AUGUST 15, 2009 SATURDAY SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 19
TEXT http://net.bible.org/bible.php?book=Mat&chapter=19#n23
MESSAGE
“Divorce”
After addressing Peter’s questions about forgiveness, Jesus went across the Jordan River to Judea where he healed many in the large crowds who followed Him there before some Pharisees came to test him by asking Him whether it was lawful for man to divorce his wife for any reason – something they said Moses permitted. Jesus responded by quoting from the Creation Story about a man being united to his wife with the two becoming one flesh – adding that what God has joined together, no one should separate. He told them that Moses allowed them to divorce only because they were heartless, and he told them if they divorce their wife for any reason other than for sexual sin, they will be committing adultery if they remarry. Jesus’ response to the Pharisees resulted in his disciples stating that if what he was saying about divorce is true it would be better not to get married. Jesus told them that there are certain men whose lives aren’t given to marriage including those who are eunuchs from birth, those who are made eunuchs through castration, and those who are in effect eunuchs because they remain celibate or sexually fast as a spiritual sacrifice to the LORD.
“Children”
When little children were brought by their parents to Jesus to lay his hands on and pray for them, the disciples began scolding the parents even though Jesus had already told them who the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven were the importance of treating them properly, e.g. not looking down on them and the Heavenly ramifications for doing so. Jesus told the disciples to stop what they were doing and the children came to Him. After placing His hands on them He moved on.
“The Rich”
After this a man approached Jesus and asked Him what good thing he needed to do to earn eternal life. Jesus told him there is only one who is good-God, that no one can do enough good to earn eternal life. However, Jesus told him if he wanted to have eternal life he needed to keep the commandments to which he responded, which ones? Listing several commandments, the man said he had obeyed them all but wondered what he still needed to do. At this point Jesus addressed the man's issue of coveting by telling him if he wanted to perfect at obeying all the commandments he needed to sell all his possessions and give his money to the poor at which point his treasure would be in Heaven. After doing this, Jesus said to come and follow Him. Not expecting to hear this, the man left very sad because he was very rich and wasn’t able to do what Jesus told to do because he loved his money more than God.
After the man left Jesus told his disciples how difficult it is for someone who is rich to receive eternal life emphasizing what he said by stating the impossible - that there is a greater possibility of a camel going through the eye of a needle than a rich person receiving eternal life. Since the disciples associated riches with God’s blessing, they were totally confused and asked Jesus if the rich couldn’t be saved then who could be? Jesus responded by telling them that eternal life is impossible for humans to attain whether they are rich or poor but that nothing is impossible for God. This led to Peter asking Jesus what was in store for the disciples in light of the sacrifices they have made in following Him. Jesus told Peter that when all things are renewed and when He was His Heavenly throne, the disciples would sit on twelve thrones and judge the twelve tribes of Israel. In addition, He told Peter whoever has left there house, family, and/or work to follow Him will receive a hundred times more and eternal life. Jesus went on to add that many who have been first in this life will be last in eternal life and many who have been last in this life will be first in eternal life.
TEACHING
Traveling towards Jerusalem, once inside Judea Jesus heals many people in the large crowds following Him giving further evidence that he is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. However, once in Judea, he is soon tested by the Pharisees with a question about whether a man is permitted to divorce his wife for any reason. The permitted reasons for divorce in Jewish society was a conflict even amongst the Jews and therefore they likely raised this question Jesus with the intent of trying to trap Him on this issue in the Herod’s district where John the Baptist lost his life over confronting Herod about remarrying his brother’s wife. The question was also a reflection of the Pharisees’ hard hearts – something Jesus pointed out as the reason Moses had permitted liberal divorce in the first place. Jesus answered their question by referring back to Genesis which based marriage in the creation thereby defining divorce as unnatural and rebellion against God. He discussed divorce as permittible only under the condition of sexual sin since this broke the “one flesh” basis of marriage in the story of creation. Ignoring what he said about the creation, his disciples questioned whether it was therefore better not to marry and he told them that some are called to live unmarried, although he didn't say say this option was preferable.
In fact, immediately after this encounter with the Pharisees, little children were brought by their parents to have Jesus place his hands on and pray for them indicating one of the glorious results of marriage – children, who although had recently been highlighted as the greatest in the kingdom of heaven due to their humility and faith, were kept from coming to Him by the disciples who reprimanded the parents for bothering Jesus with them. Jesus intervened with his disciples, the children came to Him, he placed his hands on them and when He was finished they moved on.
After this, Jesus is approached by a child who has grown up to become a very wealthy man who has everything and who asks Jesus what good thing he must do in order to have, to earn like he has obtained everything else he owns, eternal life. Jesus immediately corrects him that there is only one who is good-God-and that he can not earn the goodness of God by anything he does in life. However, despite telling him this he goes on to show him the impossibility of earning eternal life by telling him that if he wants to attain it he needs to keep the commandments to which the man ask him which commandments he needs to keep. Jesus responds by listing the 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th & 5th commandments of Exodus 20 as well as that he must love his neighbor as himself to with the man stated that he has obeyed all of them. Still lacking assurance, he asks Jesus what else he needs to do at which point Jesus tells him that to perfectly follow the commandments he needs to follow Him as the Christ, the Son of the Living God, above anything else and that in order to do this he needs to first need sell all of his possessions and give away all of his money to the poor. At this, the man went home sad because he was rich and was aware that his riches were competing for first place in his heart for God.
