off when the trap is sprung!
But best of all He promises them that in spite of His being caught in this deadly trap, and in spite of their abandonment, He looks forward to overcoming death, being released from the box and being together with them again in Galilee!
Father, thank You again for this sure prophetic Word, may it be a source of encouragement for all who hear it today.
Sunday, February 19, 2012
In Heaven There Is No Beer
# 696 Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 14:25 "Assuredly, I say to you, I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God." 26 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
The polka band raucously sings, “In heaven there is no beer,” I think that's a pretty sound theological statement. (Although it is no excuse to drink it excessively while we live here on earth.)
But Jesus says here that there will be wine. Do we take Him literally or figuratively?
I don't know, I haven't been there yet, but I hope to find out! One thing I do know, if it is literal wine, it will make the most expensive bottle of French wine seem like Ripple. It will be beverage without flaw. (As will be all things in heaven.”)
But let's not miss the real point here. The point is Jesus is helping His disciples look forward to the wedding feast of the Lamb. The miracle at Cana should help us understand that weddings and wine are inseparable, because they foreshadow the second coming of Christ.
Jesus has been away preparing a mansion for His betrothed bride, and when He comes to fetch us, the eternal feast begins. All believers will be at table with Him, that is, in perfect fellowship with Him, and in perfect merriment for eternity.
Wine or no wine, what could be better than that?
Father, how we look forward to that day when Jesus will come and restore all things to perfection. Help us to endure until that Day.
The polka band raucously sings, “In heaven there is no beer,” I think that's a pretty sound theological statement. (Although it is no excuse to drink it excessively while we live here on earth.)
But Jesus says here that there will be wine. Do we take Him literally or figuratively?
I don't know, I haven't been there yet, but I hope to find out! One thing I do know, if it is literal wine, it will make the most expensive bottle of French wine seem like Ripple. It will be beverage without flaw. (As will be all things in heaven.”)
But let's not miss the real point here. The point is Jesus is helping His disciples look forward to the wedding feast of the Lamb. The miracle at Cana should help us understand that weddings and wine are inseparable, because they foreshadow the second coming of Christ.
Jesus has been away preparing a mansion for His betrothed bride, and when He comes to fetch us, the eternal feast begins. All believers will be at table with Him, that is, in perfect fellowship with Him, and in perfect merriment for eternity.
Wine or no wine, what could be better than that?
Father, how we look forward to that day when Jesus will come and restore all things to perfection. Help us to endure until that Day.
Saturday, February 18, 2012
We Should Call It the First Supper
# 694 Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 14:23 Then He took the cup, and when He had given thanks He gave it to them, and they all drank from it. 24 And He said to them, "This is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many.
The phrase, “then He took the cup,” connects His preceding act of blessing the bread with this new act of blessing the cup. Both acts were new and foreign to the disciples. And just as Jesus did something miraculous with the bread, (causing it to become His body) He now does something special to the wine in the cup. It becomes His blood. (What part of “This is” don't we understand?)
This consecrated bread and wine have become the body and blood of Jesus, which is the basis of God's New Covenant with His people. Whereas the Old covenant used the body and blood of animals to seal God's promise of forgiveness and redemption, the New Covenant uses the once for all sacrifice of the Body and pouring out of the Blood of Jesus. (The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
He then distributes His Body and Blood to His disciples (the church) and asks them to continue to distribute it until He comes again. (Do this often in remembrance of Me)
Because of this blessing by Jesus, this same Body and Blood is present wherever the Lords Supper is celebrated, and will be until our Lord returns. But how is that possible?
I don't know, how was it possible for Him to keep on distributing food to the 5000? How was it possible for Him to turn water into wine at the wedding in Cana?
Wine does not remit sins, only the blood of Jesus can accomplish this. And remission of sins is promised in Mt 26:28! "For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
We refer to this meal as “The Last Supper.” But you know what? I think we should call it “The First Supper” because it began this night and will continue wherever Christians gather until He comes again!
Listen to what Jesus had to say concerning His flesh and blood in Joh 6:53-55, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. 54 "Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 "For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. 56 "He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him.
This is why Christians everywhere celebrate this meal to this day! Read v55 again. What is He saying? He is saying that His flesh is bread indeed, and His blood is wine indeed. When did this miracle happen?
It happened on this night in which He was betrayed, and continues to happen within the parameters of this meal until He returns. That's why He commanded His church to “Do this as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” (1 Cor 11:25) and why He adds in 1 Cor 11:27, “ Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.”
He didn't say one would become guilty of the bread and wine of the Lord, he said “The Body and Blood of the Lord.” This IS His Body! This IS His Blood!
Father, this is such a difficult concept for our minds to grasp, but help us to grab onto these words through faith. Give us a holy hunger for what is promised to us in this Holy meal, namely the forgiveness of sins. Let us not try to figure it out, but just receive it as hungrily as the 5000 received the blessed bread and fish, and let us then leave the table with confident and thankful hearts, knowing that our sins have been remitted.
The phrase, “then He took the cup,” connects His preceding act of blessing the bread with this new act of blessing the cup. Both acts were new and foreign to the disciples. And just as Jesus did something miraculous with the bread, (causing it to become His body) He now does something special to the wine in the cup. It becomes His blood. (What part of “This is” don't we understand?)
This consecrated bread and wine have become the body and blood of Jesus, which is the basis of God's New Covenant with His people. Whereas the Old covenant used the body and blood of animals to seal God's promise of forgiveness and redemption, the New Covenant uses the once for all sacrifice of the Body and pouring out of the Blood of Jesus. (The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
He then distributes His Body and Blood to His disciples (the church) and asks them to continue to distribute it until He comes again. (Do this often in remembrance of Me)
Because of this blessing by Jesus, this same Body and Blood is present wherever the Lords Supper is celebrated, and will be until our Lord returns. But how is that possible?
I don't know, how was it possible for Him to keep on distributing food to the 5000? How was it possible for Him to turn water into wine at the wedding in Cana?
Wine does not remit sins, only the blood of Jesus can accomplish this. And remission of sins is promised in Mt 26:28! "For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
We refer to this meal as “The Last Supper.” But you know what? I think we should call it “The First Supper” because it began this night and will continue wherever Christians gather until He comes again!
Listen to what Jesus had to say concerning His flesh and blood in Joh 6:53-55, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. 54 "Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 "For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. 56 "He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him.
