IS is not the first.
T.H. White wrote
“There was just such a man when I was young—an Austrian who invented a new way of life and convinced himself that he was the chap to make it work. He tried to impose his reformation by the sword, and plunged the civilized world into misery and chaos. But the thing which this fellow had overlooked, my friend, was that he had a predecessor in the reformation business, called Jesus Christ. Perhaps we may assume that Jesus knew as much as the Austrian did about saving people. But the odd thing is that Jesus did not turn the disciples into Strom troopers, burn down the Temple at Jerusalem, and fix the blame on Pontius Pilate. On the contrary, he made it clear that the business of the philosopher was to make ideas available, and not to impose them on people.”
T.H. White, The Once and Future King.
As I look at terrorist groups around the world today I cringe in horror. Still they are not new. Tyrants throughout history have been trying to impose their will on people for centuries.
Hitler alone killed six million Jews and five million other people whom he looked down on or whom he disagreed with.
Hitler I am certain has had judgment past on him as will the leaders of IS and all terrorist groups around today.
Paradise is the one place these people will not be going.
What these people who lead terror organizations fail to see is history has taught that violence and intolerance only ends in destruction. Empires founded on violence have all fallen.
One man’s Kingdom however has not and his followers reach into every country, in every strata of society around the world. That Kingdom is God’s and Jesus is His one and only Son.
Jesus was sent to point the way to heaven. To die for the sins of each and every man, woman and child.
Jesus never raised a hand in anger even to the men that condemned him to die. In fact he called out from the cross, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.”
Napoleon wrote of Jesus,
"You speak of Caesar, of Alexander, of their conquests and of the enthusiasm which they enkindled in the hearts of their soldiers; but can you conceive of a dead man making conquests, with an army faithful and entirely devoted to his memory? My armies have forgotten me even while living, as the Carthaginian army forgot Hannibal. Such is our power.”
“I know men and I tell you, Jesus Christ is no mere man. Between him and every other person in the world there is no possible term of comparison. Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and I have founded empires. But on what did we rest the creations of our genius? Upon force. Jesus Christ founded his empire upon love; and at this hour, millions would die for him.”
“I search in vain history to find similar to Jesus Christ, or anything which can approach the gospel. Neither history nor humanity, nor ages, nor nature, offer me anything with which I am able to compare it or to explain it. Here everything is extraordinary.”
Napoleon Bonaparte.
Today there are approximately two point two billion (2,200,000,000) Christians in the world. All won over by love.
IS and other terrorist groups have but a few million under their foot at this moment, and while like Hitler they may think they are building their version of the thousand year riche they are sadly mistaken.
If these people truly want to build heaven on earth they need to turn to Jesus and follow the path of love.
Jesus is recorded in the book of John giving the two options that are available to all men,
“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.
Killing innocent men women and children dose not lead to paradise Jesus does.
Please think about it.
Wednesday 15 April 2015
Tuesday 14 April 2015
False Teachers,
False Teachers
“As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so differences you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God’s work—which is by faith. The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.”
1 Timothy 1-5
Paul here is writing to Timothy and emphasizes the need to speak out and correct false teachers.
Speaking against false teaching in the church is a big thing for Paul. He wants to make sure the pure word of God is taught. This is how it should be today.
Today the threat from false teachers is greater than ever before because of the easy access to the media. That is why we as Christians need to be on the alert for those who would lead others away from the faith.
Having said that I know within the Christian faith there are different interpretations of some minor doctrines. That’s to be expected.
There however should be no debate on the central beliefs of Christianity. The apostles creed although not written by the apostles, I believe sums these basic beliefs up when it says,
In the apostle Paul’s day as it is today there are many people who are out there particularly trying to part Christians from their money. There are others who are out there deliberately trying to lead Christians astray.
I remember a preacher in the late seventies named Jim Jones who was a good orator who so misled people that he took them down to place in a south American country where they all committed mass suicide.
Today there are men and women in the media in particular that all they want to do is get rich. They do this by convincing Christians that by contributing to their ministry God will bless them ten, twenty, or even a hundred fold. Looking on God as if he were a ‘sugar daddy’. A divine banker who gives a hundred percent interest on their money. This is simply garbage.
As Christians we need to be watching and carefully listening to what is being preached. We need to be looking at the evangelist, preachers and teachers to see if they are truly living up as far as possible to the word of God.
We from time to time need to question them about where the money they are collecting is really going. Not only is the money being spent legally according to the laws of the country they are in, but are they doing what is morally right with the money they receive.