Afterwards, Jesus discussed with his disciples the impossibility of the rich entering eternal life because of how their money and possessions compete for first place in their heart with God like with the man who had just left them. He used the analogy of the impossibility of a camel going through the eye of a needle to illustrate just how impossible it is for the rich to receive eternal life. The disciples were confused by this because the understanding during their day was that those who were wealthy had been blessed by God and if they had been blessed by God they were on the road to eternal life. Their understanding of who receives eternal life was turned upside down until Jesus told them that eternal life is impossible for anyone, rich or poor to earn, but what is impossible for people to do, is possible for God to do. This led to Peter raising a concern of the disciples that with all they had sacrificed in following Jesus what their reward would be. Jesus told him that they would receive eternal life and be greatly reward in the Kingdom of Heaven including being given the position of sitting in judgment of the twelve tribes of Israel who failed to believe in Him as the Christ, the Son of the Living God. Jesus also reminded the disciples that many who have been privileged in this life with positions of power and wealth will be last in the Kingdom of Heaven and many in this life who have been in need and have lived powerless and in poverty will be first in the Kingdom of Heaven.
HEALING
Our Father in Heaven, we give You praise for all the people Your Son healed when he entered Judea on his journey towards Jerusalem and we give You praise for all the people who have been Healed – Saved by Your Son’s sacrifice since his death and resurrection because they have confessed Him as the Christ, the Son of the Living God. We also give You praise for all who are healed physically, emotionally, and spiritually today because of the power of Your Holy Spirit whether Your Spirit works supernaturally or naturally through Your gifts of medicine and therapy.
Our Father in Heaven, we thank You for Your creation basis of marriage and ask that Your Spirit protect the basis of all marriages from harm so that divorce can occur less and less in this world because it goes against Your plan and in this way is unnatural. We acknowledge the great pain and suffering associated with the broken relationships of divorce within a family and the children who are the most vulnerability to this pain and suffering when divorce occurs. We ask for Your Son’s healing touch and prayer for these children whether they are young or whether have grown up in the way he touched and prayed for the children whose parents brought them to Him In Judea. We also thank You for the vital relationships in life for those in the Kingdom who are not given to marriage. We pray that You sustain them through these relationships modeled on the amongst You as Father, Your Son and Your Holy Spirit.
Our Father in Heaven, help us to escape the behavioral way in which we are raised in which we learn at an early age we get something by doing something. Lord, this is so deeply ingrained in us at such an early age that it is difficult to break free of this way of thinking. It makes us feel unworthy unless we do something to earn our value. Lord it makes it hard to receive something of value unconditionally – especially the love of another and especially the Gift of eternal life which is impossible for us to attain on our own, for us to earn because of good works, although it is not impossible for You to give us as You have-through the death and resurrection of Your Son who died on the Cross with the weight of all Sin for all time placed upon Him. Lord help us to received and be assured of our eternal life by creating in us the humble faith of a child in what You Son has done for us so that our heart is not divided between the things of this world and You, so that there is no doubt in our minds that You take first place, and so that we do not walk away like the rich man suffering and sad because of our awareness of our inability to place You ahead of our money and possession and part with whatever You ask us to in this world in order to follow Your Son.
Our Father in Heaven, humble us so that we are among the last in this world.
In Jesus Name, Amen.
SONG 'Rich Young Ruler' by Derek Webb @imeem http://x.imeem.com/E3zIydKGhL
Showing posts with label Kingdom of Heaven. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kingdom of Heaven. Show all posts
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Friday, August 14, 2009
SHEPHERDS
AUGUST 14, 2009 FRIDAY SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 18
TEXT http://net.bible.org/bible.php?book=Mat&chapter=18#n34
MESSAGE
“Greatest”
Asked who the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven is, Jesus calls a child to stand among the disciples as an example of a humble and trusting believer of His and tells them not only does it require humility and faith to enter the Kingdom of Heaven but that this is the basis of greatness in the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus goes on to tell his disciples that being kind to one of his humble trusting believers is the same as being kind to Him. He also tells them that if anyone causes one of his humble trusting believers to sin, that person would have been better off having died a horrible death before doing this given what’s at stake for them after they’ve done it. Given the eternal risk to their soul, Jesus tells his disciples a person like this would be better off cutting off one of their hands or feet or tearing out one of their eyes if it would have prevented them from causing a humble trusting believer of His to sin.