This is why Christians everywhere celebrate this meal to this day! Read v55 again. What is He saying? He is saying that His flesh is bread indeed, and His blood is wine indeed. When did this miracle happen?
It happened on this night in which He was betrayed, and continues to happen within the parameters of this meal until He returns. That's why He commanded His church to “Do this as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” (1 Cor 11:25) and why He adds in 1 Cor 11:27, “ Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.”
He didn't say one would become guilty of the bread and wine of the Lord, he said “The Body and Blood of the Lord.” This IS His Body! This IS His Blood!
Father, this is such a difficult concept for our minds to grasp, but help us to grab onto these words through faith. Give us a holy hunger for what is promised to us in this Holy meal, namely the forgiveness of sins. Let us not try to figure it out, but just receive it as hungrily as the 5000 received the blessed bread and fish, and let us then leave the table with confident and thankful hearts, knowing that our sins have been remitted.
Friday, February 17, 2012
Drunkenness; Beware of Strong Drink
# 693 Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 14:23 Then He took the cup, and when He had given thanks He gave it to them, and they all drank from it. 24 And He said to them, "This is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many.
Wine was a major part of the Passover meal. It was used 4 or 5 times during the ceremony. Now Jesus lifts the cup another time and prays a similar blessing over the wine that He had prayed over the bread.
Something special was about to take place with the wine, just as it had taken place with the bread.
By the way, this WAS wine. It had been fermented and contained alcohol. But it was not your mamas glass of wine. It had about the same kick as a glass of grape juice.
The wine used at Passover was mixed with three parts water. Anything less than that ratio of mixture in biblical times was considered “strong drink,” and strong drink could lead to drunkenness.
With this diluted mixture of water and wine, and the 4 or 5 cups that were part of the ceremony, there was no chance of getting tipsy.
By the way, this explains Jesus turning the water into wine at the wedding of Cana. He was not putting His stamp of approval on getting blasted. You can be sure he did not make “strong drink” but He made a good drink, one that was exceptionally tasty even with the watered down mixture.
We could all learn from this in our alcohol crazy society. Stay away from strong drink. Prov 20:1 says: “Wine is a mocker, Strong drink is a brawler, And whoever is led astray by it is not wise.”
Father, help us to overcome our love affair with “strong drink.” Let us learn to get high on thy Holy Spirit. As Your Word says: “And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,” (Eph 5:18)
Wine was a major part of the Passover meal. It was used 4 or 5 times during the ceremony. Now Jesus lifts the cup another time and prays a similar blessing over the wine that He had prayed over the bread.
Something special was about to take place with the wine, just as it had taken place with the bread.
By the way, this WAS wine. It had been fermented and contained alcohol. But it was not your mamas glass of wine. It had about the same kick as a glass of grape juice.
The wine used at Passover was mixed with three parts water. Anything less than that ratio of mixture in biblical times was considered “strong drink,” and strong drink could lead to drunkenness.
With this diluted mixture of water and wine, and the 4 or 5 cups that were part of the ceremony, there was no chance of getting tipsy.
By the way, this explains Jesus turning the water into wine at the wedding of Cana. He was not putting His stamp of approval on getting blasted. You can be sure he did not make “strong drink” but He made a good drink, one that was exceptionally tasty even with the watered down mixture.
We could all learn from this in our alcohol crazy society. Stay away from strong drink. Prov 20:1 says: “Wine is a mocker, Strong drink is a brawler, And whoever is led astray by it is not wise.”
Father, help us to overcome our love affair with “strong drink.” Let us learn to get high on thy Holy Spirit. As Your Word says: “And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,” (Eph 5:18)
Thursday, February 16, 2012
An Endless Giving of His Body
# 693 Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 14:22 “And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them and said, "Take, eat; this is My body."
“As they were eating.” As they were eating what? As they were eating the Passover meal. The Passover meal had many required parts to it. All of these parts were designed to remind the Old Testament church of God's past deliverance, and they pointed to His future deliverance through the Lamb of God who would take away the sin of the world....namely Jesus.
And so here He is, on the night that HE would be betrayed, on the night before His body would be given up and His blood spilled for the sin of the world. He pauses and introduces something totally new to the meal. Just imagine the thoughts of the disciples at this time!
What are You doing Jesus? We've never done this before. Why are You taking bread, blessing it, and distributing it to us? What does this mean? This must be something very special. Has this meal not already been blessed? Why take up bread and bless it again?
The disciples thoughts likely returned to the time that Jesus fed the 5,000, and the 4,000. Both times, He prayed a blessing, broke the bread and gave it to His disciples, and they then distributed the unlimited supply of bread and fish to the crowd.
God was about to do something miraculous with this bread. And He did! He said, “From now on, this bread is My body given for you. And just as the 5000 feasted and were satisfied with their meal, so we too have been spiritually fed and satisfied as often as we partake of this meal in remembrance of Him.
Here's a question for you. How many people do you think Jesus would've been able to feed, when He fed the 5000? Do you think He maybe would've run out at 5,001? 10,000? A million?
How many have tasted of the Lord's Table since this night of His passion? Untold millions, and, as many as will come, will continue tasting of it's mystical power until He comes again!
When I partake of the Lord's Supper, I like to put myself in the crowd of the 5000. They were physically hungry, I am spiritually hungry. I eagerly anticipate receiving His Body and Blood for the forgiveness of my sins.
And when I leave the table, I try to put myself in the shoes of the 5000 as well. Perfectly fed, fully satisfied. Thankful that my sins have been forgiven and washed away by His blood.
“As they were eating.” As they were eating what? As they were eating the Passover meal. The Passover meal had many required parts to it. All of these parts were designed to remind the Old Testament church of God's past deliverance, and they pointed to His future deliverance through the Lamb of God who would take away the sin of the world....namely Jesus.
And so here He is, on the night that HE would be betrayed, on the night before His body would be given up and His blood spilled for the sin of the world. He pauses and introduces something totally new to the meal. Just imagine the thoughts of the disciples at this time!
What are You doing Jesus? We've never done this before. Why are You taking bread, blessing it, and distributing it to us? What does this mean? This must be something very special. Has this meal not already been blessed? Why take up bread and bless it again?
The disciples thoughts likely returned to the time that Jesus fed the 5,000, and the 4,000. Both times, He prayed a blessing, broke the bread and gave it to His disciples, and they then distributed the unlimited supply of bread and fish to the crowd.