Is most of the money collected for example going to the ministry or is the evangelist or pastor taking the lions share?
When it comes to teaching the scriptures we need to be asking them to explain their reasoning behind what they are teaching.
I know when I teach the adult mid week bible study at our church we encourage questions. I am frequently asked how I came to the conclusion I did. We will even stop and discuss a point for as long as it takes for everyone to understand.
I and my pastor are also open to correction as we expect everyone who comes out to it to be. No one is perfect we all make mistakes.
I was always taught that a teacher of the Gospel of Christ is held up to a higher standard. This is what we should be doing to every one who is preaching or teaching Gods word.
Please think about it.
“As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so differences you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God’s work—which is by faith. The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.”
1 Timothy 1-5
Paul here is writing to Timothy and emphasizes the need to speak out and correct false teachers.
Speaking against false teaching in the church is a big thing for Paul. He wants to make sure the pure word of God is taught. This is how it should be today.
Today the threat from false teachers is greater than ever before because of the easy access to the media. That is why we as Christians need to be on the alert for those who would lead others away from the faith.
Having said that I know within the Christian faith there are different interpretations of some minor doctrines. That’s to be expected.
There however should be no debate on the central beliefs of Christianity. The apostles creed although not written by the apostles, I believe sums these basic beliefs up when it says,
Apostles' Creed
I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth:
And in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our Lord:
Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary:
Suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, dead and buried: He descended into hell:
The third day he rose again from the dead:
He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty:
From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead:
I believe in the Holy Ghost:
I believe in the holy catholic* church (*that is, the true Christian church of all times and all places.): the communion of saints:
The forgiveness of sins:
The resurrection of the body:
And the life everlasting.
Amen.
In the apostle Paul’s day as it is today there are many people who are out there particularly trying to part Christians from their money. There are others who are out there deliberately trying to lead Christians astray.
I remember a preacher in the late seventies named Jim Jones who was a good orator who so misled people that he took them down to place in a south American country where they all committed mass suicide.
Today there are men and women in the media in particular that all they want to do is get rich. They do this by convincing Christians that by contributing to their ministry God will bless them ten, twenty, or even a hundred fold. Looking on God as if he were a ‘sugar daddy’. A divine banker who gives a hundred percent interest on their money. This is simply garbage.
As Christians we need to be watching and carefully listening to what is being preached. We need to be looking at the evangelist, preachers and teachers to see if they are truly living up as far as possible to the word of God.
We from time to time need to question them about where the money they are collecting is really going. Not only is the money being spent legally according to the laws of the country they are in, but are they doing what is morally right with the money they receive.
Is most of the money collected for example going to the ministry or is the evangelist or pastor taking the lions share?
When it comes to teaching the scriptures we need to be asking them to explain their reasoning behind what they are teaching.
I know when I teach the adult mid week bible study at our church we encourage questions. I am frequently asked how I came to the conclusion I did. We will even stop and discuss a point for as long as it takes for everyone to understand.
I and my pastor are also open to correction as we expect everyone who comes out to it to be. No one is perfect we all make mistakes.
I was always taught that a teacher of the Gospel of Christ is held up to a higher standard. This is what we should be doing to every one who is preaching or teaching Gods word.
Please think about it.
Monday 13 April 2015
How to preach the gospel
How to preach the gospel
“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.
Sunday 12 April 2015
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, his followers, 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 wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will run out and the wineskins 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 new grape juice into them would cause the old skins to burst as the as the new juice fermented and expanded 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. Jesus saying,
“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
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.
The message of Christianity is this.
“He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.
Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God."
John 1: 11-13
Christians ask people to believe by faith that Jesus is the one and only Son of God. That he came to this earth to save each and everyone who would have faith in Him.
True Christians will never force their faith on anyone. They will simply present their faith and let the individual decide for themselves. Which is what I have done here.
Please 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, his followers, 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 wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will run out and the wineskins 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 new grape juice into them would cause the old skins to burst as the as the new juice fermented and expanded 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. Jesus saying,
“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
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.
The message of Christianity is this.
“He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.
Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God."
John 1: 11-13
Christians ask people to believe by faith that Jesus is the one and only Son of God. That he came to this earth to save each and everyone who would have faith in Him.
True Christians will never force their faith on anyone. They will simply present their faith and let the individual decide for themselves. Which is what I have done here.
Please think about it.
Saturday 11 April 2015
False Teachers
False Teachers
“But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.
For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough....
“For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ.
And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.
It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.”
