He who love me
“Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me;
and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.
Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
“He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives the one who sent me.
Anyone who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and anyone who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward.
And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward.”
Matthew 10:37-42.
Jesus make it clear that he is to be first in our lives. That we must follow in his footsteps. He makes it clear that his disciples are part of his ministry and that whoever receives them receives him.
This is the same today. There is only two choices when it comes to Jesus to accept him or reject him.
It is the same for his disciples you can accept them or reject them.
Over the years I’ve met with many Christians who’s families and friends have sadly rejected them when they became Christians.
There however are rewards to accepting the followers of Christ. And by this I mean also the word they bring.
Receiving the word of God leads to eternal life.
Think about it.
Friday, 28 March 2014
Thursday, 27 March 2014
What do you expect the Messiah to be
What do you expect the Messiah to be?
He who has ears, let him hear.
“To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others:
“ ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’
For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’
The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and “sinners.” ’ But wisdom is proved right by her actions.”
Matthew 11:15-19
Here Jesus points out the he and John had quite different styles. John followed the strictest rules. He came eating only the basics and he never drank strong drink.
By contrast Jesus did eat and drink. Additionally he sat down with anyone who would listen to him.
Both ways were condemned by the teachers of the law. It was a no win situation.
It appeared that no matter how God decided to show himself the learned leaders of the day refused to accept the message.
It’s the same to day. We as followers of Christ are called to present Jesus but sometimes it doesn’t matter what we say people will reject Christ.
Think about it.
He who has ears, let him hear.
“To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others:
“ ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’
For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’
The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and “sinners.” ’ But wisdom is proved right by her actions.”
Matthew 11:15-19
Here Jesus points out the he and John had quite different styles. John followed the strictest rules. He came eating only the basics and he never drank strong drink.
By contrast Jesus did eat and drink. Additionally he sat down with anyone who would listen to him.
Both ways were condemned by the teachers of the law. It was a no win situation.
It appeared that no matter how God decided to show himself the learned leaders of the day refused to accept the message.
It’s the same to day. We as followers of Christ are called to present Jesus but sometimes it doesn’t matter what we say people will reject Christ.
Think about it.
Wednesday, 26 March 2014
Persecution
“When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. I tell you the truth, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
“A student is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master.
It is enough for the student to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebub, how much more the members of his household!”
“So do not be afraid of them. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known.
What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs.
Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
Are not two sparrows sold for a penny ? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father.
And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
“Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven.
But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven.
“Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.
For I have come to turn “ ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law— a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’
Matthew 10:23-36
Persecution it seems for the most part is inevitable. If you are persecuted however Jesus make it clear go to another place.
Jesus was persecuted and as followers of Christ we will from time to time face persecution.
Our message makes persecution inevitable I think.
We proclaim the words of Jesus who said,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son”
John 3:16-18
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:6.
The world likes to think there are many ways to heaven. When we make it clear that there is only one way and we start to evangelize there are groups out there that will reject our message. Some violently.
Family members will turn against each other something that happens today in all areas of the world.
But we are urged by Jesus to continue on to the end. Jesus noting that if we acknowledge him before men he will acknowledge us before His Father.
Ultimately Jesus states “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.”
He is the prince of peace but his words can and do spark debate in all levels of society.
Still it is the words of Jesus that we must proclaim to all people that as many as possible will be saved.
Do you? Think about it.
Tuesday, 25 March 2014
False teachers
“But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.
Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.
In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping”
2 Peter 2:1-3
Here Peter warns about false teachers arising. Introducing heresies and denying Jesus.
One commentator states they will commercialize the Christian faith for their own gain. It is happening today.
There are many especially in the media that are stating things that Jesus never taught. They are twisting the words of Jesus for their own gain.
These people are giving God a black eye.
There only purpose is to line their own pockets.
When I speak to people especially none Christians and they note how commercialized Christianity seems to be I agree with them.
If we looked at many preacher in the media, not all, it’s not hard to see that all they seem to be asking for is money.
The classic example is those whom my pastor says are the ‘blab it grab it crowd’ the seed faith crowd. Who proclaim Jesus as if he were a heavenly sugar daddy. The ultimate investment banker. Who if you give him a hundred dollars, or better still sow that hundred dollars into ‘their ministry’ and God will give you ten fold back.