“The Lost Sheep”
Furthermore, Jesus tells his disciples that in addition to not being led into sin, his humble trusting believers are not to be looked down on or shown disrespect by others because they are being protected by angels who have such a close relationship with His Father in Heaven they see His face and therefore are under the personal protection of His Father. Jesus goes on to tell his disciples that because of this, if even one of His humble trusting believers is led astray, He will leave all of His other believers until the one who was led astray and became lost has been found at which point both He and His Father will rejoice more over the one who has been found than all of those who never became lost.
“Restoring Christian Relationships”
Jesus then outlines for His disciples steps in the community of believers for one to take if someone has sinned against them. He told them to begin with go privately to the person and tell them what they have done wrong and if they acknowledge the wrong and accept responsibility for it the relationship has been restored. However, if this does not happen, he tells them they are to make a second attempt at doing this but this time by bringing one or two people with to provide accountability and serve as witnesses. If the person continues to deny wrong doing, he tells them to bring the matter in front of the church and if the person refuses to listen to the church he is to be treated like an outsider until he acknowledges what he has done wrong and accepts responsibility for it so that the relationship in the community can be restored.
Jesus tells the disciples that in the same way that their confession of Him as the Christ, the Son of the Living God determines who enters the Kingdom of Heaven or not, their following this process of reconciliation to the point a person acknowledges their wrong doing and takes responsibility for it determines whether they remain in the community of fellowship or not.
When asked by Peter how many times he must forgive someone who sins against him Jesus told him there is no numerical limit, that he should forgive someone as many times as it is necessary to maintain relationship with them in the community.
“Unmerciful, Unforgiving”
Jesus then tells the disciples a story about the Kingdom of Heaven to further respond to Peter’s question about forgiveness. In the story, there was a man who owed a king, who was calling due his accounts, a huge sum of money. Since he was unable to repay it he, along with his wife, children and his possessions were being ordered to be sold to collect at least partial payment against the debt. But when the man cried out for mercy, the king had compassion on him and forgave him the entire debt. However, despite this, he found a man who owed him a relatively small amount of money and demanded that he immediately pay him. When he was unable to he began beating on him at which point the man begged for mercy, telling him if he was patient he would eventually pay him back. But he would have nothing of this and had the man placed in jail until he could repay him. Word of what he did got back to the king who was very upset, called him back, and because he hadn’t shown the mercy he had been given was thrown in prison to be tortured until his unpayable debt was repaid. Jesus concluded by telling his disciples that this is what his Father will do to them if they do not forgive from their heart.
TEACHING
“Greatest”
Concerned about who the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven is, the disciples were likely surprised when Jesus called a child over as the prime example of greatness because they were modest, trusting believers of His. He told them this was not only the basis of greatness but that it was required to even enter the Kingdom.
The disciples may have been even more surprised when Jesus went on to describe the importance of treating children and modest, trusting believers properly. He told them that by being kind to them they were being kind to Him. He also told them that if someone caused a child or a modest, trusting believer to sin, that person would have been better off dying a horrible death prior to this situation developing because of the consequences they’ll face. He said their eternal soul is at such risk that they would have been better off disabling them self in a way that would have prevented this from ever happening.
“The Lost Sheep”
Jesus also tells his disciples that proper treatment of children and modest, trusting believers includes their not being looked down on or being disrespected by others, unless they want to deal with God about this as well, because of the protection he provides them through angels who are remain in close contact with Him in Heaven.
Jesus ends his answer to the disciples about who the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven is by telling them a story about a lost sheep (a child or one of His modest, trusting believers who has been led astray) and how the shepherd (Jesus) leaves all the other sheep (all the believers who have not been led astray) to search for the lost sheep until it is found at which point the shepherd (Jesus) and God rejoice more over finding the lost sheep (child or modest, trusting believer led astray) than over all the other believers who hadn’t been.
“Restoring Christian Relationships”
Sin occurs everywhere including within the community of believers and Jesus goes on to outline a process for his disciples and believers to take if someone in the community (church) has sinned against them. He tells them the first thing is to go directly to the person who has wronged you, keeping the issue just between the two of you and address it with them, but if they deny any wrong doing, the next step is to approach them again with one or two people who can provide accountability and witnesses the encounter so that there won't be two versions of what happens during the second meeting. If the person continues to deny any wrong doing, He tells them the third and final step is to address the issues in front of the entire community, such that the issue has now moved from being an entirely private matter to a totally public matter, and if the person continues to deny any wrong doing, the person is to then be treated as an outsider to the community (excommunicated) until they stop denying their wrong doing and accept responsibility for what they have done so that relationship in the community can be restored.
Jesus tells the disciples that their following this process determines whether someone remains in fellowship in the community (church) with others or not, is a special case of what he earlier told them about their confession of Him as the Christ, the Son of the Living God determining who has fellowship in the Kingdom of Heaven and who doesn’t. However, one has eternal fellowship consequences while one doesn’t.
When Peter tries to quantify or put a number on how many times he is required to forgive someone, Jesus informs him forgiveness is without limit, that he is to forgive as many times as it takes to maintain relationship in the community (church) and by implication the community at large as well.