2 Corinthians 11:3,4,13-15
The Bible is the ultimate base for our Christian beliefs. Sadly the truths contained in the Bible have been twisted by many preachers and evangelist over the years. It happened in the time of Paul it is happening today. The easy access to the media we have today makes it even easier for false teachers to propagate their message.
The Apostle Paul here writing to the Corinthians warns the Corinthians and through them us about such false teachers.
Paul makes it clear “Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness.”
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 7:15-23.
As Christians we need to be vigilant. Paul referred to the false teachers at Corinth sarcastically as “super apostles”. They apparently were far more eloquent of speech than he was. And there in is the danger. People that speak well and sound good but are really wolves in sheep’s clothing.
I remember when I was much younger a couple of us went out side during a break at a Christian conference.
We were dressed in suit and tie and so we looked like we had integrity. We simply went out and started to point into a sky that had scattered clouds. All we said was “there it is. I can see it” “yes it’s there. Just there.” within a few minutes we had half a dozen people pointing and saying they seen “it”.
We didn’t even say what “it” was. It didn’t matter however there was nothing in the sky.
We didn’t have the nerve to tell the people nothing was there, so we simply walked away.
“It” however showed how people could be easily misled by a few people who looked honest.
Christians who are taught to be trusting can also be led away easily by preachers and evangelist who look honest and trusting.
The best way for Christians to know the truth is to read the Bible for themselves. To find several commentaries and books on church history and Jewish culture in the day of Christ. There are a lot of good books out there.
Make sure however that you don’t put the commentaries ahead of the Bible. The Bible is the supreme authority for all Christian teaching.
A good commentary will point out both sides of an argument over what may be a contentious portion of scripture.
Also be careful some groups and evangelist put out their “own commentary”. While claiming to be a commentary these are frequently really one person’s thoughts on scriptures. They give only what they believe and not the whole picture.
When it comes to church history there is a lot out there. Read about the early church and the various movements that lead up today.
As for Jewish culture, it is rich in symbolism and meaning. For the Christians learning about Jewish holiday and the various customs opens ones eyes to greater meaning within our own faith.
The Apostle Paul writing to Timothy wrote,
“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly.
Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, who have wandered away from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some.
Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.”
2Timothy 2:15-19
What Paul is saying could be said to people today. As can everything that is written in the Bible.
The Bible is a living book showing believers how to live. It is a beacon to the none believer to come into a personal relationship with God.
Please think about it.
“But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.
For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough....
“For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ.
And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.
It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.”
2 Corinthians 11:3,4,13-15
The Bible is the ultimate base for our Christian beliefs. Sadly the truths contained in the Bible have been twisted by many preachers and evangelist over the years. It happened in the time of Paul it is happening today. The easy access to the media we have today makes it even easier for false teachers to propagate their message.
The Apostle Paul here writing to the Corinthians warns the Corinthians and through them us about such false teachers.
Paul makes it clear “Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness.”
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 7:15-23.
As Christians we need to be vigilant. Paul referred to the false teachers at Corinth sarcastically as “super apostles”. They apparently were far more eloquent of speech than he was. And there in is the danger. People that speak well and sound good but are really wolves in sheep’s clothing.
I remember when I was much younger a couple of us went out side during a break at a Christian conference.
We were dressed in suit and tie and so we looked like we had integrity. We simply went out and started to point into a sky that had scattered clouds. All we said was “there it is. I can see it” “yes it’s there. Just there.” within a few minutes we had half a dozen people pointing and saying they seen “it”.
We didn’t even say what “it” was. It didn’t matter however there was nothing in the sky.
We didn’t have the nerve to tell the people nothing was there, so we simply walked away.
“It” however showed how people could be easily misled by a few people who looked honest.
Christians who are taught to be trusting can also be led away easily by preachers and evangelist who look honest and trusting.
The best way for Christians to know the truth is to read the Bible for themselves. To find several commentaries and books on church history and Jewish culture in the day of Christ. There are a lot of good books out there.
Make sure however that you don’t put the commentaries ahead of the Bible. The Bible is the supreme authority for all Christian teaching.
A good commentary will point out both sides of an argument over what may be a contentious portion of scripture.
Also be careful some groups and evangelist put out their “own commentary”. While claiming to be a commentary these are frequently really one person’s thoughts on scriptures. They give only what they believe and not the whole picture.
When it comes to church history there is a lot out there. Read about the early church and the various movements that lead up today.
As for Jewish culture, it is rich in symbolism and meaning. For the Christians learning about Jewish holiday and the various customs opens ones eyes to greater meaning within our own faith.