God was about to do something miraculous with this bread. And He did! He said, “From now on, this bread is My body given for you. And just as the 5000 feasted and were satisfied with their meal, so we too have been spiritually fed and satisfied as often as we partake of this meal in remembrance of Him.
Here's a question for you. How many people do you think Jesus would've been able to feed, when He fed the 5000? Do you think He maybe would've run out at 5,001? 10,000? A million?
How many have tasted of the Lord's Table since this night of His passion? Untold millions, and, as many as will come, will continue tasting of it's mystical power until He comes again!
When I partake of the Lord's Supper, I like to put myself in the crowd of the 5000. They were physically hungry, I am spiritually hungry. I eagerly anticipate receiving His Body and Blood for the forgiveness of my sins.
And when I leave the table, I try to put myself in the shoes of the 5000 as well. Perfectly fed, fully satisfied. Thankful that my sins have been forgiven and washed away by His blood.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
The Necessity of Godly Sorrow (Repentance)
# 692 Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 14:21 "The Son of Man indeed goes just as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had never been born."
Jesus, must travel this path of agony because that's the way God wrote the script. But woe to Judas. Jesus sees and knows the end of Judas. He sees and knows that Judas will be remorseful over his act of betrayal, and sadly He sees that Judas will not understand that even this act of betrayal is a forgivable sin.
Make no mistake about it, Judas is in hell. In the Gospel of John Jesus refers to Judas as the “son of perdition,” which means he belongs to the damned.
Here's the problem for Judas. He had sorrow over his sin, but he did not have godly sorrow. Godly sorrow, simply put, is admitting that your actions have offended a holy God!
It's this kind of sorrow that led to David's restoration with God after his sin with Bathsheba. He confessed, “I have sinned against the Lord!” It is this admission that opens the door to God's healing grace and forgiveness.
Until David made that confession, we read in the psalms that his actions with Bathseba and the murder of her husband really bothered him. Ps 38:3 There is no soundness in my flesh Because of Your anger, Nor any health in my bones Because of my sin.
But his focus was on the people he had offended. He forgot that sin is an offense against God! Likewise Judas viewed his act of betrayal as a sin that resulted in harm to another, but he never made the connection that he had sinned against God.
Since he never got to that point, he could not grasp the idea that God could and would forgive him. So you see, the only unforgivable sin is the outright rejection of God's plan of salvation through Jesus Christ.
Are you struggling with uncertainty about forgiveness? Many times the post-abortive man or woman fall into this trap of having sorrow over what they did to their unborn baby, but not realizing that the real issue is they have offended a holy God. A holy God who is also a loving God and yearns to forgive and heal them, but relief will not come to them until they join David in his confession. “I have sinned against the Lord.”
I have used the sin of abortion as an example, but this admission applies for every sin in our lives.
It's true that when we sin, we let others down, but until we realize that we have let God down, true forgiveness and healing will escape us.
Beloved, we do not have to end up like Judas. There is no sin that God will not forgive. No sin that Jesus did not pay for. And the starting point of forgiveness is that confession to God, that it is against Him that we have sinned.
1Jo 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Jesus, must travel this path of agony because that's the way God wrote the script. But woe to Judas. Jesus sees and knows the end of Judas. He sees and knows that Judas will be remorseful over his act of betrayal, and sadly He sees that Judas will not understand that even this act of betrayal is a forgivable sin.
Make no mistake about it, Judas is in hell. In the Gospel of John Jesus refers to Judas as the “son of perdition,” which means he belongs to the damned.
Here's the problem for Judas. He had sorrow over his sin, but he did not have godly sorrow. Godly sorrow, simply put, is admitting that your actions have offended a holy God!
It's this kind of sorrow that led to David's restoration with God after his sin with Bathsheba. He confessed, “I have sinned against the Lord!” It is this admission that opens the door to God's healing grace and forgiveness.
Until David made that confession, we read in the psalms that his actions with Bathseba and the murder of her husband really bothered him. Ps 38:3 There is no soundness in my flesh Because of Your anger, Nor any health in my bones Because of my sin.
But his focus was on the people he had offended. He forgot that sin is an offense against God! Likewise Judas viewed his act of betrayal as a sin that resulted in harm to another, but he never made the connection that he had sinned against God.
Since he never got to that point, he could not grasp the idea that God could and would forgive him. So you see, the only unforgivable sin is the outright rejection of God's plan of salvation through Jesus Christ.
Are you struggling with uncertainty about forgiveness? Many times the post-abortive man or woman fall into this trap of having sorrow over what they did to their unborn baby, but not realizing that the real issue is they have offended a holy God. A holy God who is also a loving God and yearns to forgive and heal them, but relief will not come to them until they join David in his confession. “I have sinned against the Lord.”
I have used the sin of abortion as an example, but this admission applies for every sin in our lives.
It's true that when we sin, we let others down, but until we realize that we have let God down, true forgiveness and healing will escape us.
Beloved, we do not have to end up like Judas. There is no sin that God will not forgive. No sin that Jesus did not pay for. And the starting point of forgiveness is that confession to God, that it is against Him that we have sinned.
1Jo 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Double-dipping With Jesus
# 692 Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 14:19,20 And they began to be sorrowful, and to say to Him one by one, "Is it I?" And another said, "Is it I?" 20 He answered and said to them, "It is one of the twelve, who dips with Me in the dish.
The sorrowful ones asked Jesus one by one, Is it I?” The unsorrowful one is separated from the 11 here with the words, “And ANOTHER said, is it I?” This can be no one but Judas. (No sorrow) Jesus doesn't give a specific name, but rather a specific act. “one who dips with me in the dish.”
It was not uncommon in the days of Jesus, to share a bowl for dipping bread with others at meal. ” We have a modern day example of this practice of dipping in a dish. We call it double dipping. Taking a tortilla chip, dipping it into the salsa, biting half of it and then sticking it in the salsa again. “Yuck!” This is a social no no in our world.
Yet if you would allow for someone to double dip, who would it be? It would be someone whom you deeply trusted and cared for. And that is the point that Jesus is making here.
It had to be someone seated near Jesus and sharing the same bowl, someone who would dip in the same bowl feigning love and trust, for the sake of personal gain. That someone was Judas, and this act of intimacy with Jesus makes his betrayal all the worse.
