"Need Not Fear"

Today I have a quote for you. ... "Arise, and do not be afraid."

Can you tell me who said it? ... Also, Do you know to whom it was said?

This was one of many quotes I used in sharing a message at chapel with a room full of  kids today. It was also the one that no one in the room could identify.

How did you do?  Did you immediately know who said it and to whom? If so, congratulations! If not take a look at the following account and you'll see that Jesus said, "Arise, and do not be afraid." to His disciples at an event that was truly amazing.

Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, brought them up on a high mountain by themselves, and was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for  us to be here; if you wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!" And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid. But Jesus came and touched them and said, "Arise, and do not be afraid."  And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only. Now as they came down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, "Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man is risen from the dead." Matthew 17:1-9

Have you ever really stopped to consider how many people throughout scripture end up on their faces when God shows up? The disciples were no different. It says, that "Jesus was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him." They were filled with how awesome all this was but it wasn't until ... "behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!" And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid. 

God the Father showed up in a cloud and spoke and just that quick they fell on their faces! 

Out of all the quotes I used today to show these young people that the heart of the Father, Son, and Spirit, is to bless them; this is the one that has stayed with me all day long. I'm not really sure why.  'Arise, and do not be afraid." Its a pretty simple statement, but it is the statement that Jesus made to His disciples after the Father showed up and spoke! Maybe, that is why? Maybe its because I love the fact that it is the first thing Jesus said to them after the Father had ended His statement about Jesus with, "Hear Him!" God speaks from the cloud that had overshadowed them, reaffirms and authenticates to them both the person and the word of Christ, and then, He ends His statement to them with, "Hear Him!" 

Jesus immediately goes to them, touches them and says, 'Arise, and do not be afraid.'  

I love that Jesus' first words and His first actions are to bless them with both a touch and with the right words to reassure them that they need not fear the Presence of God.

Speaking Like Jesus

Archegos studied the man teaching them. He had heard rumors that his name was Jesus.

He studied Jesus some more. His clothing was simple. Not fancy, but functional. He didn't wear any extra adornments, just the basics. Jesus stood before a decent sized crowd, talking. No, that wasn't right. He was...teaching them. It was incredible.

Archegos had been amazed as he listened to the man. He moved around, and looked the people in the eye, like he could really relate to them. What was even more impressive was his authority. He didn't talk like a shy newbie. He didn't talk like a pompous know-it-all. He didn't stumble over words that were laced with uncertainty. He spoke with authority. Archegos had never heard anyone speak like that.

He blinked. He had never heard anyone speak like that! No one! Not ever! Archegos had been going to the synagogue with his family his whole life. He had grown up around Godly men, but none of them, not even the priests, Pharisees, or any other religious leader that he could think of had ever spoken with such authority.

Looking around, Archegos could see that he wasn't the only one to who had noticed the difference. The man seemed to posses some kind of Heavenly power. It radiated from him, and into the crowd of people.

People started to talk around him. Due to his dazed realization, Archegos had missed Jesus leaving, but he guessed that the trail of people moving away from the group were following after him. 


Archegos pointed in the direction that Jesus had gone. "Did you see that? Did you hear how he spoke? It was incredible!"

Based on Matthew 7:28-29

"And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes." Matthew 7:28-29

Isn't that incredible! The people noticed such a huge difference in how Jesus spoke. He taught with authority.

And the religious leaders of that day didn't.

Guys, we need to have that same authority in our lives when we talk about Jesus, God, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit. We need to be confident in who we are in our Lord. I don't want to be talking about how cool Jesus is in some lame monotone. Imagine someone falling asleep while you talk. What if you don't really believe the things you are saying? How does that look to people? Not good!

I want the people who hear me to be convinced that I know what I'm talking about. I want them to feel convicted, excited, and eager all rolled up into one. I want to speak with the authority of Jesus.

"So that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Philippians 2:10-11

V. Joy Palmer

"Has He Got Our Attention?"

Today I want to talk to you about a scene with two of my favorite people. Their names are Mary and Martha and we can find their story in Luke 10:38-42 This story is only five verses long but it still speaks to me every time I read it.

   Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house.
   And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus' feet and heard His word.
   But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me."
   And Jesus answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things.
   But one thing is needed and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her."

Mary and Martha are two of my favorite people because the truth is I can relate to them! Sometimes I'm so much like Martha and I'm distracted by ALL the things that I need to get done. Other times I'm like Mary and ALL I want to do is sit and listen and spend time with Jesus even though I know there are things I should be doing. I'm like Mary in those moments when He is my only focus!

The thing is that both sisters loved Jesus! It says that Martha welcomed Him into her home. She welcomed Him into her home and when you have guests in your home you feel responsible to look after them, to make them feel welcome.  It also says that she had a sister named Mary who ALSO sat at Jesus' feet which implies that it was something that Martha did as well. Instead of staying there she got distracted with serving because the truth is its the thing we do. Don't forget that it wasn't just Jesus she welcomed in either. There were twelve other men that traveled with Him as well, so it was a crowd she was hosting! Is it any wonder that she got distracted and left His feet to serve? Wouldn't you? Don't we when we get caught up in work, family, friends, and of course, the big one, serving in our ministries?

