Ruwa could feel the panic closing in on them. All around him men were panicking, losing hope, giving up.
They had been marching out to meet the Israelite army, and a scout scurried back saying that the army was just ahead of them. Then another scout came running up saying the army was behind them.
Behind them.
Ahead of them.
Ruwa was watched as the gravity of their situation dawned on the men around him all at once. You could see the devastating news suck the life out of every man's face.
They were surrounded. Completely, utterly, hopelessly surrounded. They didn't have enough men to fight their way out. Several weeks ago a spy in the Israelite camp had reported that the Israelite army doubled their own army. Ruwa attempted to swallow the lump in his throat. Truthfully, he was having difficulty keeping the contents of his own stomach down and not emptying it in a nearby bush. Not unlike every man there, Ruwa couldn't help but think of his family back home, his wife and young children, and how brokenhearted they would be...
Despite the vomiting and wailing all around him, there were several men running through the clustered ranks of the army shouting. Ruwa strained to hear what they were saying...
"Do not despair! Do not despair! They Lord will deliver us. Shout to the Lord!"
Ruwa didn't have time to ponder the silliness of such a statement. He just did it. What else could he do? Before long, everyone was shouting, and Ruwa could barely hear the sound of trumpets coming from further ahead.
Soon, their cries for help changed, and instead, they became a battle cry. They would not give up. They would not let the enemy win. They would keep going. The Lord God was with them. Ruwa knew this to be true.
They would win this battle.
Based on 2 Chronicles 13:13-16
In this story, the nation of Judah was stuck. Trapped. They were thoroughly surrounded on all sides! Jeroboam had come out to meet Judah's army in battle head on, but Jeroboam had also sent an ambush around and behind them. When the army of Judah realized this terrible twist of fate they...
- Gave up and let them enemy kill them?
- Prayed to the sun, moon, and stars?
- Cursed God Almighty?
- Ran away?
No. Nope. Never a good idea. All wrong. The men of Judah did none of that.
"And when Judah looked, behold, the battle was in front of and behind them. And they cried to the Lord, and the priests blew the trumpets. Then the men of Judah raised the battle shout. And when the men of Judah shouted, God defeated Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah."
2 Chronicles 13:14-15
Have you ever felt like you're surrounded with life's battles? Sometimes we all feel like we are facing the battle in front of and behind us. Sometimes the enemy will ambush us, but just because we are surrounded doesn't mean we are going to lose.
We have God on our side.
Instead of panicking, which is my first response, we should shout to God (Literally, if you so choose. There's nothing like randomly shouting to freak out the people around you...). Instead of giving up, we should sing Him praise. We should raise our voices in a battle shout! Every battle is in God's hands, and He will win the war.
"Shout, and sing for joy, O inhabitant of Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel." Isaiah 12:6
If you find yourself in the midst of the enemy's trap, remember that God is in your midst. So take a deep breath, clench your fists, arch your back, and let out your war cry. Because you are not going down. Let your shout of praise ring out.
V. Joy Palmer
Tuesday, October 7, 2014
Monday, October 6, 2014
"Seek Him, Search For Him, Find Him!"
On the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.
Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him."
Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple, and were going to the tomb. So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first. And he, stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in.
Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying there, and the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself.
Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, went in also; and he saw and believed. For as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead.
Then the disciples went away again to their own homes.
But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.
Then they said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him."
Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus.
Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?" She supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, "Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away."
Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned and said to Him, "Rabboni!" (Which is to say, Teacher).
Jesus said to her, "Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, 'I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.'"
Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her. John 20:1-18
------------------------------------------------------
I know that this is a lot of scripture to type out but I wanted you to see what He showed me as I read today. I wish I could write it for the way that Joy does so well, telling the story from Mary's perspective and that you could feel and experience her desperation, her need to be where He is. But instead you'll have to make due with me and my telling of today's message.
It starts with Mary. It starts with Mary's heart to seek Him out first thing. Can you picture her? It says that she 'came to the tomb early, while it was still dark,' It wasn't even daylight and and she was on the road to the tomb. Her heart broken because of the previous days events. Her grief moving her forward step by step, needing to be close. All the while, remembering. Remembering each moment. Each memory playing over and over in her mind. She can still hear His cry, "My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken Me?" and she weeps; her heart broken at the loss of the one she loved; the one who loved her.