Woe to those who are willing to give up Jesus after being intimate with Him. Woe to those who lack sorrow.
Father, thank You for being willing to “double dip” with such a sinner as I. Keep my love for You and my loyalty to You forever aflame.
The sorrowful ones asked Jesus one by one, Is it I?” The unsorrowful one is separated from the 11 here with the words, “And ANOTHER said, is it I?” This can be no one but Judas. (No sorrow) Jesus doesn't give a specific name, but rather a specific act. “one who dips with me in the dish.”
It was not uncommon in the days of Jesus, to share a bowl for dipping bread with others at meal. ” We have a modern day example of this practice of dipping in a dish. We call it double dipping. Taking a tortilla chip, dipping it into the salsa, biting half of it and then sticking it in the salsa again. “Yuck!” This is a social no no in our world.
Yet if you would allow for someone to double dip, who would it be? It would be someone whom you deeply trusted and cared for. And that is the point that Jesus is making here.
It had to be someone seated near Jesus and sharing the same bowl, someone who would dip in the same bowl feigning love and trust, for the sake of personal gain. That someone was Judas, and this act of intimacy with Jesus makes his betrayal all the worse.
Woe to those who are willing to give up Jesus after being intimate with Him. Woe to those who lack sorrow.
Father, thank You for being willing to “double dip” with such a sinner as I. Keep my love for You and my loyalty to You forever aflame.
Monday, February 13, 2012
Never Underestimate The Evil You Are Capable Of
# 691 Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 14:17 In the evening He came with the twelve. 18 Now as they sat and ate, Jesus said, "Assuredly, I say to you, one of you who eats with Me will betray Me." 19 And they began to be sorrowful, and to say to Him one by one, "Is it I?" And another said, "Is it I?"
Jesus and His precious twelve. The twelve that He had chosen to be a part of His ministry after spending a night in prayer. The twelve that he had empowered to go out and deliver people from disease and demons, now gathered with Him to celebrate the Jewish passover meal.
At some point during the meal, He drops the bombshell. “One of you here tonight, eating with Me will betray me! The word betray here means to yield up. They all knew exactly what He meant. Someone was going to yield Jesus up to the authorities.
They also knew enough about their Master that He knew how this betrayal would take place. Only one disciple had the same knowledge. One by one they ask Him, “Jesus will it be me? Will something happen in my heart that will turn me against You? Oh Jesus say it isn't me!
Why would the eleven have to ask such a question? Why couldn't the eleven just say, “Well it's not going to be me?” I believe the Holy Spirit has a very valuable lesson for each of us here. DON'T PUT ANYTHING PAST THE WICKED CAPABILITIES OF YOUR HEART. Jer 17:9 says, "The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?.”
Beloved, know this about your own heart and pray that Jesus will guard it from ever abandoning Him.
Father, rescue me from my own evil heart. Let me never underestimate the evil that I am capable of.
Jesus and His precious twelve. The twelve that He had chosen to be a part of His ministry after spending a night in prayer. The twelve that he had empowered to go out and deliver people from disease and demons, now gathered with Him to celebrate the Jewish passover meal.
At some point during the meal, He drops the bombshell. “One of you here tonight, eating with Me will betray me! The word betray here means to yield up. They all knew exactly what He meant. Someone was going to yield Jesus up to the authorities.
They also knew enough about their Master that He knew how this betrayal would take place. Only one disciple had the same knowledge. One by one they ask Him, “Jesus will it be me? Will something happen in my heart that will turn me against You? Oh Jesus say it isn't me!
Why would the eleven have to ask such a question? Why couldn't the eleven just say, “Well it's not going to be me?” I believe the Holy Spirit has a very valuable lesson for each of us here. DON'T PUT ANYTHING PAST THE WICKED CAPABILITIES OF YOUR HEART. Jer 17:9 says, "The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?.”
Beloved, know this about your own heart and pray that Jesus will guard it from ever abandoning Him.
Father, rescue me from my own evil heart. Let me never underestimate the evil that I am capable of.
Sunday, February 12, 2012
The Uninterrupted Meal
# 690 Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 14:12 Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they killed the Passover lamb, His disciples said to Him, "Where do You want us to go and prepare, that You may eat the Passover?" 13 And He sent out two of His disciples and said to them, "Go into the city, and a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him. 14 "Wherever he goes in, say to the master of the house, 'The Teacher says, "Where is the guest room in which I may eat the Passover with My disciples?"' 15 "Then he will show you a large upper room, furnished and prepared; there make ready for us." 16 So His disciples went out, and came into the city, and found it just as He had said to them; and they prepared the Passover.
It was time to make the preparations for the Passover meal. Note the instructions given to the two disciples. (Peter and John according to Luke's account) Even they would not know where the meal would be eaten. They were to look for the unusual sign of a man carrying water, (usually women's work) and follow him to their destination. Why the secrecy?
Because Judas was not to know where this place would be. The Last Supper would not suffer interruption by those wishing to arrest Jesus. He will institute it this night and it will continue in His Church, uninterrupted, until he comes again.
This is the way perfect fellowship with Jesus should be, and one day it will be fully realized in heaven at the marriage feast of the Lamb. Imagine if you will, perfect fellowship with Jesus and others, with no more interruptions from the enemies of Christ!
When you think about it, isn't that what the devil and his demons are all about. Using any and all means possible to either prevent or interrupt our fellowship with Jesus. Don't allow him to keep you away from the Lord's Table. Celebrate this sacred meal often, for Jesus Himself said, This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me." (1 Cor 11:25)
Father, strengthen our resolve for fellowship with You through Your Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen
It was time to make the preparations for the Passover meal. Note the instructions given to the two disciples. (Peter and John according to Luke's account) Even they would not know where the meal would be eaten. They were to look for the unusual sign of a man carrying water, (usually women's work) and follow him to their destination. Why the secrecy?
Because Judas was not to know where this place would be. The Last Supper would not suffer interruption by those wishing to arrest Jesus. He will institute it this night and it will continue in His Church, uninterrupted, until he comes again.
This is the way perfect fellowship with Jesus should be, and one day it will be fully realized in heaven at the marriage feast of the Lamb. Imagine if you will, perfect fellowship with Jesus and others, with no more interruptions from the enemies of Christ!