Martha was working hard serving Jesus and the disciples when she realized she was doing all the work by herself. She looked over and saw her sister, sitting there, totally absorbed in the things Jesus was saying and next thing you know, she is focused on that instead of what Jesus is saying. And now? Now she is angry and feeling put upon. How about you? Have you ever got distracted from listening and next thing you know your 'worried and troubled' about others or even worse with them.  Martha's distraction caused her to be open to a root of bitterness towards Mary because she perceived Mary's listening to mean that she was being blessed in a way that Martha herself was missing out on.

The truth is that all too often we are like Martha. We love Jesus but get distracted with the things we have to do for others or even by what we see others doing.

Then there is Mary. There are times when, like Mary, nothing can drag me away from His presence. I love when, like Jesus said to, "I choose the one thing necessary" and sit and listen and I don't let life or what other people are doing distract me from hearing all He has to say. Did you know Mary isn't the only one who took time and sat and listened despite the tasks of the day? '...Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight. He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.' Mark 1:35 '...And when He sent the multitudes away, He went up on a mountain by Himself to pray. And when evening had come, He was alone there.' Matthew 14:23 Jesus knew the importance of spending time talking and listening to the Father. There is a reason He was able to say, "...that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things. And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him." John 8:28-29

We are all a lot like both Martha and Mary at different times of our lives and as we grow in the things of God we need to learn to spend more and more time listening at His feet and less time 'worried and troubled and distracted' by the world around us. The truth is He is the 'one thing' that matters most and by putting Him first everything else will fall into place and be taken care of! Jesus is our perfect example and He always, no matter what His day was filled with, took time to make His Father the focus of all His actions; whether it was in taking time alone with Him or any and all the ministering He did throughout the day. It was all about being and doing His Father's will.  

"Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." Matthew 6:33-34 Taking a look at this illustration in the lives of Martha and Mary is a great way for us to ask ourselves, "Are we making Him 'The One Thing' necessary in our own lives the way Jesus did with His heavenly Father? Has He got all our attention or is it the world around us? Is He the focus of our day?"

"Broken"

  And when He had come out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no one could bind him, not even with chains, because he had often been bound with shackles and chains. And the chains ha been pulled apart by him, and the shackles broken in pieces; neither could anyone tame him.
  And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and n the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones.
  But when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped Him, And he cried out with a loud voice and said, "What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God that You do not torment me."
  For He said to him, "Come out of the man, unclean spirit!"
  Then He asked him, "What is Your name?" And he answered saying, "My name is Legion; for we are many."
  And he begged Him earnestly that He would not send them out of the country. Now a large herd of swine was feeding there near the mountain.
  And all the demons begged Him, saying, "Send us to the swine, that we may enter them."
  And at once Jesus gave them permission. Then the unclean spirits went out and entered the swine (there were about two thousand); and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and drowned in the sea.
  Now those who fed the swine fled, and they told it in the city and in the country. and they went out to see what it was that happened.
  Then they came to Jesus, and saw the one who had been demon-possessed and had the legion, sitting and clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. Mark 5:2-15

O Lord, we speak the healing word over each and every life that this message touches today!

Lord, we ask that as we speak this amazingly powerful word you would break every chain that binds.

Today as we speak forth Your healing word and as we speak Your most holy name into and over lives we ask that by the power of Your Spirit, Your people would be set free from anything that hinders them from being found in Your presence, whole and well and in their right mind.

Lord, the word we speak ...That name above all other names! ... Even in this moment, right now, we would stand in awe and watch as we say, "In the name of the Jesus Christ of Nazareth be set free! Be healed. Be whole!

Lord, we give You all the praise and all the glory as every chain that is tasked with the purpose of destroying life is broken! Right now, in this moment, Lord, we know that it doesn't matter whether it is a physical chain like sickness and disease, or a spiritual one that binds the soul; we know that by the power and authority of Your name its hold is BROKEN. Amen!

God Bless!!!

Staff of Snack Time Devotions

Battling My Idol

"Stay awake and pray that you may not be tempted. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."
Mark 14:38

I have heard this verse at least a thousand times, but I have a new-found understanding of it after the events of last week. You see, I have tried to fast before, but I have never been able to make it more than a meal or two before I caved. I would tell myself that I loved food too much. I knew it was an excuse. But what I didn't realize was that that stupid excuse was ACTUALLY TRUE.

I had set such a high value on food that I wouldn't surrender it. To some of you, this probably seems foolish, but I am sure that there are some out there that understand completely where I am coming from - I mean, a day without food? That's crazy! But I seriously felt that I absolutely needed to do it.

I know about idols in the lives of Christians. They aren't just little statues that people would bow to in the Old Testament; they are the things in your life that you value too much, so much that you place them above your relationship with God.