The Apostle Paul writing to Timothy wrote,
“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly.
Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, who have wandered away from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some.
Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.”
2Timothy 2:15-19
What Paul is saying could be said to people today. As can everything that is written in the Bible.
The Bible is a living book showing believers how to live. It is a beacon to the none believer to come into a personal relationship with God.
Please think about it.
Friday 10 April 2015
The Golden Rule
The Golden Rule
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”
Matthew 7:12.
This is a statement that is echoed in other faiths, the so called golden rule.
I find it is something Christians at times forget.
They in the name of God go around preaching and judging others. They try to force what they believe on others.
Many Christian groups have tried over the years to restrict the rights of others. This should not be so.
We should be helping preserve the rights of others whether we are in a democracy or not.
Abba Hillel Silver wrote
“Faith in God is the strongest bulwark of a free society. Human freedom began when men became conscious that over and above society and nature there is a God who created them...who fashioned them in His likeness, and that they are, therefore, possessed of intrinsic and independent significance and are endowed, as individuals, with original and irrevocable rights and authority.”
Abba Hillel Silver
We as Christians owe it to ourselves and to others to treat all people in the way we wish to be treated.
We should always take time to think before we act and ask ourselves the question would I like this being done to me.
Tony Campolo the American evangelist wrote,
“These issues are biblical issues: to care for the sick, to feed the hungry, to stand up for the oppressed. I contend that if the evangelical community became more biblical, everything would change.”
Tony Campolo
As Christians we should be standing up for the rights of others even if we disagree with them. By standing up for the rights of others we open a dialogue and that helps to spread the gospel message.
Think about it.
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”
Matthew 7:12.
This is a statement that is echoed in other faiths, the so called golden rule.
I find it is something Christians at times forget.
They in the name of God go around preaching and judging others. They try to force what they believe on others.
Many Christian groups have tried over the years to restrict the rights of others. This should not be so.
We should be helping preserve the rights of others whether we are in a democracy or not.
Abba Hillel Silver wrote
“Faith in God is the strongest bulwark of a free society. Human freedom began when men became conscious that over and above society and nature there is a God who created them...who fashioned them in His likeness, and that they are, therefore, possessed of intrinsic and independent significance and are endowed, as individuals, with original and irrevocable rights and authority.”
Abba Hillel Silver
We as Christians owe it to ourselves and to others to treat all people in the way we wish to be treated.
We should always take time to think before we act and ask ourselves the question would I like this being done to me.
Tony Campolo the American evangelist wrote,
“These issues are biblical issues: to care for the sick, to feed the hungry, to stand up for the oppressed. I contend that if the evangelical community became more biblical, everything would change.”
Tony Campolo
As Christians we should be standing up for the rights of others even if we disagree with them. By standing up for the rights of others we open a dialogue and that helps to spread the gospel message.
Think about it.
Thursday 9 April 2015
Two Masters
You can’t serve God and man
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light.
But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
“No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money”
Matthew 6:19-24.
Let me make it clear from the outset being wealthy is not a sin. Having a lot of money earned honestly is not a sin. The Apostle Paul makes it clear
“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”
1 Timothy 6:10
Here in the above scriptures Matthew 6:19-24, Jesus is talking about greed. Like is said, money and riches in themselves are not bad. The church needs wealthy people to help in the spread of the gospel.
It’s what you do with your money. Don’t hoard it for the sake of hoarding it.
There’s a very famous story of a miserly woman in the late eighteen hundreds. She had substantial wealth enough to pay doctors to help her sick son. Yet the son died because she didn’t want to pay out the money and was looking for a charity hospital to help him and save her money.
While this is an extreme case it is what Jesus is talking about.
Some people put their trust entirely in money. Proud they are self sufficient. Thus quite often they miss the blessings of God.
You can always tell where a persons heart is.
Over the years that I’ve been in church work I’ve met people that are earning an excellent base wage but work long hours of overtime to get the extra they want to buy a new toy, be it a $500 dollar cell phone, half million dollar house or a fancy car.
They work so much they can’t enjoy their toys.
While they claim to love God they are so absorbed in making money that they don’t have time to serve Him.
The Apostle Paul noted in his letter to Timothy,
“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”
1 Timothy 6:10
Jesus made it clear “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money”
We all need money but my cousin use to say “you can’t go anywhere without it. But you can’t take it when you go.”
We all as Christians need to take a long hard look at were our treasure is. Is it hear on earth or is it in heaven?