When you think about it, isn't that what the devil and his demons are all about. Using any and all means possible to either prevent or interrupt our fellowship with Jesus. Don't allow him to keep you away from the Lord's Table. Celebrate this sacred meal often, for Jesus Himself said, This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me." (1 Cor 11:25)
Father, strengthen our resolve for fellowship with You through Your Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Beware of Snits
# 689 Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 14:10 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Him to them. 11 And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. So he sought how he might conveniently betray Him.
In John's account of this event, we know it was Judas who said, “Why wasn't the money spent on this perfume given to the poor?” And Jesus replied to him, “leave her alone.”
Isn't it amazing that such a seemingly mild rebuke can trigger such a major snit?
Admit it, there have been times when those closest to you have rebuked you and you went off on your own little snit! “I'll show him!” or “I'll show her!” There's a little bit of Judas in all of us.
Never forget that Judas was a thief. Money was the most important thing in his life, and this money spent on perfume could've been in the treasury where he could've gotten his greedy little hands on it. And in the mind of a thief, he believes he is now owed some re-imbursement. And he had an idea where he might get it.
Why not turn Jesus over to the authorities? Surely they would be willing to pay him to turn Jesus over to them in such a way that the arrest would be done quietly without stirring up the masses!
I don't think Judas believed the situation would get that far out of hand. Well, it did, and you know what?
We should all think about that before we go off in our little snits.
Father, guard my heart, from this mindset. Let me be open to rebuke, lest my mind and heart become a playground for the devil,
In John's account of this event, we know it was Judas who said, “Why wasn't the money spent on this perfume given to the poor?” And Jesus replied to him, “leave her alone.”
Isn't it amazing that such a seemingly mild rebuke can trigger such a major snit?
Admit it, there have been times when those closest to you have rebuked you and you went off on your own little snit! “I'll show him!” or “I'll show her!” There's a little bit of Judas in all of us.
Never forget that Judas was a thief. Money was the most important thing in his life, and this money spent on perfume could've been in the treasury where he could've gotten his greedy little hands on it. And in the mind of a thief, he believes he is now owed some re-imbursement. And he had an idea where he might get it.
Why not turn Jesus over to the authorities? Surely they would be willing to pay him to turn Jesus over to them in such a way that the arrest would be done quietly without stirring up the masses!
I don't think Judas believed the situation would get that far out of hand. Well, it did, and you know what?
We should all think about that before we go off in our little snits.
Father, guard my heart, from this mindset. Let me be open to rebuke, lest my mind and heart become a playground for the devil,
Friday, February 10, 2012
Prepared For the Next Prophetic Event
# 688 Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 14:8 "She has done what she could. She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial. 9 "Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her."
Mary. Good old sit at the feet of Jesus Mary. She got it, most of the others didn't. That should tell us something about the importance of sitting at the feet of Jesus.
Oh, how important it is to take in His Word.
While others blew off his statements about going to Jerusalem to be crucified and buried, or just didn't want to talk about it, Mary took Him literally and prepared for the event. I wonder how long she had this oil in her possession?
With great foresight she breaks out the oil now while Jesus is with her, because who knows what kind of chaos will surround the crucifixion, making it impossible to do any anointing. Mary was prepared for this event and her preparedness will be spoken of wherever the gospel is preached. Because it begs us to answer the question, “are we prepared for the next prophetic event of the Lord?
Are we ready for His return? Those who have sat at the feet of Jesus know that He is coming soon, and we know better than to be like the foolish virgins who did not keep the oil in their lamps. Be prepared! Walk in the Spirit. Keep the oil flowing through contrition, repentance, and absolution.
Father, I can get so sloppy with this gift of faith. Lukewarmness seeks to overtake me at every turn. Guard my heart. Let me ever be open to correction, and give me the desire to follow hard after Jesus, ever relying on Your mercy and strength. God, give me oil in my lamp I pray.
Mary. Good old sit at the feet of Jesus Mary. She got it, most of the others didn't. That should tell us something about the importance of sitting at the feet of Jesus.
Oh, how important it is to take in His Word.
While others blew off his statements about going to Jerusalem to be crucified and buried, or just didn't want to talk about it, Mary took Him literally and prepared for the event. I wonder how long she had this oil in her possession?
With great foresight she breaks out the oil now while Jesus is with her, because who knows what kind of chaos will surround the crucifixion, making it impossible to do any anointing. Mary was prepared for this event and her preparedness will be spoken of wherever the gospel is preached. Because it begs us to answer the question, “are we prepared for the next prophetic event of the Lord?
Are we ready for His return? Those who have sat at the feet of Jesus know that He is coming soon, and we know better than to be like the foolish virgins who did not keep the oil in their lamps. Be prepared! Walk in the Spirit. Keep the oil flowing through contrition, repentance, and absolution.
Father, I can get so sloppy with this gift of faith. Lukewarmness seeks to overtake me at every turn. Guard my heart. Let me ever be open to correction, and give me the desire to follow hard after Jesus, ever relying on Your mercy and strength. God, give me oil in my lamp I pray.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Poverty Provides Opportunity
# 686 Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 14:7 "For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you may do them good; but Me you do not have always.”
Have you ever considered this statement from Jesus about the poor? They will always be with us. We will have hunger and poverty issues until the Lord returns!
Why? Why doesn't Jesus just snap His fingers and alleviate the pain and suffering of poverty? He's telling us that no matter how much we do to rid the world of poverty, it will always be with us. Does that mean we should stop trying? Of course not!
First of all as we give to the poor, we become a living parable of the gospel. Giving to the poor is a picture of what God has done for us through Jesus. We are nothing but spiritual beggars, but God so loves us that He gave. No strings attached. And every time a poor person receives just a cup of cold water, from a follower of Jesus it is a snapshot of the gospel. Freely received, freely given.
Still another reason is that giving to the poor is one of the spiritual disciplines linked to the followers of Christ. It is right there with prayer and fasting. Jesus made that clear in the sermon on the Mount when he said, “when you give to the needy,” (Mt 6:2)
Did you catch the word, “when?” It's not a matter of IF we give to the poor. It is WHEN. Look for the opportunity.
Friend, are you a follower of Jesus Christ, then PLAN to give to the poor! Go over and above your tithe to your local congregation. Discipline yourself to set money aside for your local food pantry, or Food For the Poor, or World Vision, or any other trusted relief agency.
Remember, every time you do this, you are painting a picture of what Jesus did for you!