It says that saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb and she immediately runs to tell the disciples. "They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him." She says the same thing to the angels later in the account and to Jesus. She thinks He is the gardener and she pleads with Him to tell her where He is. Her need to seek Him out and to know where she can find Him is the point of today's message. Her need to seek Him out, to be where He is motivates her to head to the tomb while its still dark. When she gets there and discovers Him gone she runs to the disciples to tell them not just that He is missing but that she doesn't know where to find Him.
Its tells us that the disciples run to the tomb to see for themselves. After they enter and discover the cloths folded in a pile and that the cloth wrapped around His head was folded and in another place, they left. It says, 'Then the disciples went away again to their own homes.' But the thing is Mary didn't. It says that she stayed right there! She didn't go home. She didn't leave! She had a need to seek and to find; to know where He was. She wasn't willing to leave without knowing where she could find Him. ...But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. Then they said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him."
It says that she saw two angels and when they spoke and asked her "Why are you weeping?" She didn't say because Jesus, her Savior, her Lord was dead. She said, "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him." She was weeping because she didn't know where to find Him! She needed to know where He was. She saw two angels. She talked to angels. And still her only focus wasn't the angels or the fact that Jesus was dead but that she didn't know where to find Him.
I was reading this account today and verses 10 and 11 hit me ..disciples went home and Mary stayed. As that fact hit home this verse came to mind. ...For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:11-13 Jesus knew the plan. It said in verse 9 ...For as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. They hadn't understood yet what "The plan" was for the future, but Jesus knew. Jesus Himself asked Mary, "Whom are you seeking?" She was seeking after Him. She needed to know where she could find Him and because she sought hard after Him she did just that!
She sought Him out first thing while it was still dark. She sought Him even after everyone had gone home. She sought Him in her response to angels and her seeking continued even before Jesus Himself when she didn't recognize Him. She continued to seek and search because her one need was to know where she could find Him. The thing is ... because she continued to seek and search she did find Him!
And the best news of all is she gets the thing that she seeks to know, where she can find. He tells her, "Go to My brethren and say to them, 'I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.'" Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her.
Not only does she get to know, but she gets to be the one to tell everyone else, "He can be found!" He is with the Father!
Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him."
Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple, and were going to the tomb. So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first. And he, stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in.
Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying there, and the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself.
Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, went in also; and he saw and believed. For as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead.
Then the disciples went away again to their own homes.
But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.
Then they said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him."
Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus.
Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?" She supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, "Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away."
Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned and said to Him, "Rabboni!" (Which is to say, Teacher).
Jesus said to her, "Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, 'I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.'"
Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her. John 20:1-18
------------------------------------------------------
I know that this is a lot of scripture to type out but I wanted you to see what He showed me as I read today. I wish I could write it for the way that Joy does so well, telling the story from Mary's perspective and that you could feel and experience her desperation, her need to be where He is. But instead you'll have to make due with me and my telling of today's message.
It starts with Mary. It starts with Mary's heart to seek Him out first thing. Can you picture her? It says that she 'came to the tomb early, while it was still dark,' It wasn't even daylight and and she was on the road to the tomb. Her heart broken because of the previous days events. Her grief moving her forward step by step, needing to be close. All the while, remembering. Remembering each moment. Each memory playing over and over in her mind. She can still hear His cry, "My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken Me?" and she weeps; her heart broken at the loss of the one she loved; the one who loved her.
It says that saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb and she immediately runs to tell the disciples. "They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him." She says the same thing to the angels later in the account and to Jesus. She thinks He is the gardener and she pleads with Him to tell her where He is. Her need to seek Him out and to know where she can find Him is the point of today's message. Her need to seek Him out, to be where He is motivates her to head to the tomb while its still dark. When she gets there and discovers Him gone she runs to the disciples to tell them not just that He is missing but that she doesn't know where to find Him.
Its tells us that the disciples run to the tomb to see for themselves. After they enter and discover the cloths folded in a pile and that the cloth wrapped around His head was folded and in another place, they left. It says, 'Then the disciples went away again to their own homes.' But the thing is Mary didn't. It says that she stayed right there! She didn't go home. She didn't leave! She had a need to seek and to find; to know where He was. She wasn't willing to leave without knowing where she could find Him. ...But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. Then they said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him."