“Unmerciful, Unforgiving”
The Kingdom of Heaven story Jesus tells in further response to Peter’s forgiveness question gets at the heart of the matter. God as the King in the story forgives the debt of sin that we would never be able to repay no matter how hard we tried. When we cry out to Him like the man with the impossible financial situation, because of our impossible sin situation, He is merciful and forgives us without condition.
However, after having been forgiven an unimaginable debt of sin, and then to be unmerciful and unforgiving of someone who has wronged us, when whatever wrong we have suffered is imperceptible in comparison to the wrong we have been shown mercy and forgiveness for, reveals a heart that has not been transformed by the mercy and forgiveness God has freely given. And a heart that has not been transformed by this Great Gift hasn’t really accepted the Gift and continues to owe the huge debt of sin it has been collecting and will suffer accordingly-what Jesus told the disciples will happen if their hearts are not transformed so that their forgiveness of others is based on Love like His Father’s forgiveness is.
HEALING
Our Father in Heaven, Thy Kingdom come on earth as it is in Heaven. Forgive us today for our pride which we hide behind, which we use to make ourselves feel great and look great in this world. Give us today the humility of those who are the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven, the modesty and trusting nature of children who believe in Your Son. We ask for healing of the wounds we carry that have led to the building of our pride and thinking that we need to protect who we are by building ourselves up in a false and unhealthy way instead of trusting that our value and worth come from You and You alone; that our circumstances, what has happened to us, what we have, how we are treated by others, or what we have or do does not determine our value in any way.
Our Father, we ask that we would be welcoming and show kindness to the humble and we ask that You protect us so that we do not lead anyone astray, into sin, making them a lost sheep, by anything we say or do. We pray that you would help us to consider what we say and do ahead of time because of the effects it may have on others and in this way help us to disable ourselves and prevent us from leading children, believers and nonbelievers down a destructive path.
Our Father, we ask that You Holy Spirit will empower and give us the courage necessary to address with love the conflicts that develop in our relationships that need to be resolved whether in the community of the church or other communities. Give us the wisdom and strength to approach these conflicts in the manner in which Your Son prescribed, keeping in mind they have to do with maintaining relationships in a community, not maintaining relationship with all who have wronged us such as those who have committed acts of physical, emotional, or sexual abuse where continued community is no longer safe or community never existed. Give us comfort that when we follow this process that not only are You with us but there are the protections of witnesses built in as well. When restoration of relationship is not possible, give us the Love in our heart to forgive those who have hurt us in spite of our pain - releasing this pain in the process.
Our Father, heal and transform our hearts by the forgiveness we have received because of the sacrifice Your Son made on the Cross so that we will live lives reflecting Your mercy, forgiveness and love to others and by doing so not only be agents of healing in this world, but shepherds as well.
In Jesus Name, Amen
SONG 'The Good Shepherd' by Dennis Sphatt @imeem http://x.imeem.com/4NPHiRGiMq
TEXT http://net.bible.org/bible.php?book=Mat&chapter=18#n34
MESSAGE
“Greatest”
Asked who the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven is, Jesus calls a child to stand among the disciples as an example of a humble and trusting believer of His and tells them not only does it require humility and faith to enter the Kingdom of Heaven but that this is the basis of greatness in the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus goes on to tell his disciples that being kind to one of his humble trusting believers is the same as being kind to Him. He also tells them that if anyone causes one of his humble trusting believers to sin, that person would have been better off having died a horrible death before doing this given what’s at stake for them after they’ve done it. Given the eternal risk to their soul, Jesus tells his disciples a person like this would be better off cutting off one of their hands or feet or tearing out one of their eyes if it would have prevented them from causing a humble trusting believer of His to sin.
“The Lost Sheep”
Furthermore, Jesus tells his disciples that in addition to not being led into sin, his humble trusting believers are not to be looked down on or shown disrespect by others because they are being protected by angels who have such a close relationship with His Father in Heaven they see His face and therefore are under the personal protection of His Father. Jesus goes on to tell his disciples that because of this, if even one of His humble trusting believers is led astray, He will leave all of His other believers until the one who was led astray and became lost has been found at which point both He and His Father will rejoice more over the one who has been found than all of those who never became lost.
“Restoring Christian Relationships”
Jesus then outlines for His disciples steps in the community of believers for one to take if someone has sinned against them. He told them to begin with go privately to the person and tell them what they have done wrong and if they acknowledge the wrong and accept responsibility for it the relationship has been restored. However, if this does not happen, he tells them they are to make a second attempt at doing this but this time by bringing one or two people with to provide accountability and serve as witnesses. If the person continues to deny wrong doing, he tells them to bring the matter in front of the church and if the person refuses to listen to the church he is to be treated like an outsider until he acknowledges what he has done wrong and accepts responsibility for it so that the relationship in the community can be restored.
Jesus tells the disciples that in the same way that their confession of Him as the Christ, the Son of the Living God determines who enters the Kingdom of Heaven or not, their following this process of reconciliation to the point a person acknowledges their wrong doing and takes responsibility for it determines whether they remain in the community of fellowship or not.