Have you ever considered this statement from Jesus about the poor? They will always be with us. We will have hunger and poverty issues until the Lord returns!
Why? Why doesn't Jesus just snap His fingers and alleviate the pain and suffering of poverty? He's telling us that no matter how much we do to rid the world of poverty, it will always be with us. Does that mean we should stop trying? Of course not!
First of all as we give to the poor, we become a living parable of the gospel. Giving to the poor is a picture of what God has done for us through Jesus. We are nothing but spiritual beggars, but God so loves us that He gave. No strings attached. And every time a poor person receives just a cup of cold water, from a follower of Jesus it is a snapshot of the gospel. Freely received, freely given.
Still another reason is that giving to the poor is one of the spiritual disciplines linked to the followers of Christ. It is right there with prayer and fasting. Jesus made that clear in the sermon on the Mount when he said, “when you give to the needy,” (Mt 6:2)
Did you catch the word, “when?” It's not a matter of IF we give to the poor. It is WHEN. Look for the opportunity.
Friend, are you a follower of Jesus Christ, then PLAN to give to the poor! Go over and above your tithe to your local congregation. Discipline yourself to set money aside for your local food pantry, or Food For the Poor, or World Vision, or any other trusted relief agency.
Remember, every time you do this, you are painting a picture of what Jesus did for you!
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Worthy of All Manner of Honor and Praise
# 686 Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 14:5b And they criticized her sharply.
6 But Jesus said, "Let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for Me. 7 "For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you may do them good; but Me you do not have always.
The murmurings of the heart found their escape through the sharp tongues of the disciples. They verbally got into her face about wasting this perfume on Jesus! In an obtuse way, they were in reality attacking Jesus. How could HE even allow this waste of money, He who is such a champion of the poor?
But Jesus intervenes for Mary immediately. “Let her alone!” “Back off boys! She is doing something incredibly good for Me. She is bestowing honor on Me sacrificially and in a tangible way.
She is like that person in your church who purchased something to enhance the beauty of the sanctuary. Sometimes we find ourselves grumbling like these disciples, but who are we to question their motives? They may have had a strong yearning to honor Christ in this way. Leave them alone. If their motive is wrong, God will deal with it.
In the meantime, why not let the fragrance of their offering bless you, instead of holding your nose and complaining about it. Why not pause and thank God for it, because no matter the motive, it gives you opportunity to pause and consider the honorable Son of God, who died for your sins!
Jesus, You are worthy of all honor and praise, let us learn to rejoice whenever and however we see that honor and praise bestowed.
6 But Jesus said, "Let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for Me. 7 "For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you may do them good; but Me you do not have always.
The murmurings of the heart found their escape through the sharp tongues of the disciples. They verbally got into her face about wasting this perfume on Jesus! In an obtuse way, they were in reality attacking Jesus. How could HE even allow this waste of money, He who is such a champion of the poor?
But Jesus intervenes for Mary immediately. “Let her alone!” “Back off boys! She is doing something incredibly good for Me. She is bestowing honor on Me sacrificially and in a tangible way.
She is like that person in your church who purchased something to enhance the beauty of the sanctuary. Sometimes we find ourselves grumbling like these disciples, but who are we to question their motives? They may have had a strong yearning to honor Christ in this way. Leave them alone. If their motive is wrong, God will deal with it.
In the meantime, why not let the fragrance of their offering bless you, instead of holding your nose and complaining about it. Why not pause and thank God for it, because no matter the motive, it gives you opportunity to pause and consider the honorable Son of God, who died for your sins!
Jesus, You are worthy of all honor and praise, let us learn to rejoice whenever and however we see that honor and praise bestowed.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Celebrate Your Forgiveness
# 685 Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 14:4 But there were some who were indignant among themselves, and said, "Why was this fragrant oil wasted?
5 "For it might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor." And they criticized her sharply.
The King James version says, “and there were some that had indignation within themselves.” Have you ever had indignation within yourself? You observe someone else's behavior and your first thought is “Well I never!” It happens all the time! It doesn't take much in this world to get our “self-righteousness” aroused. How many times have you seen extravagant spending and thought “Oh what a waste!.”
Well, here, some of the disciples were just churning on the inside. Why pour this expensive perfume on Jesus when the money spent on Him could've been given to the poor? But wait a minute.
Do you know that there was provision in the Old Testament for extravagant spending? It was found in what is called the second tithe. The first tithe went to support the church, but this second tithe was a little different, and you can read about it in Dt 14:22-29.
This second 10% was divided like this, one third went to the poor and 2/3 went to feasting before the Lord! Extravagant celebrations of His blessings. I wonder what that would look like today. 10% of your income to your church, then 1/3 of the next 10% to the poor, and then 2/3 of the second 10% for celebrating the goodness of God! Nice concept!
And what a great way to celebrate His forgiveness!
Father, You loved us extravagantly, let us learn to love extravagantly in return.
5 "For it might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor." And they criticized her sharply.
The King James version says, “and there were some that had indignation within themselves.” Have you ever had indignation within yourself? You observe someone else's behavior and your first thought is “Well I never!” It happens all the time! It doesn't take much in this world to get our “self-righteousness” aroused. How many times have you seen extravagant spending and thought “Oh what a waste!.”
Well, here, some of the disciples were just churning on the inside. Why pour this expensive perfume on Jesus when the money spent on Him could've been given to the poor? But wait a minute.
Do you know that there was provision in the Old Testament for extravagant spending? It was found in what is called the second tithe. The first tithe went to support the church, but this second tithe was a little different, and you can read about it in Dt 14:22-29.
This second 10% was divided like this, one third went to the poor and 2/3 went to feasting before the Lord! Extravagant celebrations of His blessings. I wonder what that would look like today. 10% of your income to your church, then 1/3 of the next 10% to the poor, and then 2/3 of the second 10% for celebrating the goodness of God! Nice concept!
And what a great way to celebrate His forgiveness!
Father, You loved us extravagantly, let us learn to love extravagantly in return.
Monday, February 6, 2012
If Jesus Is Our God, Shouldn't We Want More of Him?
# 684 Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 14:3 And being in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, as He sat at the table, a woman came having an alabaster flask of very costly oil of spikenard. Then she broke the flask and poured it on His head. 4 But there were some who were indignant among themselves, and said, "Why was this fragrant oil wasted?
