Blog 09-03-2010

Friday

PRaP 09-03-2010

 

250 Events In The Life Of Christ/ A Harmony Of The Gospels Part 40

Section 2: Message And Ministry Of Jesus

“Jesus Eats With Sinners At Matthew’s House”

Matthew 9:9-13

Mark 2:13-17

Luke 5:27-32

 

 ⁹As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew (aka Levi) got up and followed him.

 ¹⁰While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and “sinners” came and ate with him and his disciples. ¹¹When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?”

 ¹²On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. ¹³But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’^[a] For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

 

Who is healthy among you?  I thought I was.  Found out that I got some stuff going on in my spirit that has been there for a long, long time.  No man can fix these issues, no medicine can be prescribed for this illness.  Problem is that this illness has an affect on everyone around me including my children.  I am losing out on many blessings because of this deep rooted spiritual illness that is in me.  I can only go one place for this to be resolved and that is Jesus Christ alone.  He is the only Doctor I can go to for this kind of illness.  Kind of scary too, nothing like going to the Doctor and humbling yourself before Him and telling Him what’s ailing you.  I find it amazing that the timing of this part of the PRaP is on this subject.  This is confirmation for me to understand that I have to do what I have to do to get this problem solved so that I can move forward in His work and I can’t until take that first step and I did that yesterday afternoon and will begin dealing with it over this long holiday weekend.  Please pray for me to be able to go into His office and totally humble myself before Him to get my illness healed.

 

Peace and Agape Love

Pastor Steve

Blog 09-02-2010

Thursday

PRaP 09-02-2010

 

250 Events In The Life Of Christ/ A Harmony Of The Gospels Part 39

Section 2: Message And Ministry Of Jesus

“Jesus Heals A Paralyzed Man”

Matthew 9:1-8

Mark 2:1-12

Luke 5:17-26

 

Mark 2

¹A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. ²So many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. ³Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them. ⁴Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on. ⁵When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

 ⁶Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, ⁷“Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

 ⁸Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things? ⁹Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? ¹⁰But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins . . . .” He said to the paralytic, ¹¹“I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” ¹²He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”

 

WOOO HOOO GO JESUS GO JESUS GO JESUS!  What was the message here?  What is the lesson?  Do you see it?  If not read it again we will wait for you.  [Patient Pause for those who need to read it again]  Christ is revealing to these people that HE IS GOD!  Look at what the teachers of the law said “Who can forgive sins but God alone?”  The faith of these men that brought this paralytic was awesome too but there isn’t just one thing to see here.  I could make a week long study with this one little piece there is so much here to learn.  I recommend you take the time to Pray Read and Pray about this passage.  First of all because it is one of those multiple entries into the Bible so it is important plus it will help you understand and grow in your walk with Christ.

 

Peace and Agape Love,

Pastor Steve

Blog 09-01-2010

Wednesday

PRaP 09-01-2010

 

250 Events In The Life Of Christ/ A Harmony Of The Gospels Part 38

Section 2: Message And Ministry Of Jesus

“Jesus Heals A Man With Leprosy”

Matthew 8:1-4

Mark 1:40-45

Luke 5:12-16

 

 ¹When he came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. ²A man with leprosy^[a] came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”

 ³Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cured^[b] of his leprosy. ⁴Then Jesus said to him, “See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”

 

Here we go with multiple verses about the same thing.  Think this is important?  I do so pay attention!  We all know that Jesus heals the sick so that really isn’t the key here.  In my opinion it is the showing of human disobedience even after the miracle is revealed.  In all three places it virtually says the same thing word for word.  Man asks, Jesus heals, Jesus says don’t tell anyone, Jesus says obey the law of Moses, man tells everyone he sees and likely doesn’t show himself to the priest.  There is no clue to this written and it has to be assumed.  But in my assumption due to the fact the man didn’t do what Jesus asked likely is evidence enough that he didn’t go to the priest.  Humans by nature fall and get hurt and want to be lifted up and when lifted we quickly forget the One who lifted us up.  We see Christ as a 911 emergency God and we quickly go to Him when we have exhausted all other avenues.  Is this conducive to a relationship with Him?  For that matter any real relationship?  Even though we think it is ok it isn’t.  Our relationship with Jesus Christ is real.  He isn’t a 911 God He is a real loving Lord and Savior and He wants to talk with us daily and desires to be a part of our entire day, every day.  Is this you?  Doe’s He only get the parts you want Him to have?  Are you obedient to His command?  When He heals you and says don’t tell anyone, are you compliant?  Go show the priests what the Lord has done and give honor to the One who healed you.