What garbage. We should be giving to God because we want to not expecting to get ten or a hundred times back.
Peter warns, “In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up.”
Sadly many people especially the old and trusting have given their life savings to such false teachers of God.
Still if it’s any consolation Peter states, “Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping”
They will be brought account.
When people ask me about what ministry especially in the media they should give money to. I tell them to give to ministries that are not preaching a return on your money.
Some ministries offer a little gift for giving that’s fine but if a ministry is telling you to give to get a return on your cash stay away from them.
Jesus said,
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’
Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”
Matthew 7:21-23.
Think about it.
“But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.
Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.
In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping”
2 Peter 2:1-3
Here Peter warns about false teachers arising. Introducing heresies and denying Jesus.
One commentator states they will commercialize the Christian faith for their own gain. It is happening today.
There are many especially in the media that are stating things that Jesus never taught. They are twisting the words of Jesus for their own gain.
These people are giving God a black eye.
There only purpose is to line their own pockets.
When I speak to people especially none Christians and they note how commercialized Christianity seems to be I agree with them.
If we looked at many preacher in the media, not all, it’s not hard to see that all they seem to be asking for is money.
The classic example is those whom my pastor says are the ‘blab it grab it crowd’ the seed faith crowd. Who proclaim Jesus as if he were a heavenly sugar daddy. The ultimate investment banker. Who if you give him a hundred dollars, or better still sow that hundred dollars into ‘their ministry’ and God will give you ten fold back.
What garbage. We should be giving to God because we want to not expecting to get ten or a hundred times back.
Peter warns, “In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up.”
Sadly many people especially the old and trusting have given their life savings to such false teachers of God.
Still if it’s any consolation Peter states, “Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping”
They will be brought account.
When people ask me about what ministry especially in the media they should give money to. I tell them to give to ministries that are not preaching a return on your money.
Some ministries offer a little gift for giving that’s fine but if a ministry is telling you to give to get a return on your cash stay away from them.
Jesus said,
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’
Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”
Matthew 7:21-23.
Think about it.
Thursday, 20 March 2014
Shrewd
Shrewd as snakes
“I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.
“Be on your guard against men; they will hand you over to the local councils and flog you in their synagogues.
On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles.
But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say,
for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
“Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death.
All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.”
Matthew 10:16-22
Here is something directed to the disciples at the time that can be directly used by followers of Christ today.
When we go out to present the word of God to unbelievers we are to be careful know our surroundings be wise to what is happening. At the same time we are to be as innocent as doves.
The Message of the Gospel of Christ is one of peace. If we present it in the right way no one will be able to truthfully accuse us of doing wrong.
All we should be doing when we present the word of God is saying this is what we believe. This is how you get to heaven. That simple.
Paul speaking in Athens used this technique very effectively. He was invited by the stoics and others philosophers to speak to them. He simply presented Christ in a polite way to them and left it up to them as to whether they believed or not.
As a result some did believe others did not but still others wanted to hear more.
This is the way it should be with us.
Jesus also notes that no matter what we say some will object to what we are saying and bring us before the courts. Some of us will be put to death. It sadly is the way of the world.
But we are told to stand our ground that God will tell us what to say as we stand before the magistrate.
We are told to keep the faith until the very end.
Question to Christians reading this. Is your life modelled after what Jesus is telling his disciples to be like here in Matthew ten?
Think about it.
“I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.
“Be on your guard against men; they will hand you over to the local councils and flog you in their synagogues.
On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles.
But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say,
for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
“Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death.
All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.”
Matthew 10:16-22
Here is something directed to the disciples at the time that can be directly used by followers of Christ today.
When we go out to present the word of God to unbelievers we are to be careful know our surroundings be wise to what is happening. At the same time we are to be as innocent as doves.
The Message of the Gospel of Christ is one of peace. If we present it in the right way no one will be able to truthfully accuse us of doing wrong.
All we should be doing when we present the word of God is saying this is what we believe. This is how you get to heaven. That simple.
Paul speaking in Athens used this technique very effectively. He was invited by the stoics and others philosophers to speak to them. He simply presented Christ in a polite way to them and left it up to them as to whether they believed or not.
As a result some did believe others did not but still others wanted to hear more.
This is the way it should be with us.