This is one of those places in Scripture where it is very helpful to use cross-references. The most complete account of this event is found in John 12:1-8. It seems odd to us that Mark had just written that the religious rulers were plotting how to arrest Jesus on Tuesday of Holy week, but NOW Mark takes us back to the Friday BEFORE Palm Sunday.
This is strange to us. We want everything in chronological order. So why does the Holy Spirit do this? What does He want us to see?
Well, He wants us to see that the plot for arresting Jesus was underway, and this event at Simon the lepers house plays into it, and so we need to backtrack.
Who was complaining about wasting the money on perfume? John tells us it was Judas, and in John 12:6 we read, that Judas didn't say this because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief.”
A thief wants money and will do anything to get it. The motive is now established for the betrayal of the Son of God. Beware of covetousness my friend, it is a ruinous road.
And think about this: Money was Judas's God and he would do anything to have more of it. Is Jesus our God? Should we then not desire to have more of Him? No need to plot how to get more of Jesus, just seek to submit to Him and His Word.
Father, give me a heart that seeks more of Jesus.
This is one of those places in Scripture where it is very helpful to use cross-references. The most complete account of this event is found in John 12:1-8. It seems odd to us that Mark had just written that the religious rulers were plotting how to arrest Jesus on Tuesday of Holy week, but NOW Mark takes us back to the Friday BEFORE Palm Sunday.
This is strange to us. We want everything in chronological order. So why does the Holy Spirit do this? What does He want us to see?
Well, He wants us to see that the plot for arresting Jesus was underway, and this event at Simon the lepers house plays into it, and so we need to backtrack.
Who was complaining about wasting the money on perfume? John tells us it was Judas, and in John 12:6 we read, that Judas didn't say this because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief.”
A thief wants money and will do anything to get it. The motive is now established for the betrayal of the Son of God. Beware of covetousness my friend, it is a ruinous road.
And think about this: Money was Judas's God and he would do anything to have more of it. Is Jesus our God? Should we then not desire to have more of Him? No need to plot how to get more of Jesus, just seek to submit to Him and His Word.
Father, give me a heart that seeks more of Jesus.
Sunday, February 5, 2012
God Is In Charge
# 682 Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 14:1 After two days it was the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take Him by trickery and put Him to death. 2 But they said, "Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar of the people."
Beginning in this chapter, Mark begins to record for us the actual history of the Passion. It's Tuesday, just two days before the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. The chief priests and scribes have stopped bothering Jesus with their trick questions, because He just made them look like fools and they got down to the nitty gritty planning of how they could arrest Him and put Him to death.
So while Jesus was giving more last minute teaching to His disciples, the leaders were secretly meeting and plotting their dastardly deed. Notice their fear of the people. They had to do this in a way that would not create a “Rome” awakening riot.
Their initial plan here was to wait until after the feast, fewer people in town. But you know what, that would not do in God's plan. The timing for this event would be God's not theirs, and the Real Lamb of God would die during Passover as God intended.
Wait till we read on, and see how God altered their plans! God is in charge! Something we all need to remember when our own plans fall through.
Pr 19:21 There are many plans in a man's heart, Nevertheless the LORD'S counsel-that will stand.
Just imagine the freedom, one can live in when they fully embrace this truth!
Father, let me never forget Your Sovereignty, knowing that “all things work together for Your ultimate good!
Beginning in this chapter, Mark begins to record for us the actual history of the Passion. It's Tuesday, just two days before the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. The chief priests and scribes have stopped bothering Jesus with their trick questions, because He just made them look like fools and they got down to the nitty gritty planning of how they could arrest Him and put Him to death.
So while Jesus was giving more last minute teaching to His disciples, the leaders were secretly meeting and plotting their dastardly deed. Notice their fear of the people. They had to do this in a way that would not create a “Rome” awakening riot.
Their initial plan here was to wait until after the feast, fewer people in town. But you know what, that would not do in God's plan. The timing for this event would be God's not theirs, and the Real Lamb of God would die during Passover as God intended.
Wait till we read on, and see how God altered their plans! God is in charge! Something we all need to remember when our own plans fall through.
Pr 19:21 There are many plans in a man's heart, Nevertheless the LORD'S counsel-that will stand.
Just imagine the freedom, one can live in when they fully embrace this truth!
Father, let me never forget Your Sovereignty, knowing that “all things work together for Your ultimate good!
Saturday, February 4, 2012
The Snoring Doorkeeper
# 681 Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 13:34-37 "It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch. 35 "Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming--in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning-- 36 "lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. 37 "And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!"
Jesus has given His church authority. He has gifted all members for service, and His final admonition here is to the doorkeeper. The doorkeeper is the one who decides what will be allowed into the church.
Who is the doorkeeper? He is all of us. “I say to all, Watch!”
Don't get lackadaisical here. Jesus could return at any moment, and when He returns He does not want to find false teaching in His church. It WILL be there, just don't let it happen in your church.
2Ti 4:3 says, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.”
This is what happens when doorkeepers fall asleep. Anybody got some earplugs?...the sound of the snoring doorkeeper is killing me.
Pr 24:33 A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to rest; 34 So shall your poverty come like a prowler, And your need like an armed man.
Right now, here in America, the church is experiencing spiritual poverty and need, because we have fallen asleep.
Father, “according to our own desires” we have sidestepped many truths we consider “inconvenient.” Raise up refreshed and alert doorkeepers in Your church. Give us people who once again fear You more than men.
Jesus has given His church authority. He has gifted all members for service, and His final admonition here is to the doorkeeper. The doorkeeper is the one who decides what will be allowed into the church.
Who is the doorkeeper? He is all of us. “I say to all, Watch!”
Don't get lackadaisical here. Jesus could return at any moment, and when He returns He does not want to find false teaching in His church. It WILL be there, just don't let it happen in your church.
2Ti 4:3 says, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.”
This is what happens when doorkeepers fall asleep. Anybody got some earplugs?...the sound of the snoring doorkeeper is killing me.
Pr 24:33 A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to rest; 34 So shall your poverty come like a prowler, And your need like an armed man.
Right now, here in America, the church is experiencing spiritual poverty and need, because we have fallen asleep.
Father, “according to our own desires” we have sidestepped many truths we consider “inconvenient.” Raise up refreshed and alert doorkeepers in Your church. Give us people who once again fear You more than men.