 

Peace and Agape Love,

Pastor Steve

Blog 08-31-2010

Tuesday

PRaP 08-31-2010

 

250 Events In The Life Of Christ/ A Harmony Of The Gospels Part 37

Section 2: Message And Ministry Of Jesus

“Jesus Provides A Miraculous Catch Of Fish”

Luke 5:1-11

 

¹One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret,^[a]with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God, ²he saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. ³He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.

 ⁴When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down^[b] the nets for a catch.”

 ⁵Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”

 ⁶When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. ⁷So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.

 ⁸When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” ⁹For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, ¹⁰and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners.

   Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will catch men.” ¹¹So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.

 

Let down your nets for the harvest is plentiful.  For the Lord comes soon and we have much work to do.  But if He chooses to come later rather than sooner is no reason to slack for He is worthy.  Our time here is precious and short and we have much to do.  Be aware.

 

Peace and Agape Love,

Pastor Steve

Blog 08-30-2010

Monday

PRaP 08-30-2010

 

250 Events In The Life Of Christ/ A Harmony Of The Gospels Part 36

Section 2: Message And Ministry Of Jesus

“Jesus Preaches Throughout Galilee”

Matthew 4:23-25

Mark 1:35-39

Luke 4:42-44

 

Matthew

²³Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. ²⁴News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, and he healed them. ²⁵Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis,^[a] Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him.

 

Mark

³⁵Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. ³⁶Simon and his companions went to look for him, ³⁷and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!”

 ³⁸Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” ³⁹So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.

 

Luke

⁴²At daybreak Jesus went out to a solitary place. The people were looking for him and when they came to where he was, they tried to keep him from leaving them. ⁴³But he said, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.” ⁴⁴And he kept on preaching in the synagogues of Judea.

 

Here we go with a multiple time entry.  Three out of the four Gospels talk about Jesus preaching throughout Galilee.  Can you find the significance here?  Why would God put three accounts of something as simple as Jesus preaching throughout Galilee?  Jesus was on a mission and He did what He said He was to do without allowing anyone to stop Him.  You know, when the Holy Spirit has laid upon your heart that you need to do this or that and then someone distracts you from your mission.  Then ultimately you miss out on a blessing because you allowed others to keep you in the place you are.  They tried to keep Him from leaving them but Jesus told them that He must do what He was sent to do and that is to preach the Good News of the kingdom of heaven.  What is stopping you?  Are you distracted by friends and family?  Maybe a coworker is keeping you from completing your job?  Something to think about on your Monday.

 

Peace and Agape Love,

Pastor Steve

Blog 08-27-2010

Friday

PRaP 08-27-2010

WE WILL BE LIVE TONIGHT AT 8:00 PM CENTRAL TIME

 

250 Events In The Life Of Christ/ A Harmony Of The Gospels Part 35

Section 2: Message And Ministry Of Jesus

“Jesus Heals Peter’s Mother In Law And Others”

Matthew 8:14-17

Mark 1:29-34

Luke 4:38-41

 

Matthew

¹⁴When Jesus came into Peter’s house, he saw Peter’s mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever. ¹⁵He touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began to wait on him.

 ¹⁶When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. ¹⁷This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:
   ”He took up our infirmities
      and carried our diseases.”

 

Mark

²⁹As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. ³⁰Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told Jesus about her. ³¹So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them.

 ³²That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. ³³The whole town gathered at the door, ³⁴and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.

 

Luke

³⁸Jesus left the synagogue and went to the home of Simon. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked Jesus to help her. ³⁹So he bent over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up at once and began to wait on them.

 ⁴⁰When the sun was setting, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them. ⁴¹Moreover, demons came out of many people, shouting, “You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew he was the Christ.