Jesus also notes that no matter what we say some will object to what we are saying and bring us before the courts. Some of us will be put to death. It sadly is the way of the world.
But we are told to stand our ground that God will tell us what to say as we stand before the magistrate.
We are told to keep the faith until the very end.
Question to Christians reading this. Is your life modelled after what Jesus is telling his disciples to be like here in Matthew ten?
Think about it.
Wednesday, 19 March 2014
The Apostles Sent Out
The Apostles sent out
“He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.
These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John;
Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;
Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans.
Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel.
As you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near.’
Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.
Do not take along any gold or silver or copper in your belts;
take no bag for the journey, or extra tunic, or sandals or a staff; for the worker is worth his keep.
“Whatever town or village you enter, search for some worthy person there and stay at his house until you leave.
As you enter the home, give it your greeting.
If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you.
If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town.
I tell you the truth, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.”
Matthew 10:1-15.
Someone asked me once can Christians today do all that was in the Bible. Drive out evil spirits, heal the sick.
My answer is yes. If God is the same yesterday today and forever then he must allow his followers to do the same in every generation.
Some point to this scripture Matthew 10:1-8 to say its proof we can do these things. They are in my opinion wrong.
Matthew 10:1-8 is Jesus talking specifically to his disciples. He is sending them out for the first time and giving them the “authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.”
Jesus makes clear the parameters of the disciples ministry for this first time out. They can’t go to the Gentiles or the Samaritans. Only to the “lost sheep of Israel”
The Gospel was first to be preached to the Jews then the rest of the world. At this point the disciples were to go to the Jewish world first.
At a later time they would go to the gentiles.
He makes it clear they are to go out in faith trusting God for their needs and if people are deserving they are to let their peace rest on that place if not they are to sake the dust off their feet when they leave the town.
Noting that it will be “more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.” if they reject the message of the disciples.
Today we I believe can do everything the disciples did and I believe we need to act as they did.
They had one job and that was to spread the gospel message to anyone who would listen. They were to open a dialogue between themselves and the people of Israel and point them to heaven.
As a Christian do you have an open dialogue between yourself and the none Christians around you?
Think about it.
“He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.
These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John;
Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;
Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans.
Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel.
As you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near.’
Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.
Do not take along any gold or silver or copper in your belts;
take no bag for the journey, or extra tunic, or sandals or a staff; for the worker is worth his keep.
“Whatever town or village you enter, search for some worthy person there and stay at his house until you leave.
As you enter the home, give it your greeting.
If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you.
If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town.
I tell you the truth, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.”
Matthew 10:1-15.
Someone asked me once can Christians today do all that was in the Bible. Drive out evil spirits, heal the sick.
My answer is yes. If God is the same yesterday today and forever then he must allow his followers to do the same in every generation.
Some point to this scripture Matthew 10:1-8 to say its proof we can do these things. They are in my opinion wrong.
Matthew 10:1-8 is Jesus talking specifically to his disciples. He is sending them out for the first time and giving them the “authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.”
Jesus makes clear the parameters of the disciples ministry for this first time out. They can’t go to the Gentiles or the Samaritans. Only to the “lost sheep of Israel”
The Gospel was first to be preached to the Jews then the rest of the world. At this point the disciples were to go to the Jewish world first.
At a later time they would go to the gentiles.
He makes it clear they are to go out in faith trusting God for their needs and if people are deserving they are to let their peace rest on that place if not they are to sake the dust off their feet when they leave the town.
Noting that it will be “more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.” if they reject the message of the disciples.
Today we I believe can do everything the disciples did and I believe we need to act as they did.
They had one job and that was to spread the gospel message to anyone who would listen. They were to open a dialogue between themselves and the people of Israel and point them to heaven.
As a Christian do you have an open dialogue between yourself and the none Christians around you?
Think about it.
Tuesday, 18 March 2014
the Labourers are few
The Labourers are few.
“Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.
When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.
Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
Matthew 9:35-38.
Where are you when it comes to working for Christ? Here Jesus points out a simple fact. “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.”
The facts even today are that approximately only 10% of all those who go to church actually do work around the church. The rest just fill the pews.
In the city were I live we seem to have a church on every corner. As a result people tend to “church hop”.
People move from church to church looking to have a “feel good moment”. When they enter church.