Do we really need all the toys of this world?
Or could our time be better spent serving God even if it’s only in a small way.
Please think about it?
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light.
But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
“No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money”
Matthew 6:19-24.
Let me make it clear from the outset being wealthy is not a sin. Having a lot of money earned honestly is not a sin. The Apostle Paul makes it clear
“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”
1 Timothy 6:10
Here in the above scriptures Matthew 6:19-24, Jesus is talking about greed. Like is said, money and riches in themselves are not bad. The church needs wealthy people to help in the spread of the gospel.
It’s what you do with your money. Don’t hoard it for the sake of hoarding it.
There’s a very famous story of a miserly woman in the late eighteen hundreds. She had substantial wealth enough to pay doctors to help her sick son. Yet the son died because she didn’t want to pay out the money and was looking for a charity hospital to help him and save her money.
While this is an extreme case it is what Jesus is talking about.
Some people put their trust entirely in money. Proud they are self sufficient. Thus quite often they miss the blessings of God.
You can always tell where a persons heart is.
Over the years that I’ve been in church work I’ve met people that are earning an excellent base wage but work long hours of overtime to get the extra they want to buy a new toy, be it a $500 dollar cell phone, half million dollar house or a fancy car.
They work so much they can’t enjoy their toys.
While they claim to love God they are so absorbed in making money that they don’t have time to serve Him.
The Apostle Paul noted in his letter to Timothy,
“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”
1 Timothy 6:10
Jesus made it clear “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money”
We all need money but my cousin use to say “you can’t go anywhere without it. But you can’t take it when you go.”
We all as Christians need to take a long hard look at were our treasure is. Is it hear on earth or is it in heaven?
Do we really need all the toys of this world?
Or could our time be better spent serving God even if it’s only in a small way.
Please think about it?
Wednesday 8 April 2015
How to Pray
How not to pray.
“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.
But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.
Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”
Matthew 6:5-8
Her Jesus tells us how not to pray.
1/ Don’t pray to be seen by man. To have men say “look at the prayer warrior.” “Look at how pious she or he is.”
I know people who in church like to pray “in tongues” out loud.
Paul writing to the Corinthians states,
“If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret.
If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and God.”
1 Corinthians 14:27,28.
This is not what Jesus had in mind when he wanted people to pray.
2/ We should pray in private with the door closed.
Now this does not preclude praying in church but it should be in a known language and appropriate to what is happening.
3/ Avoid constant repetition. Don’t babble on that’s what the pagans did.
Jesus points out that God knows what you need before you ask.
Payer is thus an act of faith. Even though God knows what we need he wants us to act in faith and ask Him for our needs in our own language.
Because as the writer of Hebrews notes,
“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.
Think about it.
“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.
But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.
Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”
Matthew 6:5-8
Her Jesus tells us how not to pray.
1/ Don’t pray to be seen by man. To have men say “look at the prayer warrior.” “Look at how pious she or he is.”
I know people who in church like to pray “in tongues” out loud.
Paul writing to the Corinthians states,
“If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret.
If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and God.”
1 Corinthians 14:27,28.
This is not what Jesus had in mind when he wanted people to pray.
2/ We should pray in private with the door closed.
Now this does not preclude praying in church but it should be in a known language and appropriate to what is happening.
3/ Avoid constant repetition. Don’t babble on that’s what the pagans did.
Jesus points out that God knows what you need before you ask.
Payer is thus an act of faith. Even though God knows what we need he wants us to act in faith and ask Him for our needs in our own language.
Because as the writer of Hebrews notes,
“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.
Think about it.
Tuesday 7 April 2015
Jesus and the Law
Jesus and the Law
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfil them.
I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.”
Matthew 5:17-20.
Jesus did not come to abolish the laws God set out. He come to fulfil them.
The law shows us what it right and wrong. All civilized societies need a code of conduct. And Jesus makes it clear that, that code set down by God for all mankind will stay in place.
He never came to change it. However Jesus does reconcile us to the law. Should we fall short and break even the smallest part of the law, which all of us do from time to time, (it’s called sinning) all we have to do is confess that sin and Jesus will forgive our sins.
Jesus in this passage also calls us to be more righteous than the Pharisees. We should not just be doing God’s will outwardly.
What we do for God should not just be a facade. We should be making Jesus Lord of our heart and be pleasing to Him both inwardly as well as on the outside.
Our lives both publicly and privately should be in line with God’s will.
Our moral and ethical values should anything that the world has.
Our lives should be a testimony for Christ.