 

Even the demons know who Jesus is.  Why is it do you think we have such issue with serving Him?  Peter’s mother in law was sick with fever and Jesus rebuked the fever and what did she do?  She began to serve Him immediately.  Not after a few minutes or hours she got up and began to serve Him.  You know that Jesus has touched you when whatever is making you sick goes away immediately.  You see we expect this and it doesn’t happen.  Have you ever wondered why?  In His ways He does things in His time that the Father be glorified.  Wonder why He put this in His Word 3 times?  It’s important for us to know that through Him He heals and with the faith like Peter’s mother in law had we can be healed.  In the Name of Jesus I rebuke that fever.  In the Name of Jesus I rebuke that poverty.  In the Name of Jesus I rebuke that bondage of fear.  In the Name of Jesus I rebuke that bondage of alcohol.  In the Name of Jesus I rebuke that bondage to drugs.  In the Name of Jesus I rebuke that bondage of porn.  In the Name of Jesus I rebuke the bondage of abuse.  In the Name of Jesus I rebuke that cancer.  In the Name of Jesus I rebuke that bondage to food.  In the Name of Jesus I rebuke that sharp tongue.

 

Peace and Agape Love

Pastor Steve

Blog 08-26-2010

Thursday

PRaP 08-26-2010

 

250 Events In The Life Of Christ/ A Harmony Of The Gospels Part 34

Section 2: Message And Ministry Of Jesus

“Jesus Teaches With Great Authority”

Mark 1:21-28

Luke 4:31-37

 

²¹They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. ²²The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. ²³Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an evil^[a] spirit cried out, ²⁴“What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”

 ²⁵“Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!” ²⁶The evil spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.

 ²⁷The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him.” ²⁸News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.

 

Very interesting that this part of the teaching would come up now when the new movie about exorcism is being hyped up on the television.  Jesus Christ has all authority to give and take away.  What He has loosed on Earth will be as it is in Heaven.  But He gave us the power to defeat the evil that roams this earth as well.  Most lack the faith to do it.  When fighting evil spirits that take over human bodies one needs only to be armed with the armor of God and the power of Jesus Christ and 5 little words can defeat them.  “Be quiet!” “Come out of him!” or her for that matter.  Man plays around with the thought of evil spirits entering the body but it is the weak that are infiltrated by these demons because they are not able to stay in a place that the Living Water of Jesus Christ lives and moves.  The only way to have that kind of power is through the Salvation given freely through the blood of Jesus Christ and repenting for our sins and believing in the One who Saves.  Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior!  Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior!  Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior!  Those words bring peace to those who believe and fear and trembling to evil who know Him to be all powerful.  There is power in the name of Jesus Christ that is unfounded anywhere else and to invoke the name of Him who is the Great I AM brings a power that can remove evil PERMANENTLY.  Do not dabble in places where evil lives.  We live in a world that believes everything in moderation is a good thing.  I tell you that even a dabble of evil can ruin your life because it can overpower your thoughts and once that happens you will have tough time getting rid of it.  Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior!  Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior!  Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior!  Proclaimed from the rooftops!  If you believe in God and the power of Jesus Christ then you too believe in the spiritual realm, which has, good and evil.  I promise you the good doesn’t flaunt its existence but only shows when needed to defeat evil.  So evil is contrary to good.  Be careful not to overstep those boundaries and be prepared in season and out of season for the time is short.  I proclaim Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior!  I proclaim Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior!  I proclaim Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior!

 

Peace and Agape Love,

Pastor Steve

Blog 08-25-2010

Wednesday

PRaP 08-25-2010

 

250 Events In The Life Of Christ/ A Harmony Of The Gospels Part 33

Section 2: Message And Ministry Of Jesus

“Four Fishermen Follow Jesus”

Matthew 4:18-22

Mark 1:16-20

 

¹⁸As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. ¹⁹“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” ²⁰At once they left their nets and followed him.

 ²¹Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, ²²and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

 

These men knew immediately that Jesus was Messiah, they dropped what they were doing to follow Him.  Is your heart prepared to drop everything and follow Jesus when He comes to you?  Not a difficult decision to make is it?  I tell you He has come and He has said to follow Him yet many of you still sit on the sidelines and wait as if He has never even spoken to you and what is worse than that is you call yourself “Christian”!  Did I touch a nerve?  I saw lots of you jump and steam come from your ears and many of you will close this off in anger and say I don’t know what I am talking about.  Well I sat on the sideline for years waiting and wondering if He was going to utilize me or not.  He had to really rattle my cage to get my attention now 10 years ago.  Read His Word and prepare your heart and be ready in season and out of season because He will pass by your way again and tell you to follow and this time don’t miss it because if you ignore Him too much He will just stop coming by.  “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.”