It says that she saw two angels and when they spoke and asked her "Why are you weeping?" She didn't say because Jesus, her Savior, her Lord was dead. She said, "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him." She was weeping because she didn't know where to find Him! She needed to know where He was. She saw two angels. She talked to angels. And still her only focus wasn't the angels or the fact that Jesus was dead but that she didn't know where to find Him.
I was reading this account today and verses 10 and 11 hit me ..disciples went home and Mary stayed. As that fact hit home this verse came to mind. ...For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:11-13 Jesus knew the plan. It said in verse 9 ...For as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. They hadn't understood yet what "The plan" was for the future, but Jesus knew. Jesus Himself asked Mary, "Whom are you seeking?" She was seeking after Him. She needed to know where she could find Him and because she sought hard after Him she did just that!
She sought Him out first thing while it was still dark. She sought Him even after everyone had gone home. She sought Him in her response to angels and her seeking continued even before Jesus Himself when she didn't recognize Him. She continued to seek and search because her one need was to know where she could find Him. The thing is ... because she continued to seek and search she did find Him!
And the best news of all is she gets the thing that she seeks to know, where she can find. He tells her, "Go to My brethren and say to them, 'I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.'" Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her.
Not only does she get to know, but she gets to be the one to tell everyone else, "He can be found!" He is with the Father!
Sunday, October 5, 2014
"Beautiful Day"
Psalm 63:1-8
My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water.
So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, To see Your power and Your glory.
Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips shall praise You.
Thus will I bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name.
My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, And my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips.
When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches.
Because You have been my help, Therefore in the shadow of Your wings will I rejoice.
My soul follows close behind You; Your right hand upholds me.
--------------------------------------------------
I pray that we too would be like the Psalmist and remember that today is a gift that brings us closer to You. Help us to look to You all day long. From the moment we rise, to the moment our heads hit the pillow. Lord, that we would look to You as we set our hands to the tasks of the day and Lord that we would meet You in our dreams as well. Lord, help us to remember that this is a new day. A beautiful day with limitless opportunities to praise You and to worship You because 'Your lovingkindness is better than life.'
Lord, its a Beautiful Day to Praise You!!!
Staff of Snack Time Devotions
Saturday, October 4, 2014
Don't give up on Friendship
"An offended friend is harder to win back than a fortified city. Arguments separate friends like a gate locked with bars." Proverbs 18:19
Life can be hard if someone is giving you a hard time. It can be downright miserable, especially if it is a friend who is the source of the trouble. As time goes on, friendships change, dynamics shift, people grow. Sometimes these changes are for the better, sometimes not.
Not all friendships are destined to be like David's and Jonathan's. Most are just your plain, ordinary friendships. But that doesn't mean if the going gets tough, you should just walk away. Like all good things, friends take work.
Don't give up on your friends. Ever. Mistakes happen, and life keeps going. In a blink, your friends can be gone, replaced by someone you don't recognize.. You can't let that happen. If a Christian friend slips away, don't let it happen! A house divided can't stand, there should be no division in the church.
But especially if your friend isn't a Christian, you can't give up. What if you are the only light in their life? You can't give up. Their lives, their very souls are depending on you.
Don't give up on your friends, no matter what they do. Don't be afraid to show your love for them. We are put on this earth to make a difference. Be that difference for your friends
Sam.
Life can be hard if someone is giving you a hard time. It can be downright miserable, especially if it is a friend who is the source of the trouble. As time goes on, friendships change, dynamics shift, people grow. Sometimes these changes are for the better, sometimes not.
Not all friendships are destined to be like David's and Jonathan's. Most are just your plain, ordinary friendships. But that doesn't mean if the going gets tough, you should just walk away. Like all good things, friends take work.
Don't give up on your friends. Ever. Mistakes happen, and life keeps going. In a blink, your friends can be gone, replaced by someone you don't recognize.. You can't let that happen. If a Christian friend slips away, don't let it happen! A house divided can't stand, there should be no division in the church.
But especially if your friend isn't a Christian, you can't give up. What if you are the only light in their life? You can't give up. Their lives, their very souls are depending on you.
Don't give up on your friends, no matter what they do. Don't be afraid to show your love for them. We are put on this earth to make a difference. Be that difference for your friends
Sam.