People want to have that up lifting experiences in church. Many don’t like it when a sermon hits home.
When a sermon convicts the individual of their sin or something their lacking in.
Many when they fail to get that Sunday high move to another church congregation in the hopes of getting the fix there.
Many people in church have a lot of things going on outside of Church. They’re involved in everything from sports, to ballet, to working. Their commitment to the work of God comes last on their list.
You only have to look at statistics within the church to see that things in the church are not that much different to the society outside.
We as Christians need to put Christ and His work first in our lives. We need to be working as much as we can for the kingdom of God. And we need to “ Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
Think about it.
“Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.
When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.
Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
Matthew 9:35-38.
Where are you when it comes to working for Christ? Here Jesus points out a simple fact. “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.”
The facts even today are that approximately only 10% of all those who go to church actually do work around the church. The rest just fill the pews.
In the city were I live we seem to have a church on every corner. As a result people tend to “church hop”.
People move from church to church looking to have a “feel good moment”. When they enter church.
People want to have that up lifting experiences in church. Many don’t like it when a sermon hits home.
When a sermon convicts the individual of their sin or something their lacking in.
Many when they fail to get that Sunday high move to another church congregation in the hopes of getting the fix there.
Many people in church have a lot of things going on outside of Church. They’re involved in everything from sports, to ballet, to working. Their commitment to the work of God comes last on their list.
You only have to look at statistics within the church to see that things in the church are not that much different to the society outside.
We as Christians need to put Christ and His work first in our lives. We need to be working as much as we can for the kingdom of God. And we need to “ Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
Think about it.
Monday, 17 March 2014
Who do you think Jesus is?
Who is Jesus?
“While they were going out, a man who was demon-possessed and could not talk was brought to Jesus.
And when the demon was driven out, the man who had been mute spoke. The crowd was amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.”
But the Pharisees said, “It is by the prince of demons that he drives out demons.”
Matthew 9:32-34
Throughout the ages Jesus has been seen as many things. Here the Pharisees say he is the prince of demons.
They had an axe to grind with Jesus . They seen him as a threat to their authority. They used anything they could against him.
Here their calling him the prince of demons doesn’t make sense. Why would the prince of demons drive out demons from a man? Isn’t it counter productive to his cause?
Jesus drove out the demons to prove that he was the Son of God that he had the power over the demons. That, that power came from God.
Over the years people have seen Jesus as everything from as the Pharisees did, a demon, to a prophet, to Messiah, to a good man, to a great moral teacher.
I like to quote C.S. Lewis when he wrote,
“A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things that Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic on the level of a man who says he is a poached egg—or else he would be the devil of hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the son of God; or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”
The choice is yours.
Who do you think Jesus is?
Think about it.
“While they were going out, a man who was demon-possessed and could not talk was brought to Jesus.
And when the demon was driven out, the man who had been mute spoke. The crowd was amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.”
But the Pharisees said, “It is by the prince of demons that he drives out demons.”
Matthew 9:32-34
Throughout the ages Jesus has been seen as many things. Here the Pharisees say he is the prince of demons.
They had an axe to grind with Jesus . They seen him as a threat to their authority. They used anything they could against him.
Here their calling him the prince of demons doesn’t make sense. Why would the prince of demons drive out demons from a man? Isn’t it counter productive to his cause?
Jesus drove out the demons to prove that he was the Son of God that he had the power over the demons. That, that power came from God.
Over the years people have seen Jesus as everything from as the Pharisees did, a demon, to a prophet, to Messiah, to a good man, to a great moral teacher.
I like to quote C.S. Lewis when he wrote,
“A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things that Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic on the level of a man who says he is a poached egg—or else he would be the devil of hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the son of God; or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”
The choice is yours.
Who do you think Jesus is?
Think about it.
Sunday, 16 March 2014
Who is Jesus
“As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!”
When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” “Yes, Lord,” they replied.
Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith will it be done to you”;
and their sight was restored. Jesus warned them sternly, “See that no one knows about this.”
But they went out and spread the news about him all over that region.”
Matthew 9:27-31.
Here Jesus heals two blind men who had the faith to believe he could heal them. It was their faith that healed them. They went to Jesus in faith expecting to be healed and he rewarded their faith.
He then told them not to tell anyone.
