Blog 10-28-2010

Thursday

PRaP 10-28-2010

 

250 Events In The Life Of Christ/ A Harmony Of The Gospels Part 75

Section 2: Message And Ministry Of Jesus

“Religious Leaders Ask Jesus For A Miracle”

Matthew 12:38-45

 

³⁸Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, “Teacher, we want to see a miraculous sign from you.”

 ³⁹He answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. ⁴⁰For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. ⁴¹The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now one^[a] greater than Jonah is here. ⁴²The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, and now one greater than Solomon is here.

 ⁴³“When an evil^[b] spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. ⁴⁴Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. ⁴⁵Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation.”

 

HARSH!!!!! But so true.  You see if you kick out the spirit of evil from a person and do not fill it with the Holy Spirit and block up the path that it got in you will have a bigger mess on your hands than you started with and that person would have been better off without you coming in a removing that evil spirit because you will have 7 more enter in.  You want a miraculous sign go look in the mirror!  You are in a body that breathes on its own without machines or at least at one time in your life it did.  It can think and see and hear and taste and feel.  NOW THAT’S A MIRACLE!  Be careful and be sure what you say is right.  Check scriptures and verify what you think you are sharing and doing in the name of Jesus.  Oh and by the way, one verse doesn’t make a Gospel.  You have to read everything in context .  A good rule of thumb here is to read at least three verses before and at least three verses to find context.  Another note I said “at least”.

 

Peace and Agape Love,

Steve

Blog 10-27-2010

Wednesday

PRaP 10-27-2010

 

250 Events In The Life Of Christ/ A Harmony Of The Gospels Part 74

Section 2: Message And Ministry Of Jesus

“Religious Leaders Accuse Jesus Of Being Under Satan’s Power”

Matthew 12:22-37

Mark 3:20-30

 

²²Then they brought him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him, so that he could both talk and see. ²³All the people were astonished and said, “Could this be the Son of David?”

 ²⁴But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “It is only by Beelzebub,^[a] the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons.”

 ²⁵Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand. ²⁶If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand? ²⁷And if I drive out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your people drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. ²⁸But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

 ²⁹“Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man’s house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can rob his house.

 ³⁰“He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters. ³¹And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. ³²Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.

 ³³“Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. ³⁴You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. ³⁵The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. ³⁶But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. ³⁷For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”

 

Wow reading towards the end of this passage will bring fear for most and joy for others.  For the time will come that we will give account for every careless word spoken.  How many of us have done that?  I am guilty as charged.  Father forgive my careless words spoken in anger or otherwise.  Lord sometimes my words are selfish and careless but I do not mean to hurt anyone so Lord I ask that you take those careless words from my vocabulary that I am not able to speak them anymore.  Lord Jesus come and remove those things from not just my heart but from everyone who loves You and proclaims You as their Lord and Savior, in Your mighty name, the name of Jesus we pray Amen.

 

Peace and Agape Love,

Steve

Blog 10-26-2010

Tuesday

PRaP 10-26-2010

 

250 Events In The Life Of Christ/ A Harmony Of The Gospels Part 73

Section 2: Message And Ministry Of Jesus

“Women Accompany Jesus And The Disciples”

Luke 8:1-3

 

¹After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, ²and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; ³Joanna the wife of Cuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.

 

I find this very intriguing.  The women were helping to support them out of their means.  Now there are only 3 of these women listed and it makes me wonder why just these three.  Were they the women who had good leadership qualities, were they the main supporters?  I think that Cuza may have had the most money available of the three she was Herod’s household manager and he was a king.  Mary of course went on to start one of the first New Testament churches after Jesus had ascended to His place in heaven while the men went back to their jobs.  Then Jesus came back to visit them in John 21 in which Jesus basically told them to stop doing the same old stuff and go spread the Good News.  Susanna I do not remember ever reading about anywhere else but I am sure with some research we can find out more about her and her role.  This also makes me wonder if even today there are more women supporting the work of Jesus Christ then men.  Just a thought.  I know that even when we were in the heyday of this ministry mostly women supported it.  Not that this is wrong but should be a wakeup call for you guys out there that want to hang on to every single penny for your own use.  Don’t be like the rich and pour in a bunch of copper coins to make a noise when it hits the plate as it goes by to bring attention to yourself.  Take time and pray about what God is wanting you to do with that wealth He has blessed you with and yes it is a blessing you wouldn’t have it if it weren’t for God’s hand on your finances I assure you.  Give until it hurts and then give some more.  Don’t give out of your wealth give of yourself.  You can find this in Luke 21

 

Peace and Agape Love,

Steve

Blog 10-25-2010

Monday

PRaP 10-25-2010

 

250 Events In The Life Of Christ/ A Harmony Of The Gospels Part 72

Section 2: Message And Ministry Of Jesus

“A Sinful Woman Anoints Jesus Feet”

Luke 7:36-50

 

³⁶Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. ³⁷When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, ³⁸and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.