Friday, October 3, 2014
"The Most Coolest Thing Happens"
Then the Pharisees went and plotted how they might entangled Him in His talk. And hey sent to Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth; nor do You care about anyone, for You do not regard the person of men. Tell us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?" But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, "Why do you test Me, you hypocrites? Show Me the money." So they brought Him a denarius. And He said to them, "Whose image and inscription is this?" They said to Him, "Caesar's." And He said to them, "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." When they had heard these words, they marveled, and left Him and went there way. Matthew 22:15-22
---------------------------------------------------------
As I was reading and came upon these verses they once again do what they always do; stir up my passion to give all to he Lord! I love that what the Pharisees and Herodians mean to be a trap turns instead to be some of the most inspiring statements going. "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's."
They thought they had Him coming and going. If He said pay taxes to Caesar then they would charge Him with disloyalty to God and Judaism for paying tribute to any other power, king, god, or person. And if He answers with, "No, don't pay tribute to Caesar," than they would denounce Him to the Romans. They were sure they had Him.
It says that Jesus perceived their wickedness, asked them to bring a coin, and then He asked them, "Whose inscription is this?" They answered, "Caesar's." He then responds with, "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." It is at this point that the most coolest thing possible took place. Its not just that He answered in a way that got them off His back. Its not even that He showed great wisdom in the words that He spoke. For me the most coolest thing is that when He said, "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." He spoke words that made even the most hypocritical of men ...marvel!
With these words, "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." Jesus not only shut them up but sent them on their way marveling and even contemplating what was truly due God. His statement,"Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." reveals to us that it is ok to give man what his but even more importantly it shows us that worrying about what to do with a coin with a man's face on it isn't and shouldn't be the priority. Giving God the things that are His is! We should be giving God our praise, our worship, our obedience, our service, our tithe's and offerings, and most of all...the dedication of our whole life.
In Romans 12:1-2 it says, 'I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."
Our reasonable service? The thing that is a reasonable expectation is that we be a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable, with a renewed mind that is focused on the things of God instead of the things of man. When we live in such a way ...giving God all the He is due... then as living sacrifices, holy, and acceptable we too will know His good and acceptable and perfect will. We too will live and respond in such a way that most coolest thing happens ...even the scoffers and the most hypocritical of men ...marvel!
---------------------------------------------------------
As I was reading and came upon these verses they once again do what they always do; stir up my passion to give all to he Lord! I love that what the Pharisees and Herodians mean to be a trap turns instead to be some of the most inspiring statements going. "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's."
They thought they had Him coming and going. If He said pay taxes to Caesar then they would charge Him with disloyalty to God and Judaism for paying tribute to any other power, king, god, or person. And if He answers with, "No, don't pay tribute to Caesar," than they would denounce Him to the Romans. They were sure they had Him.
It says that Jesus perceived their wickedness, asked them to bring a coin, and then He asked them, "Whose inscription is this?" They answered, "Caesar's." He then responds with, "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." It is at this point that the most coolest thing possible took place. Its not just that He answered in a way that got them off His back. Its not even that He showed great wisdom in the words that He spoke. For me the most coolest thing is that when He said, "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." He spoke words that made even the most hypocritical of men ...marvel!
With these words, "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." Jesus not only shut them up but sent them on their way marveling and even contemplating what was truly due God. His statement,"Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." reveals to us that it is ok to give man what his but even more importantly it shows us that worrying about what to do with a coin with a man's face on it isn't and shouldn't be the priority. Giving God the things that are His is! We should be giving God our praise, our worship, our obedience, our service, our tithe's and offerings, and most of all...the dedication of our whole life.
In Romans 12:1-2 it says, 'I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."
Our reasonable service? The thing that is a reasonable expectation is that we be a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable, with a renewed mind that is focused on the things of God instead of the things of man. When we live in such a way ...giving God all the He is due... then as living sacrifices, holy, and acceptable we too will know His good and acceptable and perfect will. We too will live and respond in such a way that most coolest thing happens ...even the scoffers and the most hypocritical of men ...marvel!
Thursday, October 2, 2014
Living in Love
We live in a very judgmental society. Everything we say and do in public is almost always seen, heard, or heard about. It's just a fact - people love to judge others.
The problem is that - as Christians - we are labeled as the worst offenders. In some cases, its true. Sometimes, especially when a family member or close friend does something wrong, we practice tough love. How many times have we heard of teenagers getting kicked out of their family's house because they did something stupid? Now, I'm not saying that disciple and punishment is wrong - that is how people learn. But the impulse behind anything we say or do should be love.