 

Peace and Agape Love,

Pastor Steve

Blog 08-24-2010

Tuesday

PRaP 08-24-2010

 

250 Events In The Life Of Christ/ A Harmony Of The Gospels Part 32

Section 2: Message And Ministry Of Jesus

“Jesus Is Rejected In Nazareth”

Luke 4:16-30

 

 ¹⁶He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read. ¹⁷The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:
 ¹⁸“The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
      because he has anointed me
      to preach good news to the poor.
   He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
      and recovery of sight for the blind,
   to release the oppressed,
    ¹⁹to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”^[a]

 ²⁰Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, ²¹and he began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

 ²²All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” they asked.

 ²³Jesus said to them, “Surely you will quote this proverb to me: ‘Physician, heal yourself! Do here in your hometown what we have heard that you did in Capernaum.’ ”

 ²⁴“I tell you the truth,” he continued, “no prophet is accepted in his hometown. ²⁵I assure you that there were many widows in Israel in Elijah’s time, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and there was a severe famine throughout the land. ²⁶Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow in Zarephath in the region of Sidon. ²⁷And there were many in Israel with leprosy^[b] in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed—only Naaman the Syrian.”

 ²⁸All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. ²⁹They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him down the cliff. ³⁰But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way.

 

Wow, Jesus was escorted out of town and not only that, the people He knew as a child wanted to kill him because of who He is.  Hated by people from the beginning of His ministry for speaking Truth.  Any of you hated because of the Truth you speak?  Have you been escorted to the door for speaking Truth?  Don’t worry your time will come.  Did you know that the Bible is banned in 51 countries?  Who will be number 52?  Do you live in that country?  Remember this, they hated Jesus first and tried to kill Him on numerous occasions and He just walked through the crowds right past the ones who wanted to kill Him.  Is your heart in that place?  Jesus was eventually killed but on the third day He rose from the dead and lives today.  Is that so hard to believe?  Why?  God came to the earth for the redemption of His creation, us, that we may live with Him eternally and all we have to do is repent of our sins and believe in who He is, Lord and Savior.  They hated Him first.

 

Peace and Agape Love,

Pastor Steve

Blog 08-19-2010

Thursday

PRaP 08-19-2010

 

250 Events In the Life Of Christ / A Harmony Of The Gospels Part 31

Section 2: Message And Ministry Of Jesus

“Jesus Heals Government Official’s Son”

John 4:46-54

 

⁴⁶Once more he visited Cana in Galilee, where he had turned the water into wine. And there was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum. ⁴⁷When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death.

 ⁴⁸“Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders,” Jesus told him, “you will never believe.”

 ⁴⁹The royal official said, “Sir, come down before my child dies.”

 ⁵⁰Jesus replied, “You may go. Your son will live.”
      The man took Jesus at his word and departed. ⁵¹While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living. ⁵²When he inquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, “The fever left him yesterday at the seventh hour.”

 ⁵³Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” So he and all his household believed.

 ⁵⁴This was the second miraculous sign that Jesus performed, having come from Judea to Galilee.

 

Isn’t this true today as well?  We all want to see signs and wonders before we will believe.  You want to test drive Jesus before you buy into what He is freely giving us just like we would test drive a car.  Well if that’s what it takes I guess that’s what it takes but I promise you once you get behind the wheel of this One you won’t be able to handle it.  Oh you will be able to step up at first and grab the wheel but once you feel the Real Power of this ride you will want to buckle into the passenger seat and hang on for the ride of your life.  Oh you can drive but the obstacles in the road will make you crazy and you will crash.  You understand that you WILL crash?  Here is the beauty of this One, if you do crash and you ask forgiveness all is repaired instantaneously and the door is open for you to get back in.  Both doors will open.  Will you get back into the drivers seat?  Or will you get in on the passenger side where you can ride?  I know when I took Him out and He let me drive I crashed almost immediately.  And I got back into the driver seat the second time and I crashed again.  I think I even tried a third time before I realized that I wasn’t supposed to be in the drivers seat of this One.  Now that I am in the passenger seat again allowing Jesus to drive things are beginning to look smoother.  I still hit the bumps but they are not as hard to ride and I know that eventually I won’t feel the bumps anymore.  My recommendation is to allow yourself to ride and not drive because the One is perfect and doesn’t fail or fall or hit the wall.  Every day my One is sleek and shiny and ready to go and all I have to do is say I am ready and put on my gear and we go all day long.

 

Peace and Agape Love,

Pastor Steve