As Francis of Assisi said,
“Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.”
Francis of Assisi
Think about it.
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfil them.
I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.”
Matthew 5:17-20.
Jesus did not come to abolish the laws God set out. He come to fulfil them.
The law shows us what it right and wrong. All civilized societies need a code of conduct. And Jesus makes it clear that, that code set down by God for all mankind will stay in place.
He never came to change it. However Jesus does reconcile us to the law. Should we fall short and break even the smallest part of the law, which all of us do from time to time, (it’s called sinning) all we have to do is confess that sin and Jesus will forgive our sins.
Jesus in this passage also calls us to be more righteous than the Pharisees. We should not just be doing God’s will outwardly.
What we do for God should not just be a facade. We should be making Jesus Lord of our heart and be pleasing to Him both inwardly as well as on the outside.
Our lives both publicly and privately should be in line with God’s will.
Our moral and ethical values should anything that the world has.
Our lives should be a testimony for Christ.
As Francis of Assisi said,
“Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.”
Francis of Assisi
Think about it.
Monday 6 April 2015
The way to Heaven
The Way to Heaven
Over the past weekend we have just come through Easter celebrations. From Good Friday to Easter Sunday. The most Holy days on the Christian Calender.
It is at Easter when we Christians believe Christ died for our sins that we through His shed blood may enter the Kingdom of Heaven and inherit eternal life.
The following is what I as a Christian believe we need to do in brief, to inherit eternal life.
I’d like you the reader to at least think about it.
The way to heaven is I believe simple and open to anyone, and I mean anyone to follow.
It come down to who you think Jesus is and what his purpose on this earth was for.
First of all it is an act of faith. Faith defined by the writer of Hebrews as,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
Hebrews 11:1
The writer going on to say,
“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
The Apostle Paul make it clear salvation and the eternal life it brings is not something we can work for. Paul writing to the Ephesians stating,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Ephesians 2:8,9
Salvation come from God to man. It is God in love reaching down to mankind. The apostle John writing,
“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.”
John 3:16,17.
When asked the way to heaven,
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 apostle Paul writing to the Romans said,
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” Romans 3:23,24.
Sinning is falling short of what God wants for your life. Sin separates us from God.
Isaiah telling us,
“All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.”
Isaiah 64:6
The Apostle John noting,
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.”
1 John 1:9,10.
Simply put salvation and eternal life with God comes through accepting Jesus as God’s one and only Son. Believing that he came to die for our sins. Confessing in prayer our sins directly to God accepting that forgiveness. And letting Christ into our hearts and mind.
The prayer for forgiveness is as simple as talking to God as though he were standing in front of you. You can simply say,
Dear Heavenly Father.
I recognize that I am a sinner and fall short of what you would have for my life. I accept that Jesus Christ is your one and only Son. That he died for my sins. Please forgive me.
Dear Jesus
I accept you this day as my Lord and Saviour. Please come into my life and this day and direct me in the paths of rightiousness. Help me to live each day for you.
Amen.
If you truly accepted Jesus into your life then I would suggest you start reading the Bible. Start in the new Testament praying and asking God to show you the truths there in.
The next thing I would advise is to find a bible believing Church. But be careful when it comes to Churches there are some that do not follow the bible correctly.
What I advise is again pray and ask God to direct you to a Church. I recommend Baptist Churches most places in the world. They have their roots deep in the Bible. In North America where I live I also recommend the Assemblies of God in the United States, and The Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada in Canada. These are good solid Bible believing churches.
Also remember that each church congregation has its own personality. So if the one you go to initially is not to your liking try others until you feel comfortable.
Remember also that it fine to be nervous when entering a church for the first time but most good churches will have someone to greet you and say a few kind words.
It is also permissible to ask questions of the pastor if you don’t understand things. In larger churches you may have to arrange an appointment but in most smaller churches the pastors will usually take time to speak with you.
If they don’t have time for you even after making an appointment or they don’t answer your questions perhaps that is not the place for you. You may need to find another church.
Either way I would ask that you have patients and look around until you’ve found one that is to your liking.
Think about it.
Over the past weekend we have just come through Easter celebrations. From Good Friday to Easter Sunday. The most Holy days on the Christian Calender.
It is at Easter when we Christians believe Christ died for our sins that we through His shed blood may enter the Kingdom of Heaven and inherit eternal life.
The following is what I as a Christian believe we need to do in brief, to inherit eternal life.
I’d like you the reader to at least think about it.
The way to heaven is I believe simple and open to anyone, and I mean anyone to follow.