When asked by Peter how many times he must forgive someone who sins against him Jesus told him there is no numerical limit, that he should forgive someone as many times as it is necessary to maintain relationship with them in the community.
“Unmerciful, Unforgiving”
Jesus then tells the disciples a story about the Kingdom of Heaven to further respond to Peter’s question about forgiveness. In the story, there was a man who owed a king, who was calling due his accounts, a huge sum of money. Since he was unable to repay it he, along with his wife, children and his possessions were being ordered to be sold to collect at least partial payment against the debt. But when the man cried out for mercy, the king had compassion on him and forgave him the entire debt. However, despite this, he found a man who owed him a relatively small amount of money and demanded that he immediately pay him. When he was unable to he began beating on him at which point the man begged for mercy, telling him if he was patient he would eventually pay him back. But he would have nothing of this and had the man placed in jail until he could repay him. Word of what he did got back to the king who was very upset, called him back, and because he hadn’t shown the mercy he had been given was thrown in prison to be tortured until his unpayable debt was repaid. Jesus concluded by telling his disciples that this is what his Father will do to them if they do not forgive from their heart.
TEACHING
“Greatest”
Concerned about who the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven is, the disciples were likely surprised when Jesus called a child over as the prime example of greatness because they were modest, trusting believers of His. He told them this was not only the basis of greatness but that it was required to even enter the Kingdom.
The disciples may have been even more surprised when Jesus went on to describe the importance of treating children and modest, trusting believers properly. He told them that by being kind to them they were being kind to Him. He also told them that if someone caused a child or a modest, trusting believer to sin, that person would have been better off dying a horrible death prior to this situation developing because of the consequences they’ll face. He said their eternal soul is at such risk that they would have been better off disabling them self in a way that would have prevented this from ever happening.
“The Lost Sheep”
Jesus also tells his disciples that proper treatment of children and modest, trusting believers includes their not being looked down on or being disrespected by others, unless they want to deal with God about this as well, because of the protection he provides them through angels who are remain in close contact with Him in Heaven.
Jesus ends his answer to the disciples about who the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven is by telling them a story about a lost sheep (a child or one of His modest, trusting believers who has been led astray) and how the shepherd (Jesus) leaves all the other sheep (all the believers who have not been led astray) to search for the lost sheep until it is found at which point the shepherd (Jesus) and God rejoice more over finding the lost sheep (child or modest, trusting believer led astray) than over all the other believers who hadn’t been.
“Restoring Christian Relationships”
Sin occurs everywhere including within the community of believers and Jesus goes on to outline a process for his disciples and believers to take if someone in the community (church) has sinned against them. He tells them the first thing is to go directly to the person who has wronged you, keeping the issue just between the two of you and address it with them, but if they deny any wrong doing, the next step is to approach them again with one or two people who can provide accountability and witnesses the encounter so that there won't be two versions of what happens during the second meeting. If the person continues to deny any wrong doing, He tells them the third and final step is to address the issues in front of the entire community, such that the issue has now moved from being an entirely private matter to a totally public matter, and if the person continues to deny any wrong doing, the person is to then be treated as an outsider to the community (excommunicated) until they stop denying their wrong doing and accept responsibility for what they have done so that relationship in the community can be restored.
Jesus tells the disciples that their following this process determines whether someone remains in fellowship in the community (church) with others or not, is a special case of what he earlier told them about their confession of Him as the Christ, the Son of the Living God determining who has fellowship in the Kingdom of Heaven and who doesn’t. However, one has eternal fellowship consequences while one doesn’t.
When Peter tries to quantify or put a number on how many times he is required to forgive someone, Jesus informs him forgiveness is without limit, that he is to forgive as many times as it takes to maintain relationship in the community (church) and by implication the community at large as well.
“Unmerciful, Unforgiving”
The Kingdom of Heaven story Jesus tells in further response to Peter’s forgiveness question gets at the heart of the matter. God as the King in the story forgives the debt of sin that we would never be able to repay no matter how hard we tried. When we cry out to Him like the man with the impossible financial situation, because of our impossible sin situation, He is merciful and forgives us without condition.
However, after having been forgiven an unimaginable debt of sin, and then to be unmerciful and unforgiving of someone who has wronged us, when whatever wrong we have suffered is imperceptible in comparison to the wrong we have been shown mercy and forgiveness for, reveals a heart that has not been transformed by the mercy and forgiveness God has freely given. And a heart that has not been transformed by this Great Gift hasn’t really accepted the Gift and continues to owe the huge debt of sin it has been collecting and will suffer accordingly-what Jesus told the disciples will happen if their hearts are not transformed so that their forgiveness of others is based on Love like His Father’s forgiveness is.
