Blog 11-30-2010

Tuesday

PRaP 11-30-10

 

250 Events In The Life Of Christ/ A Harmony Of The Gospels Part 91

Section 2: Message And Ministry Of Jesus

“The People Of Nazareth Refuse To Believe”

Matthew 13:53-58

Mark 6:1-6

 

Matthew:

⁵³ When Jesus had finished these parables, he moved on from there. ⁵⁴ Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” they asked. ⁵⁵ “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? ⁵⁶ Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” ⁵⁷ And they took offense at him.

   But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town and in his own home.”

 ⁵⁸ And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.

 

Mark:

¹ Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. ² When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed.

   “Where did this man get these things?” they asked. “What’s this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing? ³ Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph,^[a] Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him.

 ⁴ Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.” ⁵ He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. ⁶ He was amazed at their lack of faith.

 

God’s timing is so perfect!  There will be one person who said I planned this.  I can relate to what Jesus went through here.  The problem is that humans have a lack of ability to forgive and forget the past.  Thankfully we have a Father in heaven who does forgive and forget the past.  You are told that you are just playing a game and that one day it will all catch up to you and you need to stop.  Well when someone plays a game they are looking to get something out of the game.  They are looking to profit something.  Admittedly there are some out there that do just that.  For me I was called to do what I do.  I profit nothing by it.  As a matter of fact it costs me daily to preach and teach the Gospel.  My wisdom is not of my own doing.  I tried to stop ministering and teaching to find myself miserable and missing out on blessings.  For my reward is not gained here on Earth but in heaven.  If what I do is a game then “LET THE GAMES BEGIN!”  For I do not play on my own for Christ who lives in me is my Guide, my Teacher, my Life, the Living Water from which I drink, my very Breath I breathe.

 

Peace and Agape Love

Pastor Steve

Blog 11-29-2010

Monday

PRaP 11-29-10

 

250 Events In The Life Of Christ/ A Harmony Of The Gospels Part 90

Section 2: Message And Ministry Of Jesus

“Jesus Heals The Blind And Mute”

Matthew 9:27-34

 

First off I hope everyone had a blessed Thanksgiving.  I know I did.  Also refreshed from a week off and getting to spend some real quality time with Micah and Zachary this past week.  Special thanks to the Holcomb family for hosting part of the week and a shout out to my new friend CC, keep them in line and don’t let a penny pass.  Now back to business.

 

Matthew:

²⁷ As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!”

 ²⁸ When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?”

   “Yes, Lord,” they replied.

 ²⁹ Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you”; ³⁰ and their sight was restored. Jesus warned them sternly, “See that no one knows about this.” ³¹ But they went out and spread the news about him all over that region.

 ³² While they were going out, a man who was demon-possessed and could not talk was brought to Jesus. ³³ And when the demon was driven out, the man who had been mute spoke. The crowd was amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.”

 ³⁴ But the Pharisees said, “It is by the prince of demons that he drives out demons.”

 

According to your faith let it be done to you!  If these blind men had any doubt they would not have been healed?  I think not.  But I also believe that their hearts were prepared for this time as to not lack any faith so that people could see who Jesus is and believe.  Also just like anywhere else there were the doubters and the troublemakers that think it is evil at work.  If Jesus was driving out demons by the prince of demons everything He touched would have failed for a house turned upon itself will fall.  If a team of people fighting amongst themselves continues to fight the team will split and one will be against the other so there is now way that Jesus was driving demons out by the prince of demons.  These are some great things to PRaP today.  Is yours a house divided?  Is there doubt in your faith?

 

Peace and Agape Love,

Steve

Blog 11-19-2010

Friday

PRaP 11-19-10

 

250 Events In The Life Of Christ/ A Harmony Of The Gospels Part 89

Section 2: Message And Ministry Of Jesus

“Jesus Heals A Bleeding Woman And Restores A Girl’s Life”

Matthew 9:18-26

Mark 5:21-43

Luke 8:40-56

 

Matthew:

¹⁸ While he was saying this, a synagogue leader came and knelt before him and said, “My daughter has just died. But come and put your hand on her, and she will live.” ¹⁹ Jesus got up and went with him, and so did his disciples.

 ²⁰ Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. ²¹ She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.”

 ²² Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed at that moment.