However a momentous thing had happened to them and they told it seems anyone who would listen to them.
Jesus here more than likely didn’t want to be strictly known as a faith healer. His purpose in life was to bring people out of their sin. The reconcile them to God. The miracles as great as they were, were only a small part of his ministry.
They showed that he was from God. But he I believe didn’t want to be known strictly for those miracles.
When we look at Jesus today we need to see him not as a miracle worker, not as a good moral teacher or simply a good man.
We need to see him as the one and Only Son of God. Our Lord and Savior.
How do you see Jesus.
Think about it.
Saturday, 15 March 2014
Of Faith
Of Faith
“While he was saying this, a ruler came and knelt before him and said, “My daughter has just died. But come and put your hand on her, and she will live.” Jesus got up and went with him, and so did his disciples.
Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak.
She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.”
Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed from that moment.
When Jesus entered the ruler’s house and saw the flute players and the noisy crowd,
he said, “Go away. The girl is not dead but asleep.” But they laughed at him.
After the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up.
News of this spread through all that region.”
Matthew 9:18-26.
Throughout the gospels we have stories of faith in Jesus. Here are two good examples.
A ruler comes to Jesus and has faith enough to believe that Jesus can raise his dead daughter.
Proof that Jesus had people who believed in him not just in the lower and middle class but in the ruling more educated classes.
This man asked Jesus to come to his home where there were people hired to play instruments as part of the mourning process for the dead.
They laughed at Jesus when he said she was only asleep. They obviously knew she was dead. Her death had probably been pronounced by someone.
Yet here Jesus touches here and she comes to life.
Prior to this while he was on his way a woman who had an issue of blood an incident noted in Mark five and Luke eight had the faith to believe that if she simply touched the hem of his cloak she would be healed.
She touched it and Jesus turned to her and said, “your faith has healed you.”
It must be noted that it was the faith of the people involved here that healed them.
Faith is the key to being a Christian. The writer of Hebrews noting,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
Hebrews 11:1.
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
Hebrews 11:6
Question, Where is your faith?
Think about it.
“While he was saying this, a ruler came and knelt before him and said, “My daughter has just died. But come and put your hand on her, and she will live.” Jesus got up and went with him, and so did his disciples.
Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak.
She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.”
Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed from that moment.
When Jesus entered the ruler’s house and saw the flute players and the noisy crowd,
he said, “Go away. The girl is not dead but asleep.” But they laughed at him.
After the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up.
News of this spread through all that region.”
Matthew 9:18-26.
Throughout the gospels we have stories of faith in Jesus. Here are two good examples.
A ruler comes to Jesus and has faith enough to believe that Jesus can raise his dead daughter.
Proof that Jesus had people who believed in him not just in the lower and middle class but in the ruling more educated classes.
This man asked Jesus to come to his home where there were people hired to play instruments as part of the mourning process for the dead.
They laughed at Jesus when he said she was only asleep. They obviously knew she was dead. Her death had probably been pronounced by someone.
Yet here Jesus touches here and she comes to life.
Prior to this while he was on his way a woman who had an issue of blood an incident noted in Mark five and Luke eight had the faith to believe that if she simply touched the hem of his cloak she would be healed.
She touched it and Jesus turned to her and said, “your faith has healed you.”
It must be noted that it was the faith of the people involved here that healed them.
Faith is the key to being a Christian. The writer of Hebrews noting,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
Hebrews 11:1.
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
Hebrews 11:6
Question, Where is your faith?
Think about it.
Friday, 14 March 2014
New Wine
New wine
“Then John’s disciples came and asked him, “How is it that we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?”
Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.
“No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse.
Neither do men pour new wine into old wine skins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will run out and the wine skins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wine skins, and both are preserved.”
Matthew 9:14-17.
Here’s a quick explanation of this passage based on several commentaries I’ve read.
Basically here Jesus is comparing himself to the bride groom and he makes it clear that the guests of the bride groom, his disciples, do not fast while the bride groom is with them. They rejoice.
He goes on to note that “Neither do men pour new wine into old wine skins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will run out and the wine skins will be ruined.”
He’s comparing his ministry to new wine.
In the time of Jesus wine was kept in goat skins. Old skins were already stretched to the maximum putting grape juice, new wine into them would expand as the grape juice expanded and would cause the old skin to rupture spilling the wine.