 ³⁹When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.”

 ⁴⁰Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”
      ”Tell me, teacher,” he said.

 ⁴¹“Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii,^[a] and the other fifty. ⁴²Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”

 ⁴³Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled.” 
      “You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.

 ⁴⁴Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. ⁴⁵You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. ⁴⁶You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. ⁴⁷Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.”

 ⁴⁸Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

 ⁴⁹The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”

 ⁵⁰Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

 

Her faith in Jesus has saved her from her sin.  She came to Him wept at His feet and washed His feet with her tears and then anointed Him with perfume.  When is the last time you washed someone’s feet?  Let alone the feet of Christ.  I tell you the truth that when you wash the feet of your brothers in Christ you are washing His feet.

 

Peace and Agape Love,

Steve

Blog 10-22-2010

Friday

PRaP 10-22-2010

 

250 Events In The Life Of Christ/ A Harmony Of The Gospels Part 71

Section 2: Message And Ministry Of Jesus

“Jesus Promises Rest For The Soul”

Matthew 11:20-30

 

²⁰Then Jesus began to denounce the cities in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. ²¹“Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. ²²But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. ²³And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to the skies? No, you will go down to the depths.^[a] If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. ²⁴But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”

 ²⁵At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. ²⁶Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.

 ²⁷“All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

 ²⁸“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

 

A big giant key here that I want you to see besides the main theme.  No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.  The Son chooses who knows the Father.  Jesus says right here that He chooses who He reveals the Father to.  For those of you that know Christ is because YOU have been chosen.  HOW COOL IS THAT?!?!  Knowing this brings my soul rest. 

Lord Jesus we seek Your rest we seek Your yoke and Your burden that we may be at Your rest and not ours for the rest of the world just seems to bring more burden and the rest of the world doesn’t bring rest at all on some days.  Father we need to rest and we seek rest in You in Jesus name amen.

 

Peace and Agape Love,

Steve

Blog 10-21-2010

Thursday

PRaP 10-21-2010

 

250 Events In The Life Of Christ/ A Harmony Of The Gospels Part 70

Section 2: Message And Ministry Of Jesus

“Jesus Eases Johns Doubt”

Matthew 11:1-19

Luke 7:18-35

 

¹After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee.^[a]

 ²When John heard in prison what Christ was doing, he sent his disciples ³to ask him, “Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?”

 ⁴Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: ⁵The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy^[b]are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. ⁶Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me.”

 ⁷As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? ⁸If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces. ⁹Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. ¹⁰This is the one about whom it is written:
   ” ‘I will send my messenger ahead of you,
      who will prepare your way before you.’^{[c] 11}I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. ¹²From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it. ¹³For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. ¹⁴And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come. ¹⁵He who has ears, let him hear.

 ¹⁶“To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others:
 ¹⁷” ‘We played the flute for you,
      and you did not dance;
   we sang a dirge
      and you did not mourn.’ ¹⁸For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ ¹⁹The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and “sinners.” ‘ But wisdom is proved right by her actions.”

 

I pray that this has eased your doubt today and that you will believe, not because I said so but because Jesus Christ has touched you through His words spoken so many years ago and that they still hold true even today.

 

Peace and Agape Love,

Steve

Blog 10-20-2010

Wednesday

PRaP 10-20-2010

 

250 Events In The Life Of Christ/ A Harmony Of The Gospels Part 69

Section 2: Message And Ministry Of Jesus

“Jesus Raises A Widows Son From The Dead”

Luke 7:11-17

 

¹¹Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him. ¹²As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out—the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. ¹³When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, “Don’t cry.”

 ¹⁴Then he went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still. He said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!” ¹⁵The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.

 ¹⁶They were all filled with awe and praised God. “A great prophet has appeared among us,” they said. “God has come to help his people.” ¹⁷This news about Jesus spread throughout Judea^[a] and the surrounding country.

 

This news spread throughout Judea and the surrounding country and now the world.  His heart went out to her.  He had compassion for her knowing she was a widow and this was her only son.  The details of this event was to show God’s compassion for us.  ALL of us!  His “agape” love for us that only He can share.  Our human nature fails to have this kind of love and we can only strive to succeed at agape love.   Look up agape and see if you have it.  I try but fail but I keep trying.