HEALING
Our Father in Heaven, Thy Kingdom come on earth as it is in Heaven. Forgive us today for our pride which we hide behind, which we use to make ourselves feel great and look great in this world. Give us today the humility of those who are the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven, the modesty and trusting nature of children who believe in Your Son. We ask for healing of the wounds we carry that have led to the building of our pride and thinking that we need to protect who we are by building ourselves up in a false and unhealthy way instead of trusting that our value and worth come from You and You alone; that our circumstances, what has happened to us, what we have, how we are treated by others, or what we have or do does not determine our value in any way.
Our Father, we ask that we would be welcoming and show kindness to the humble and we ask that You protect us so that we do not lead anyone astray, into sin, making them a lost sheep, by anything we say or do. We pray that you would help us to consider what we say and do ahead of time because of the effects it may have on others and in this way help us to disable ourselves and prevent us from leading children, believers and nonbelievers down a destructive path.
Our Father, we ask that You Holy Spirit will empower and give us the courage necessary to address with love the conflicts that develop in our relationships that need to be resolved whether in the community of the church or other communities. Give us the wisdom and strength to approach these conflicts in the manner in which Your Son prescribed, keeping in mind they have to do with maintaining relationships in a community, not maintaining relationship with all who have wronged us such as those who have committed acts of physical, emotional, or sexual abuse where continued community is no longer safe or community never existed. Give us comfort that when we follow this process that not only are You with us but there are the protections of witnesses built in as well. When restoration of relationship is not possible, give us the Love in our heart to forgive those who have hurt us in spite of our pain - releasing this pain in the process.
Our Father, heal and transform our hearts by the forgiveness we have received because of the sacrifice Your Son made on the Cross so that we will live lives reflecting Your mercy, forgiveness and love to others and by doing so not only be agents of healing in this world, but shepherds as well.
In Jesus Name, Amen
SONG 'The Good Shepherd' by Dennis Sphatt @imeem http://x.imeem.com/4NPHiRGiMq
Thursday, August 13, 2009
FACE DOWN
AUGUST 13, 2009 THURSDAY; SCRIPTURE: MATTHEW CHAPTER 17
TEXT: http://net.bible.org/bible.php?book=Mat&chapter=17
MESSAGE
Six days after Peter’s confession of Jesus this was confirmed without doubt by God Himself when Jesus took Peter, James and John up a high mountain where he was transfigured and they saw Him in his Glorified state. Moses and Elijah appeared with Him as the voice of God came out of the bright cloud that surrounded them saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him! Petrified, the disciples fell face first to the ground until Jesus came over and touched them telling them not to fear. Getting up, they found they were once again alone with Jesus.
While descending the mountain Jesus tells his disciples not to tell anyone about what they had witnessed until after he is raised from the dead. God having just verified Jesus as the Christ, His Son, the disciples ask Jesus why the experts on the law teach that Elijah must come before Christ appears. Jesus responds by telling them Elijah does come and restore all things and in fact had already come but wasn’t recognized and suffered and died as he too will - which led to the disciples’ understanding that the Elijah who was to come had been John the Baptist.
Coming down from the mountain, a man comes out from a crowd, kneels before Jesus and begs for mercy for his demon possessed son suffering from seizures who the disciples that remained behind were unable to heal. Calling the disciples an unbelieving and perverse generation, Jesus rebukes the demon, it comes out and the boy is healed. Afterwards in private when the disciples ask why they were unable to heal the boy Jesus tells them because of their little faith, i.e. because they were relying on their own strength instead of on the power of God in their attempts to heal the boy. Jesus tells them that God’s power is so great that it doesn’t take a lot of faith to do the impossible if that faith is rightly placed.
Together in Galilee, He again tells his disciples about the path he must follow as the Son of God, that he will be betrayed, killed and rise three days later; which caused them great distress even though they had already heard him say this.
In Capernaum, when Peter is questioned by the temple tax collectors about whether Jesus pays his yearly tax to support the temple he tells them that he does. On entering the house Jesus asks Peter whether earthly kings collect taxes from their sons or others to which Peter replies “others”. Jesus’ point is that the sons are free and that from the standpoint that the Kingdom of Heaven has come, He as the Son of God and King is exempt and Peter as a son in the Kingdom is exempt from paying the temple tax based on the old temple system as opposed to those who do not believe or belong to the Kingdom of Heaven. However, in humility he tells Peter to not offend the temple tax collectors by going fishing at the lake where he will find a coin in the mouth of the first fish he catches that will pay the yearly temple tax for both of them.
TEACHING
Peter, James and John see Jesus in his divine radiant state on a mountain top in the company of Moses and Elijah who he outshines as God, present in a cloud, declares Him his Son. This occurs only days after the Pharisees and Saducees demanded that Jesus give them a miraculous heavenly sign, Jesus was told by his disciples that the people thought he was a prophet like Elijah, and after Peter had confessed Him as the Christ, the Son of the Living God, but then was rebuked for what his human expectations of the Christ should be. The radiance of Jesus as God was so frightening to the disciples they fell to their faces on the ground. A touch from Jesus comforts them as they get up and head back down the mountain pondering out loud their knowledge of Malachi (4:5-6) that Elijah must come first and restore all things before the Christ (Messiah) comes – confused by the Scriptures having just witnessed firsthand that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of Living God. Their confusion is cleared up when they understand that John the Baptist was the Elijah who was to come and thus preceded Jesus.