It come down to who you think Jesus is and what his purpose on this earth was for.
First of all it is an act of faith. Faith defined by the writer of Hebrews as,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
Hebrews 11:1
The writer going on to say,
“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
The Apostle Paul make it clear salvation and the eternal life it brings is not something we can work for. Paul writing to the Ephesians stating,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Ephesians 2:8,9
Salvation come from God to man. It is God in love reaching down to mankind. The apostle John writing,
“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.”
John 3:16,17.
When asked the way to heaven,
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 apostle Paul writing to the Romans said,
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” Romans 3:23,24.
Sinning is falling short of what God wants for your life. Sin separates us from God.
Isaiah telling us,
“All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.”
Isaiah 64:6
The Apostle John noting,
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.”
1 John 1:9,10.
Simply put salvation and eternal life with God comes through accepting Jesus as God’s one and only Son. Believing that he came to die for our sins. Confessing in prayer our sins directly to God accepting that forgiveness. And letting Christ into our hearts and mind.
The prayer for forgiveness is as simple as talking to God as though he were standing in front of you. You can simply say,
Dear Heavenly Father.
I recognize that I am a sinner and fall short of what you would have for my life. I accept that Jesus Christ is your one and only Son. That he died for my sins. Please forgive me.
Dear Jesus
I accept you this day as my Lord and Saviour. Please come into my life and this day and direct me in the paths of rightiousness. Help me to live each day for you.
Amen.
If you truly accepted Jesus into your life then I would suggest you start reading the Bible. Start in the new Testament praying and asking God to show you the truths there in.
The next thing I would advise is to find a bible believing Church. But be careful when it comes to Churches there are some that do not follow the bible correctly.
What I advise is again pray and ask God to direct you to a Church. I recommend Baptist Churches most places in the world. They have their roots deep in the Bible. In North America where I live I also recommend the Assemblies of God in the United States, and The Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada in Canada. These are good solid Bible believing churches.
Also remember that each church congregation has its own personality. So if the one you go to initially is not to your liking try others until you feel comfortable.
Remember also that it fine to be nervous when entering a church for the first time but most good churches will have someone to greet you and say a few kind words.
It is also permissible to ask questions of the pastor if you don’t understand things. In larger churches you may have to arrange an appointment but in most smaller churches the pastors will usually take time to speak with you.
If they don’t have time for you even after making an appointment or they don’t answer your questions perhaps that is not the place for you. You may need to find another church.
Either way I would ask that you have patients and look around until you’ve found one that is to your liking.
Think about it.
Sunday 5 April 2015
Easter Sunday
The Resurrection
“On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb.
They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.
While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them.
In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead?
He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee:
‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ”
Then they remembered his words.
When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others.
It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles.
But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense.
Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.”
Luke 24:1-12.
The resurrection of Jesus was an incredible moment in history. No other religious leader has ever risen corporally.
This was hard for the disciples of Jesus to believe when the women told them and they had spent three years under his teaching.
Jesus did indeed rise from the dead later on in Luke records in chapter 24:13-25, that Jesus appeared to two believers on the road to Emmaus who reported back to the Eleven disciples.
Later Luke records the following,
“While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost.
He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds?
Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”
When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet.
And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?”
They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate it in their presence.
He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”
Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.
He told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
You are witnesses of these things.
I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”
Luke 24:36-49.
The Disciples seen and talked to Jesus, he ate some fish and he proved to them he was flesh and blood. That he had indeed risen from the dead.
To this point the disciples and others perhaps thought Jesus was a conquering Messiah that would lead them to victory over Roman oppression but Jesus was not a conquering Messiah. He was a suffering Messiah as he himself said,
“He told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
You are witnesses of these things.”
This is the message true Christians are preaching throughout the world today. That Jesus died for the sins of each and every person.
C.S. Lewis wrote,
“He died not for men, but for each man. If each man had been the only man made, He would have done no less.”
C.S. Lewis.
This is the message of Easter. That Christ died for the sins of each man and woman.
The call of Christ is the call of each man and woman to believe that Jesus is the one and only Son of God that by confessing our sins directly to him He will forgive them. That by accepting him into our hearts and lives we will receive eternal life.
To quote C.S. Lewis again,
“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the 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.”
C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity.
So the choice comes down to you the reader. Do you believe Jesus is the Son of God the Saviour of the world or not?
Please think about it carefully.
“On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb.
They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.
While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them.
In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead?
He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee:
‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ”
Then they remembered his words.