Jesus is saying his ministry is a new ministry that can no longer be contained in the structure of Judaism.
His ministry is for the whole world. Not just Israel.
Up until this point in time while there were converts to Judaism, Judaism itself was not a religion that evangelized.
Now Jesus was changing all of that by taking the belief in the one true God to the whole world.
This is why Jesus came to take the salvation message. The Love of God to all the nations of the world.
Think about it.
“Then John’s disciples came and asked him, “How is it that we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?”
Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.
“No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse.
Neither do men pour new wine into old wine skins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will run out and the wine skins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wine skins, and both are preserved.”
Matthew 9:14-17.
Here’s a quick explanation of this passage based on several commentaries I’ve read.
Basically here Jesus is comparing himself to the bride groom and he makes it clear that the guests of the bride groom, his disciples, do not fast while the bride groom is with them. They rejoice.
He goes on to note that “Neither do men pour new wine into old wine skins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will run out and the wine skins will be ruined.”
He’s comparing his ministry to new wine.
In the time of Jesus wine was kept in goat skins. Old skins were already stretched to the maximum putting grape juice, new wine into them would expand as the grape juice expanded and would cause the old skin to rupture spilling the wine.
Jesus is saying his ministry is a new ministry that can no longer be contained in the structure of Judaism.
His ministry is for the whole world. Not just Israel.
Up until this point in time while there were converts to Judaism, Judaism itself was not a religion that evangelized.
Now Jesus was changing all of that by taking the belief in the one true God to the whole world.
This is why Jesus came to take the salvation message. The Love of God to all the nations of the world.
Think about it.
Thursday, 13 March 2014
Why Jesus Came
Why Jesus came
“As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.
While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and “sinners” came and ate with him and his disciples.
When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?”
On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.
But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Matthew 9:9-13.
Here is a point I think is lost on some preachers and evangelist especially in the media.
These preachers rant and rave about sin. They scream at the top of their lungs what sin is and point fingers. Lost in the cacophony of noise is the mercy of God.
The Pharisees saw Jesus sitting down with sinners and questioned why. To which Jesus replied,
“It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.
But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
I find at times in the church and among some preachers on television mercy is not shown.
They are too concentrated on listing the sins of others. Jesus was not like this.
Here he was sitting with tax collectors. People considered crooks in his day. Yet we are not told that he is brow beating them about their sins. If he did the probably not have sat down with him.
He seems to be entering into dialogue with them. Presenting to them the way of salvation.
That’s the way it should be with us. We need to enter into dialogue with those around us. No matter who they are.
It’s easy to find fault with others it’s hard to sit down with them and discuss what God has for them.
Unless we as Christians sit down with people we disagree with and discuss with them what we believe we will not reach the lost.
God sent his son to a world of sinners because he loved us.
Paul says of Love,
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”
1 Corinthians 13:4-8a
Unless we can show this kind of love to those around us we cannot hope to save the lost.
Think about it.
“As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.
While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and “sinners” came and ate with him and his disciples.
When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?”
On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.
But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Matthew 9:9-13.
Here is a point I think is lost on some preachers and evangelist especially in the media.
These preachers rant and rave about sin. They scream at the top of their lungs what sin is and point fingers. Lost in the cacophony of noise is the mercy of God.
The Pharisees saw Jesus sitting down with sinners and questioned why. To which Jesus replied,
“It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.
But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
I find at times in the church and among some preachers on television mercy is not shown.
They are too concentrated on listing the sins of others. Jesus was not like this.
Here he was sitting with tax collectors. People considered crooks in his day. Yet we are not told that he is brow beating them about their sins. If he did the probably not have sat down with him.
He seems to be entering into dialogue with them. Presenting to them the way of salvation.
That’s the way it should be with us. We need to enter into dialogue with those around us. No matter who they are.
It’s easy to find fault with others it’s hard to sit down with them and discuss what God has for them.
Unless we as Christians sit down with people we disagree with and discuss with them what we believe we will not reach the lost.
God sent his son to a world of sinners because he loved us.
Paul says of Love,
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”
1 Corinthians 13:4-8a
Unless we can show this kind of love to those around us we cannot hope to save the lost.
Think about it.
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