Coming down from the mountain, there is more confusion amongst a crowd and a man who emerges begging Jesus for mercy for his demon possessed son with seizures who the 9 disciples who remained behind were unable to heal. Jesus expresses his disappointment with his disciples attempts at healing the boy, rebukes the demon, it leaves and immediately the boy is well. In a private discussion that follows Jesus tells his disciples that they have become self-reliant in their approach to healing instead of having faith and relying on the power of God as the source of all healing – something that allows them to do things for the Kingdom that are otherwise totally impossible.
Back in Galilee, Jesus again tells the disciples of the difficult path he must follow, something they all heard from him recently and Peter, James and John heard about on the way down the mountain when discussing Elijah coming before the Messiah. This time, in addition to him telling them about his having to suffer, die and rise from the dead three days later he also tells them of his pending betrayal.
With Jesus’ crucifixion at the hands of the religious leaders of the temple imminent, their representatives in the form of the temple tax collectors come to Peter questioning whether Jesus pays the yearly temple tax. After Peter tells them that Jesus does, Jesus discusses with Peter that His paying the temple tax is akin to God paying a tax to Himself, i.e. Jesus paying the temple tax to God as the Son of God and that in addition Peter is exempt from paying a tax to the old temple system when he is a son of the Kingdom of Heaven (in contrast to those who do not believe in Jesus as the Son of God and do not belong to the Kingdom of Heaven). However, out of humility Jesus tells Peter they will not needlessly offend the temple tax collectors and that there will be a coin in the mouth of the first fish he catches in the lake that will cover the tax for the both of them – again showing Peter his ability to miraculously multiply to provide.
HEALING
Our Father who art in Heaven. Your radiance reflected so brightly off the face of Moses it frightened the people of Israel so that he had to wear a veil to cover his face. How much brighter and radiant did your Son shine as he was seen in His transfigured, glorified state by Peter, James and John next to Moses and Elijah as they heard you speak within a cloud that he was your Son, that you loved Him, that you were pleased with him and that they should listen to Him. He did not reflect glory, He was Glory - a Glory so frightening it brought these disciples face first to the ground. Father, we come to you today in awe of Your Glory, your Son’s Glory, and the Glory of your Holy Spirit. We come face down to You today in humility as we try to comprehend what the disciples were trying to understand about who the Elijah who was to come first was and about what your Son’s difficult path involved and about what rising from the dead meant and means. Forgive us for our lack of understanding and for our lack of faith when we attempt to live for the Kingdom based on our own wisdom and our own strength instead of relying upon the power of the Holy spirit and the wisdom of Your Word that makes the impossible possible. Give us the wisdom and power to do the impossible when faced with confusion, with suffering, with persecution, and with unbelief. Help us to approach all of these situations with the humility shown by Your Son when he avoided creating needless offense by paying the temple tax to those who were plotting to crucify Him. Help us more and more each day to love and listen to Your Son. We ask for his comforting touch as we get up from the floor and return to our day. Help the light we have received to multiply by shining on someone else over the rest of today, lighting in them a spark and bringing them the comfort and touch that we have received from spending this time with you. In Jesus Name, Amen.
SONG: 'We Fall Down' by Kutless @imeem http://x.imeem.com/JJGww0PuQ5
TEXT: http://net.bible.org/bible.php?book=Mat&chapter=17
MESSAGE
Six days after Peter’s confession of Jesus this was confirmed without doubt by God Himself when Jesus took Peter, James and John up a high mountain where he was transfigured and they saw Him in his Glorified state. Moses and Elijah appeared with Him as the voice of God came out of the bright cloud that surrounded them saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him! Petrified, the disciples fell face first to the ground until Jesus came over and touched them telling them not to fear. Getting up, they found they were once again alone with Jesus.
While descending the mountain Jesus tells his disciples not to tell anyone about what they had witnessed until after he is raised from the dead. God having just verified Jesus as the Christ, His Son, the disciples ask Jesus why the experts on the law teach that Elijah must come before Christ appears. Jesus responds by telling them Elijah does come and restore all things and in fact had already come but wasn’t recognized and suffered and died as he too will - which led to the disciples’ understanding that the Elijah who was to come had been John the Baptist.
Coming down from the mountain, a man comes out from a crowd, kneels before Jesus and begs for mercy for his demon possessed son suffering from seizures who the disciples that remained behind were unable to heal. Calling the disciples an unbelieving and perverse generation, Jesus rebukes the demon, it comes out and the boy is healed. Afterwards in private when the disciples ask why they were unable to heal the boy Jesus tells them because of their little faith, i.e. because they were relying on their own strength instead of on the power of God in their attempts to heal the boy. Jesus tells them that God’s power is so great that it doesn’t take a lot of faith to do the impossible if that faith is rightly placed.