John 3:16 is one the most well know verse in the whole world, and it begins "For God so loved the world..." Love has always been God's motivation for dealing with humanity. Shouldn't it be ours, too?
1st Corinthians 16:14, "And do everything with love."
Everything? This is potentially the hardest thing that the Bible asks us to do. How can we live like that? Is it even possible for us, given our flawed and lustful flesh?
Matthew 19:26, "With man this is impossible, but with God, all things are possible."
So, it is possible for us to escape this vicious cycle of judging others ourselves, but we will never, in this life, escape being judged.
John 15:19, "The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of it, so it hates you."
Give the world something different to see in this day and age. Let your light shine, wear your faith on your sleeve, show love to everyone. Let past hurts go, replace them with love. Let feuds die, and replace them with love. Let wrongs go, and show love.
Colossians 3:12 "Since God chose you to be the holy people He loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience." Don't forget, these are all aspects of love from 1 Corinthians 13:4 - 7, "Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance."
Live in love.
Sam
The problem is that - as Christians - we are labeled as the worst offenders. In some cases, its true. Sometimes, especially when a family member or close friend does something wrong, we practice tough love. How many times have we heard of teenagers getting kicked out of their family's house because they did something stupid? Now, I'm not saying that disciple and punishment is wrong - that is how people learn. But the impulse behind anything we say or do should be love.
John 3:16 is one the most well know verse in the whole world, and it begins "For God so loved the world..." Love has always been God's motivation for dealing with humanity. Shouldn't it be ours, too?
1st Corinthians 16:14, "And do everything with love."
Everything? This is potentially the hardest thing that the Bible asks us to do. How can we live like that? Is it even possible for us, given our flawed and lustful flesh?
Matthew 19:26, "With man this is impossible, but with God, all things are possible."
So, it is possible for us to escape this vicious cycle of judging others ourselves, but we will never, in this life, escape being judged.
John 15:19, "The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of it, so it hates you."
Give the world something different to see in this day and age. Let your light shine, wear your faith on your sleeve, show love to everyone. Let past hurts go, replace them with love. Let feuds die, and replace them with love. Let wrongs go, and show love.
Colossians 3:12 "Since God chose you to be the holy people He loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience." Don't forget, these are all aspects of love from 1 Corinthians 13:4 - 7, "Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance."
Live in love.
Sam
Wednesday, October 1, 2014
"Choose To Remember!"
In my last message we covered all the times Jesus spoke in reference to different peoples faith in the first 14 chapters of Matthew. We saw the centurion solder got 'such great faith,' the woman with the issue of blood, the blind men, and the friends of the paralytic all got 'faith,' and the disciples on two separate occasions got 'little faith.' Which to be honest is the fact that really caught my eye and opened up the question, at least for me, of "Why?" Why are His disciples, the ones that are with Him, seeing Him in action the most; why are they the ones He keeps speaking the words, "little faith" too?
As I was praying and continued to read in Matthew I again noticed a few things. Once again words like 'great faith' and 'little faith' jumped off the page at me. In both chapters 15 and 16 we see them again! Then Jesus answered and said to her, "O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire." And her daughter was healed from that very hour. Matthew 15:28 and in Matthew 16:8 But when Jesus perceived it, He said to them, "O you of little faith, why do you reason among yourselves because you have no bread?" He once again used the words "little faith" as He addressed His words to the disciples.
Jesus had just come off from two encounters with the Scribes, Pharisees, and Sadducees, where He called them Hypocrites loud and clear. After His first encounter in Matthew 15:1-11 in verse 12-17 His disciples come to Him and said to Him, "Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?" Jesus answered and said, "Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into the ditch." Then Peter answered and said to Him, "Explain this parable to us." So Jesus said, "Are you also still without understanding? ...."
His next encounter is with the woman whose great faith is rewarded and her demon possessed daughter is set free! Then we see Jesus feed the four thousand because as He tells His disciples, "I have compassion on the multitude ..." Then His disciple said to Him, "Where could we get enough bread in the wilderness to fill such a great multitude?" 15:32-33
Then, next after the feeding of the four thousand as chapter 16 starts we see His second encounter with Pharisees and Sadducees where the word "Hypocrite!" is once again used as He addresses their testing of Him.