When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others.
It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles.
But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense.
Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.”
Luke 24:1-12.
The resurrection of Jesus was an incredible moment in history. No other religious leader has ever risen corporally.
This was hard for the disciples of Jesus to believe when the women told them and they had spent three years under his teaching.
Jesus did indeed rise from the dead later on in Luke records in chapter 24:13-25, that Jesus appeared to two believers on the road to Emmaus who reported back to the Eleven disciples.
Later Luke records the following,
“While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost.
He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds?
Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”
When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet.
And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?”
They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate it in their presence.
He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”
Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.
He told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
You are witnesses of these things.
I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”
Luke 24:36-49.
The Disciples seen and talked to Jesus, he ate some fish and he proved to them he was flesh and blood. That he had indeed risen from the dead.
To this point the disciples and others perhaps thought Jesus was a conquering Messiah that would lead them to victory over Roman oppression but Jesus was not a conquering Messiah. He was a suffering Messiah as he himself said,
“He told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
You are witnesses of these things.”
This is the message true Christians are preaching throughout the world today. That Jesus died for the sins of each and every person.
C.S. Lewis wrote,
“He died not for men, but for each man. If each man had been the only man made, He would have done no less.”
C.S. Lewis.
This is the message of Easter. That Christ died for the sins of each man and woman.
The call of Christ is the call of each man and woman to believe that Jesus is the one and only Son of God that by confessing our sins directly to him He will forgive them. That by accepting him into our hearts and lives we will receive eternal life.
To quote C.S. Lewis again,
“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the 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.”
C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity.
So the choice comes down to you the reader. Do you believe Jesus is the Son of God the Saviour of the world or not?
Please think about it carefully.
Saturday 4 April 2015
The Death and Burial of Jesus
The Death and Burial
“It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour,
for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two.
Jesus called out with a loud voice,“Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last.
The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.”
When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away.
But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.
Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea and he was waiting for the kingdom of God.
Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body.
Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid.
It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin.
The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it.
Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.”
Luke 23:44-56.
The death and burial of Jesus. Here we have those who loved Jesus watching him die and what the other people around were doing.
The sky went black for three hours. Jesus gives his own spirit up. The Roman soldier stating “Surely this was a righteous man.”
Joseph of Arimathea a member of the council who was not at the council when it voted to have Jesus put to death asked Pilate for the body of Jesus and place him in a new unused tomb. While the women prepared the spices and perfumes to embalm the body. They could not however embalm it because of the Sabbath on which they rested in obedience to the commandments.
This was the lowest point I think in the life of Christ’s followers. Jesus was in the grave. He was dead.
Death has come to every leader of every faith throughout history.
Jesus however would stand out, in that death did not hold him. For on the Sunday morning he arose from the grave to walk the earth for a short while before ascending into heaven to sit at the right hand of God the Father.
This is what makes Christianity and Christians different from all other faiths. We serve a risen Lord that during the three years he ministered on this earth claimed to be the One and only Son of God. He made the statement,
“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:6
A potentially dangerous statement in the time of Jesus.
C. S. Lewis wrote of Jesus,
“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the 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.”
C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
Please think about it.
“It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour,
for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two.
Jesus called out with a loud voice,“Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last.
The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.”
When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away.
But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.
Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea and he was waiting for the kingdom of God.
Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body.
Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid.
It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin.
The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it.
Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.”
Luke 23:44-56.
The death and burial of Jesus. Here we have those who loved Jesus watching him die and what the other people around were doing.
The sky went black for three hours. Jesus gives his own spirit up. The Roman soldier stating “Surely this was a righteous man.”
Joseph of Arimathea a member of the council who was not at the council when it voted to have Jesus put to death asked Pilate for the body of Jesus and place him in a new unused tomb. While the women prepared the spices and perfumes to embalm the body. They could not however embalm it because of the Sabbath on which they rested in obedience to the commandments.
This was the lowest point I think in the life of Christ’s followers. Jesus was in the grave. He was dead.
Death has come to every leader of every faith throughout history.
Jesus however would stand out, in that death did not hold him. For on the Sunday morning he arose from the grave to walk the earth for a short while before ascending into heaven to sit at the right hand of God the Father.
This is what makes Christianity and Christians different from all other faiths. We serve a risen Lord that during the three years he ministered on this earth claimed to be the One and only Son of God. He made the statement,
“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:6
A potentially dangerous statement in the time of Jesus.
C. S. Lewis wrote of Jesus,
“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the 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.”
C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
Please think about it.
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