Together in Galilee, He again tells his disciples about the path he must follow as the Son of God, that he will be betrayed, killed and rise three days later; which caused them great distress even though they had already heard him say this.
In Capernaum, when Peter is questioned by the temple tax collectors about whether Jesus pays his yearly tax to support the temple he tells them that he does. On entering the house Jesus asks Peter whether earthly kings collect taxes from their sons or others to which Peter replies “others”. Jesus’ point is that the sons are free and that from the standpoint that the Kingdom of Heaven has come, He as the Son of God and King is exempt and Peter as a son in the Kingdom is exempt from paying the temple tax based on the old temple system as opposed to those who do not believe or belong to the Kingdom of Heaven. However, in humility he tells Peter to not offend the temple tax collectors by going fishing at the lake where he will find a coin in the mouth of the first fish he catches that will pay the yearly temple tax for both of them.
TEACHING
Peter, James and John see Jesus in his divine radiant state on a mountain top in the company of Moses and Elijah who he outshines as God, present in a cloud, declares Him his Son. This occurs only days after the Pharisees and Saducees demanded that Jesus give them a miraculous heavenly sign, Jesus was told by his disciples that the people thought he was a prophet like Elijah, and after Peter had confessed Him as the Christ, the Son of the Living God, but then was rebuked for what his human expectations of the Christ should be. The radiance of Jesus as God was so frightening to the disciples they fell to their faces on the ground. A touch from Jesus comforts them as they get up and head back down the mountain pondering out loud their knowledge of Malachi (4:5-6) that Elijah must come first and restore all things before the Christ (Messiah) comes – confused by the Scriptures having just witnessed firsthand that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of Living God. Their confusion is cleared up when they understand that John the Baptist was the Elijah who was to come and thus preceded Jesus.
Coming down from the mountain, there is more confusion amongst a crowd and a man who emerges begging Jesus for mercy for his demon possessed son with seizures who the 9 disciples who remained behind were unable to heal. Jesus expresses his disappointment with his disciples attempts at healing the boy, rebukes the demon, it leaves and immediately the boy is well. In a private discussion that follows Jesus tells his disciples that they have become self-reliant in their approach to healing instead of having faith and relying on the power of God as the source of all healing – something that allows them to do things for the Kingdom that are otherwise totally impossible.
Back in Galilee, Jesus again tells the disciples of the difficult path he must follow, something they all heard from him recently and Peter, James and John heard about on the way down the mountain when discussing Elijah coming before the Messiah. This time, in addition to him telling them about his having to suffer, die and rise from the dead three days later he also tells them of his pending betrayal.
With Jesus’ crucifixion at the hands of the religious leaders of the temple imminent, their representatives in the form of the temple tax collectors come to Peter questioning whether Jesus pays the yearly temple tax. After Peter tells them that Jesus does, Jesus discusses with Peter that His paying the temple tax is akin to God paying a tax to Himself, i.e. Jesus paying the temple tax to God as the Son of God and that in addition Peter is exempt from paying a tax to the old temple system when he is a son of the Kingdom of Heaven (in contrast to those who do not believe in Jesus as the Son of God and do not belong to the Kingdom of Heaven). However, out of humility Jesus tells Peter they will not needlessly offend the temple tax collectors and that there will be a coin in the mouth of the first fish he catches in the lake that will cover the tax for the both of them – again showing Peter his ability to miraculously multiply to provide.
HEALING
Our Father who art in Heaven. Your radiance reflected so brightly off the face of Moses it frightened the people of Israel so that he had to wear a veil to cover his face. How much brighter and radiant did your Son shine as he was seen in His transfigured, glorified state by Peter, James and John next to Moses and Elijah as they heard you speak within a cloud that he was your Son, that you loved Him, that you were pleased with him and that they should listen to Him. He did not reflect glory, He was Glory - a Glory so frightening it brought these disciples face first to the ground. Father, we come to you today in awe of Your Glory, your Son’s Glory, and the Glory of your Holy Spirit. We come face down to You today in humility as we try to comprehend what the disciples were trying to understand about who the Elijah who was to come first was and about what your Son’s difficult path involved and about what rising from the dead meant and means. Forgive us for our lack of understanding and for our lack of faith when we attempt to live for the Kingdom based on our own wisdom and our own strength instead of relying upon the power of the Holy spirit and the wisdom of Your Word that makes the impossible possible. Give us the wisdom and power to do the impossible when faced with confusion, with suffering, with persecution, and with unbelief. Help us to approach all of these situations with the humility shown by Your Son when he avoided creating needless offense by paying the temple tax to those who were plotting to crucify Him. Help us more and more each day to love and listen to Your Son. We ask for his comforting touch as we get up from the floor and return to our day. Help the light we have received to multiply by shining on someone else over the rest of today, lighting in them a spark and bringing them the comfort and touch that we have received from spending this time with you. In Jesus Name, Amen.
SONG: 'We Fall Down' by Kutless @imeem http://x.imeem.com/JJGww0PuQ5
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