This isn't the first idol that I have battled, and I was determined that I was going to strike a blow against it. I thought about fasting a day, but that seemed too small. So, I decided on a week. My wife talked me down from that. It's not that she doubted my conviction, but she knew that I am a big guy, with a demanding physical job. That it wasn't smart to go from 0 to 60 in 5.2 seconds. She also stood beside me in my fast - both of us fasted for three whole days.

THREE. WHOLE. LONG. UNBEARABLE. DAYS.

Or, at least, that is what my mind was screaming by the first afternoon. But I was determined, committed to giving something over to my Lord that I had never truly given before. I stood resolute that I would not fail. And I did not fail. My spirit was willing.

I personally saw something in my life that I heard about from different pastors, evangelists, missionaries, and teachers.

The spirit trumps the natural. It truly does, you only need to commit yourself to it. I mean, all my previous attempts ended in failure. But in each of those, I wasn't committed. I caved after a meal or two, but not this time. This time, I gave the times of my meal to God. I read my Bible, prayed, and thanked God for the things that He has done for me. I made it through the three days. And I am so glad that I did.

I have felt my relationship deepen with God because of this fast. That idol of food has been pushed back, and I need to be vigilant that it doesn't return.

I would challenge you - find something that you have never given over to God completely and give it to Him. He will honor that.  We have those "hidden" little sins and secrets. Start letting them go. They are only weighing you down. In my case, that was literal.

Sam

"Alabaster Jar Moment"

And when Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, a woman came to Him having an alabaster flask of very costly fragrant oil, and she poured it on His head as He sat at the table. But when His disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, "To what purpose is this waste? For this fragrant oil might have been sold for much and given to the poor." But when Jesus was aware of it, He said to them, "Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a good work for Me. For you will have the poor with you always, but Me you do not have always. For in pouring this fragrant oil on My body, she did it for My burial. Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her."  Matthew 26:6-13

As I was praying and asking God what today's message should be about He brought to mind this moment in the life of our Lord. It is the moment when as Jesus put it, 'she poured a fragrant oil on His body to anoint it for His burial.' The disciples missed it. All they saw was a woman wasting the fragrant oil the alabaster jar contained. They missed the significance of what she was doing. This was a moment that was worth remembering according to what Jesus said, "Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her."and what that means is it was going  be remembered and talked about.

While the disciples were busy misinterpreting the scene they witnessed, Jesus knew and appreciated her gift. He knew that she was there with her most precious gift, an alabaster jar,  its very costly fragrant oil, and a heart that had one desire, to use it to bless Him. You and I can't anoint His body for burial BUT ...

What we can do is ... come before Him with a heart that is intent on blessing Him. Some might look at a time of praise and worship as a waste of time. They might misunderstand or even misinterpret its significance in the life of a believer BUT.... In reality, Our Lord knows better. He sees our heart and He knows when we come before Him and it is an Alabaster Jar Moment. An alabaster jar moment is the moment in worship when its not about what He has done for us. It is not the moment when we are focused on what He is doing for us or even what He will do for us. An alabaster jar moment is the moment when all our focus, our whole hearts desire is simply, to bless Him! To Jesus it is not a waste ... it is a moment to be remembered!

Runaway Fish Prophet, Part 10

If that blasted, scorching wind blew on his head for another second, he was going to put himself out of his misery. Another gust blew on his sun-burnt head, and it truly felt like someone was dragging knives across his skull.

"It is better for me to die than to live." He mumbled. Jonah knew that He could hear him.

"Do you do well, to be angry with the plant?"

He could hear the voice, too. As uncomfortable and hot as he was, Jonah knew he wasn't crazy. The voice was real, and it was God's voice.

Jonah spit, and watched as it sizzled on the dry ground.

That was it.

"Yes!" He struggled to his feet, and shook his fist at the sky. "Yes, I do well to be angry. Angry enough to die." His stupid plant died, and he was being burned alive. Why couldn't God have just let the plant live? After all that happened, why couldn't he have at least done that?

"You pity the plant, for which you did not labor, nor did you make it grow, which came into being in a night and perished in a night. Why shouldn't I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?"

Based on Jonah 4:5-11

And we come to the infamous end of Jonah's short story. We don't find out if Jonah asks forgiveness, or realizes the errors of his ways. We don't have any closure regarding the death of Jonah's plant. It just ends on a question. (Just for the record, I like to believe he did. Who couldn't after a heart-wrenching reprimand like that?)

So here's what God showed me.

"Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly." Proverbs 14:29

Sometimes, we are angry about the wrong stuff. Sometimes, our priorities are a seriously screwed up. Sometimes, we need a little reality check.

Jonah was angry about the sinful people of Nineveh being given unlimited grace and mercy. Then he was mad that a plant that sprung up behind him died. He was upset about the wrong things. Jonah cared more about the plant then he did about the people of Nineveh.

God cared more about His creation, His people, and the souls of the people of Nineveh. The people mattered most.

Guys, we need to focus on the stuff that matters. Compared to a city of lost souls, a dead plant doesn't matter that much. Instead of focusing on all the other junk, distractions, and the things we don't like about life, we should be focusing on God's children.

Are you focusing on a dead plant in your walk with God?

V. Joy Palmer