Then we come to the moment that Jesus once again uses the words "little faith" to His disciples.
And when His disciples had come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread. Then Jesus said to them, "Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees." And they reasoned among themselves, saying, "It is because we have taken no bread." But when Jesus perceived it, He said to them, "O you of little faith, why do you reason among yourselves because you have no bread? Do you not yet understand, or remember the five loaves of the five thousand and how many baskets you took up? Nor the seven loaves of the four thousand and how many you took up? How is it you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread?-- but you should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees." Then they understood that He did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Matthew 16:5-12
He says to them at this point in the day...."O you of little faith," because they had seen and heard Him tell the the scribes and Pharisees that they were hypocrites because they would expand or negate commandments as they chose. He told them not to worry about offending them. He told them plainly that its not outside things that defile but what is in the heart that comes out that defiles.
They had seen Him not send the Gentile woman away when they had requested that He do so and instead He told her that she had great faith and granted her her desire and proceeded to set her daughter free.
They had seen Him once again feed thousands from next to nothing because of His compassion.
They had heard Him once again address the Hypocrisy of the 'O So Religious' that they refused to acknowledge the 'Heavenly signs of the times' because it might mess with their doctrines and positions of self importance.
He said to His disciples, "O you of little faith, why do you reason among yourselves because you have no bread?" because they weren't listening. They weren't paying attention!
He had just said to them, "Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees." They immediately look to the natural. 'O no. We forgot to bring bread.' He responds with, "O you of little faith," why are you worried about no bread. Don't you remember? The feeding of the five thousand? The feeding of the four? How much was left over for you? Don't you remember? I'll provide for you. ..."How is it you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread?-- but you should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees." He used the words 'little faith' because once again they had forgotten who He was and what He had done! They were doing the very thing He was warning them not to do. Looking to the natural and forgetting what He had already said and done!
The Pharisees were all about serving God through rules and regulations, and adhered to a strict outward observance of the Mosaic law and their own added interpretations to it. Jesus often called them hypocrites and self righteous because of their show of religion and lack of Godly love and compassion. The Sadducees's doctrine denied the truth of bodily resurrection, future punishment and reward, and the existence of angels. The pharisees became so focused in the natural and the rules of their religion that they forgot to look to God. They no longer remembered all that He had done, all that He was and is to them. They made 'righteousness' about man and what he can do to make himself righteous. They forgot that, "Only God is good." The Sadducees decided that God isn't big enough to raise the dead, that there is no accountability, no punishment or reward for sin, and no angels. They made Him a God with no power. They forgot all that God had been and said and done for them as a nation, as His people through the use of angels and more importantly through the power of His Spirit. They made a choice to deny His power!
Great faith believes that He has the power to save even from the crumbs off the table! Great faith believes that He is God because it recognizes Him as the master of the house. Great faith remembers all that He has done and because it remember it recognizes all that He is able to do!
"Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees."Why? Because it will steal "GREAT FAITH'" away from you! Religion, doctrine of man, or as He puts it here, the leaven of the Pharisees and the Saddusees will make you look at the 'lack of bread' and cause you to forget to look to Him!
There are those in the earth today that will tell you, "God can't heal." "God isn't real." "Miracles don't happen." There are those who would declare that He is only a God of love and that there is not punishment and no reward for sin or righteousness." There are those who deny His power and the workings of His Spirit."
Beware. Beware of leaven. Be a people of Great Faith! A people that remembers and believes He was, He is, and He always will be a God who is well able to do whatever He chooses!
Choose to remember, He is God and He will take care of the God stuff! Choose great faith and hear "Great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire."
As I was praying and continued to read in Matthew I again noticed a few things. Once again words like 'great faith' and 'little faith' jumped off the page at me. In both chapters 15 and 16 we see them again! Then Jesus answered and said to her, "O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire." And her daughter was healed from that very hour. Matthew 15:28 and in Matthew 16:8 But when Jesus perceived it, He said to them, "O you of little faith, why do you reason among yourselves because you have no bread?" He once again used the words "little faith" as He addressed His words to the disciples.