Friday, February 3, 2012
There Is Work For You
# 681 Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 13:34 "It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch.
Jesus seeks to explain to His disciples what's going to happen when He ascends into heaven. Today, let's look at this business of assigning work to His servants.
Eph 4:8 says, “Therefore He says: "When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men."” These gifts are mentioned in several places in Scripture:
Eph 4:11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,
In Ro 12:6-8 we see other gifts listed such as, prophecy, ministry, teaching, exhortation, giving, leadership, and mercy, and in 1Co 12:28, we read, “ And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.
All of these gifts given to individuals in His church for the purpose of taking care of His household, His church until He returns. We were all saved to be a part of building up His Church! Friend, there is work for you in your local congregation. Stop standing around! Get involved. Pew sitting and apathy are not an option!
Pray with me now. Father, I don't know where I fit in, but I know I need to be a part of what Your church is doing. Help me to see my role and don't let me miss my opportunities to fulfill it.
Jesus seeks to explain to His disciples what's going to happen when He ascends into heaven. Today, let's look at this business of assigning work to His servants.
Eph 4:8 says, “Therefore He says: "When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men."” These gifts are mentioned in several places in Scripture:
Eph 4:11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,
In Ro 12:6-8 we see other gifts listed such as, prophecy, ministry, teaching, exhortation, giving, leadership, and mercy, and in 1Co 12:28, we read, “ And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.
All of these gifts given to individuals in His church for the purpose of taking care of His household, His church until He returns. We were all saved to be a part of building up His Church! Friend, there is work for you in your local congregation. Stop standing around! Get involved. Pew sitting and apathy are not an option!
Pray with me now. Father, I don't know where I fit in, but I know I need to be a part of what Your church is doing. Help me to see my role and don't let me miss my opportunities to fulfill it.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Christian Bouncers
# 680 Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 13:34 "It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch.
Jesus seeks to explain to His disciples what's going to happen when He ascends into heaven. First of all, before He leaves He is going to give full authority to His servants to run His household, (the church) while he's gone.
His church has the authority to forgive sins or to retain them. Joh 20:23 says "If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." This is the business of the church. And it is accomplished through the proclamation of the Gospel and the assertion that faith in Jesus is the only way to have sins removed. Anything less than faith in Jesus (or even more when we seek to add our own works or the works of others to the salvation formula) causes individuals to retain their sins.
Only those who have received the gift of “Jesus only faith” and continue to walk in that faith will have the clean slate that allows them into heaven. (whoever believes and is baptized will be saved- Mr 16:16) Anyone with retained sins will be left out in the cold.
In this sense the church is the doorkeeper, forever making sure that the proper credentials for entering the church are upheld and proclaimed. We must not doze off in this matter. It is to be faithfully proclaimed until the Lord returns. Joh 14:6 says, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
Father, help us to get on track and stay on track in this matter of doorkeeping. Sometimes we are too lenient and sometimes we are too strict when we proclaim the proper credentials. Let us not add to or takeaway from Your clear requirements.
Jesus seeks to explain to His disciples what's going to happen when He ascends into heaven. First of all, before He leaves He is going to give full authority to His servants to run His household, (the church) while he's gone.
His church has the authority to forgive sins or to retain them. Joh 20:23 says "If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." This is the business of the church. And it is accomplished through the proclamation of the Gospel and the assertion that faith in Jesus is the only way to have sins removed. Anything less than faith in Jesus (or even more when we seek to add our own works or the works of others to the salvation formula) causes individuals to retain their sins.
Only those who have received the gift of “Jesus only faith” and continue to walk in that faith will have the clean slate that allows them into heaven. (whoever believes and is baptized will be saved- Mr 16:16) Anyone with retained sins will be left out in the cold.
In this sense the church is the doorkeeper, forever making sure that the proper credentials for entering the church are upheld and proclaimed. We must not doze off in this matter. It is to be faithfully proclaimed until the Lord returns. Joh 14:6 says, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
Father, help us to get on track and stay on track in this matter of doorkeeping. Sometimes we are too lenient and sometimes we are too strict when we proclaim the proper credentials. Let us not add to or takeaway from Your clear requirements.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
The Parable of the Great Commission
# 679 Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 13:34 "It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch.
For those who don't understand His discussion about the end times, Jesus uses an illustration that all are able to comprehend. He says, “it's like this.”
A man (Jesus) is going away to a far country. (Jesus is going to ascend to heaven) Before He leaves, He arranges His household (His church) in such a way that they will be able to carry on His work while He is gone. He gives them full authority in His absence.
Authority to do what? To continue His work in His absence. What was His work? His work while He was here was to make Himself known as the Son of God, and to give a clear picture of what it means to be in the kingdom of God.
In essence, this is the great “authorization.” the great commission of His church . He said in Mt 28:19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you;
Lesson # 1 here, is that while He is gone, we are to be about this work.
So, how are we doing? Are we making it known to others by declaration, that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God? And are we painting a clear picture of what Kingdom living is all about? Can the world look at our lives and see a stark contrast to the way they are living?
They will only see it, when we stop picking and choosing what we will obey from Scripture, and start submitting to all of God's Word. And they will only see it, when we openly and honestly bring our failings to the cross.
Father, Holy Spirit, teach me Your ways, that sinners may be converted to You (Ps 51:13)
For those who don't understand His discussion about the end times, Jesus uses an illustration that all are able to comprehend. He says, “it's like this.”
A man (Jesus) is going away to a far country. (Jesus is going to ascend to heaven) Before He leaves, He arranges His household (His church) in such a way that they will be able to carry on His work while He is gone. He gives them full authority in His absence.
Authority to do what? To continue His work in His absence. What was His work? His work while He was here was to make Himself known as the Son of God, and to give a clear picture of what it means to be in the kingdom of God.
In essence, this is the great “authorization.” the great commission of His church . He said in Mt 28:19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you;
Lesson # 1 here, is that while He is gone, we are to be about this work.
So, how are we doing? Are we making it known to others by declaration, that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God? And are we painting a clear picture of what Kingdom living is all about? Can the world look at our lives and see a stark contrast to the way they are living?
They will only see it, when we stop picking and choosing what we will obey from Scripture, and start submitting to all of God's Word. And they will only see it, when we openly and honestly bring our failings to the cross.
Father, Holy Spirit, teach me Your ways, that sinners may be converted to You (Ps 51:13)
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