 

Peace and Agape Love,

Steve

Blog 10-19-2010

Tuesday

PRaP 10-19-2010

 

250 Events In The Life Of Christ/ A Harmony Of The Gospels Part 68

Section 2: Message And Ministry Of Jesus

“A Roman Centurion Shows Faith”

Matthew 8:5-13

Luke 7:1-10

 

Matthew

⁵When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. ⁶“Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed and in terrible suffering.”

 ⁷Jesus said to him, “I will go and heal him.”

 ⁸The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. ⁹For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

 ¹⁰When Jesus heard this, he was astonished and said to those following him, “I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. ¹¹I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. ¹²But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

 ¹³Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! It will be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that very hour.

 

Jesus told the Centurion to go and it would be as he believed it would be and the servant was healed that very hour.  Just a word, a breath from Jesus Christ heals.  Believing that Jesus could heal was all that was needed and it was done as the man believed it would be.  Jesus spoke it and it was done.  Not done as Christ said it would be done but as the man believed.  Do you believe that Jesus can heal?  Do you believe it will be done as you believe it will be done?  Is your faith in a place that when you go to Jesus and tell Him that you aren’t worthy for Him to even be in the same room as you that you will have what is asked done for you?  Our faith waivers when we don’t see immediate results though we think that we should see something now.  Centurion, believe it and it will be done.  Ask, seek, and knock and the door will be opened.

 

Peace and Agape Love,

Steve

Blog 10-18-2010

Monday

PRaP 10-18-2010

 

250 Events In The Life Of Christ/ A Harmony Of The Gospels Part 67

Section 2: Message And Ministry Of Jesus

“Jesus Teaches About Building on Rock And Sand”

Matthew 7:21-29

Luke 6:46-49

 

Matthew:

²¹“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. ²²Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ ²³Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

 ²⁴“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. ²⁵The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. ²⁶But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. ²⁷The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

 ²⁸When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, ²⁹because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.

 

Luke:

⁴⁶“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? ⁴⁷I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. ⁴⁸He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. ⁴⁹But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.”

 

Life happens and depending on what your faith is built upon will determine how you stand in the end or even if you stand.  Even if you build a brick house upon sand it will not stand during a hurricane because the storm surge will wash away the foundation of sand underneath it and it will tumble to the ground.  Our foundation in life should be in Christ that when life’s storms come, AND THEY WILL, you will still be standing in Christ once they pass.  I can tell you from personal experience that when life hits it hits hard and if there is no foundation in Christ you will fall.  Living in Christ and the belief that He is Lord and Savior and through Him we can do all things is where we all need to stand.  Even though life is storming around you and you become battered and beaten by life your faith in Christ that is the foundation built in the Bedrock, the Word of God, you will come out standing firm at the end of the storm.  When the smoke clears will you still be standing in the Word of God and the belief that Jesus Christ is still Lord and Savior in your life?  What is your foundation built on?  Where is your heart?  Does it stay in the hands of Christ?  Not an easy thing to do.

 

Peace and Agape Love,

Steve

Blog 10-14-2010

Thursday

PRaP 10-14-2010

 

250 Events In The Life Of Christ/ A Harmony Of The Gospels Part 66

Section 2: Message And Ministry Of Jesus

“Jesus Teaches About Fruit In Peoples Lives”

Matthew 7:15-20

Luke 6:43-45

 

Matthew:

¹⁵“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. ¹⁶By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? ¹⁷Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. ¹⁸A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. ¹⁹Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

Luke:

 ⁴³“No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. ⁴⁴Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. ⁴⁵The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.

 

Now this is some good stuff here.  Looking at the fruit of a person.  Now here is some food for thought today.  To keep a tree bearing fruit it needs to be watered regularly and when it doesn’t get that water it can begin to die and wither because it isn’t getting the nourishment that it needs to live it will surely die.  Now if we are the tree and the fruit is what we bear and we stop getting the Living Water given to us from Jesus Christ how will we be able to continue to bear the good fruits of the Spirit?  We cannot!  So when is the last time you gave your tree some Living Water?  This tree needs Watering every day.  Yours does too.  Grab yourself a big pitcher of Living Water every day so that your tree will continue to bear the good fruit of Christ.  If your tree is withering or has hit a dry spot in life you need to get Living Water more than once per day I recommend an all day connection to get the Water level up in your branches that the fruit be tasty and fresh.  Then keep a regular daily dose of Living Water to stay healthy.  Oh and don’t hoard the fruit OK God gives it to us to share.

 

Peace and Agape Love,

Steve