Jesus had just come off from two encounters with the Scribes, Pharisees, and Sadducees, where He called them Hypocrites loud and clear. After His first encounter in Matthew 15:1-11 in verse 12-17 His disciples come to Him and said to Him, "Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?" Jesus answered and said, "Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into the ditch." Then Peter answered and said to Him, "Explain this parable to us." So Jesus said, "Are you also still without understanding? ...."
His next encounter is with the woman whose great faith is rewarded and her demon possessed daughter is set free! Then we see Jesus feed the four thousand because as He tells His disciples, "I have compassion on the multitude ..." Then His disciple said to Him, "Where could we get enough bread in the wilderness to fill such a great multitude?" 15:32-33
Then, next after the feeding of the four thousand as chapter 16 starts we see His second encounter with Pharisees and Sadducees where the word "Hypocrite!" is once again used as He addresses their testing of Him.
Then we come to the moment that Jesus once again uses the words "little faith" to His disciples.
And when His disciples had come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread. Then Jesus said to them, "Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees." And they reasoned among themselves, saying, "It is because we have taken no bread." But when Jesus perceived it, He said to them, "O you of little faith, why do you reason among yourselves because you have no bread? Do you not yet understand, or remember the five loaves of the five thousand and how many baskets you took up? Nor the seven loaves of the four thousand and how many you took up? How is it you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread?-- but you should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees." Then they understood that He did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Matthew 16:5-12
He says to them at this point in the day...."O you of little faith," because they had seen and heard Him tell the the scribes and Pharisees that they were hypocrites because they would expand or negate commandments as they chose. He told them not to worry about offending them. He told them plainly that its not outside things that defile but what is in the heart that comes out that defiles.
They had seen Him not send the Gentile woman away when they had requested that He do so and instead He told her that she had great faith and granted her her desire and proceeded to set her daughter free.
They had seen Him once again feed thousands from next to nothing because of His compassion.
They had heard Him once again address the Hypocrisy of the 'O So Religious' that they refused to acknowledge the 'Heavenly signs of the times' because it might mess with their doctrines and positions of self importance.
He said to His disciples, "O you of little faith, why do you reason among yourselves because you have no bread?" because they weren't listening. They weren't paying attention!
He had just said to them, "Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees." They immediately look to the natural. 'O no. We forgot to bring bread.' He responds with, "O you of little faith," why are you worried about no bread. Don't you remember? The feeding of the five thousand? The feeding of the four? How much was left over for you? Don't you remember? I'll provide for you. ..."How is it you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread?-- but you should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees." He used the words 'little faith' because once again they had forgotten who He was and what He had done! They were doing the very thing He was warning them not to do. Looking to the natural and forgetting what He had already said and done!
The Pharisees were all about serving God through rules and regulations, and adhered to a strict outward observance of the Mosaic law and their own added interpretations to it. Jesus often called them hypocrites and self righteous because of their show of religion and lack of Godly love and compassion. The Sadducees's doctrine denied the truth of bodily resurrection, future punishment and reward, and the existence of angels. The pharisees became so focused in the natural and the rules of their religion that they forgot to look to God. They no longer remembered all that He had done, all that He was and is to them. They made 'righteousness' about man and what he can do to make himself righteous. They forgot that, "Only God is good." The Sadducees decided that God isn't big enough to raise the dead, that there is no accountability, no punishment or reward for sin, and no angels. They made Him a God with no power. They forgot all that God had been and said and done for them as a nation, as His people through the use of angels and more importantly through the power of His Spirit. They made a choice to deny His power!
Great faith believes that He has the power to save even from the crumbs off the table! Great faith believes that He is God because it recognizes Him as the master of the house. Great faith remembers all that He has done and because it remember it recognizes all that He is able to do!
"Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees."Why? Because it will steal "GREAT FAITH'" away from you! Religion, doctrine of man, or as He puts it here, the leaven of the Pharisees and the Saddusees will make you look at the 'lack of bread' and cause you to forget to look to Him!
There are those in the earth today that will tell you, "God can't heal." "God isn't real." "Miracles don't happen." There are those who would declare that He is only a God of love and that there is not punishment and no reward for sin or righteousness." There are those who deny His power and the workings of His Spirit."
Beware. Beware of leaven. Be a people of Great Faith! A people that remembers and believes He was, He is, and He always will be a God who is well able to do whatever He chooses!
Choose to remember, He is God and He will take care of the God stuff! Choose great faith and hear "Great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)