 ²³ When Jesus entered the synagogue leader’s house and saw the noisy crowd and people playing pipes, ²⁴ he said, “Go away. The girl is not dead but asleep.” But they laughed at him. ²⁵ After the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up. ²⁶ News of this spread through all that region.

 

This is the most condensed version between the three and I recommend reading all three to get the full passion of it.  The faith expressed by the Synagogue leader and the woman were great and Jesus knew this.  How great is your faith?  If you are ill and you just know that if you touch the garment of Him who heals you too will be healed?  How about if someone you love has died before their time.  Do you think that you have enough faith that they will live?  This one is tough because we have been so trained in this world that death is permanent all hope lost.  But I tell you the truth if our faith can heal our faith can raise the dead if God so chooses to allow us that power.  Jesus said that we will be able to do even more than He.  There is a time coming that I know not of that the miracles of Jesus will be revealed once again in a powerful way.  We will see His power again and many will turn from their sin and follow Him.  Those who believe with their mouth will see and begin to live with their life the ways of Christ that many will enter the narrow gate and be free for eternity.

 

Peace and Agape Love,

Steve

Blog 11-18-2010

Thursday

PRaP 11-18-10

 

250 Events In The Life Of Christ/ A Harmony Of The Gospels Part 88

Section 2: Message And Ministry Of Jesus

“Jesus Sends Demons Into The Herd of Pigs”

Matthew 8:28-34

Mark 5:1-20

Luke 8:26-39

 

Matthew:

²⁸ When he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes,^[a] two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no one could pass that way. ²⁹ “What do you want with us, Son of God?” they shouted. “Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?”

 ³⁰ Some distance from them a large herd of pigs was feeding. ³¹ The demons begged Jesus, “If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.”

 ³² He said to them, “Go!” So they came out and went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and died in the water. ³³ Those tending the pigs ran off, went into the town and reported all this, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men. ³⁴ Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw him, they pleaded with him to leave their region.

 

A single word and the demons left.  Why is it that we can’t understand and see who Jesus is?  Even the demons know Him and fear Him.  Human nature I guess and free will.  It’s a choice.  It’s all about a choice.  We choose to wear what we wear each day and we choose to have a good day or a not so good day.  If we wake up grumbling it will be a day of grumbling if we wake up smiling and giving praise unto God that He has allowed you to be here another day then it will be a day of praise.  I get funny looks sometimes when in prayer on a stormy day I say thank you Lord for this beautiful day.  I tell you the truth any day that I am breathing unassisted, walking unassisted, talking unassisted, just doing life unassisted is a B.E.A. uuutifffuuull day and God is worthy to be praised.  One word given by Christ can cast demons.  One word cast from our heart will bring a good day or a not so good day.  Beef or bacon, it’s a choice.

 

Peace and Agape Love,

Steve

Blog 11-17-2010

Wednesday

PRaP 11-17-10

 

250 Events In The Life Of Christ/ A Harmony Of The Gospels Part 87

Section 2: Message And Ministry Of Jesus

“Jesus Calms The Storm”

Matthew 8:23-27

Mark 4:35-41

Luke 8:22-25

 

Matthew:

²³ Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. ²⁴ Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. ²⁵ The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”

 ²⁶ He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.

 ²⁷ The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”

 

This is written about in 3 of the 4 Gospels so it is one of those extremely important parts of Jesus ministry.  He was sleeping through the storm yet the disciples were afraid when the storm came up and Jesus glorified His Father in heaven by rebuking the winds and the waves.  Why is this so important?  Why is it so important that 3 different authors write about it?  Be sure you read all three accounts so you can see the big picture.  Jesus asked them in all three accounts the same thing.  Where is your faith?  In the storms of life no matter how big or how small, there is hope in Christ.  Jesus can rebuke the wind and the waves that are about to sink your boat.  As long as we have a breath of life in us our boat called life will be rocked in a storm.  Some of these storms are like category 5 hurricanes where all hope is in a place that only He can be.  Every hurricane has an eye and in the eye of the storm it is calm which brings hope and knowing that the storm is almost over but to be sure and brace ourselves because the storm isn’t over quite yet but with hope renewed we can ride it out.  When your life is in a tornado it is quick and very destructive and there is no way of knowing its path and it jumps around and skips some and devastates others yet once it is over no matter the destruction there is reconstruction.  This is how life storms are and we need Christ at the center for the hope and the knowledge of reconstruction.  Jesus wasn’t a carpenter for no reason He was given skills of building things out of nothing and rebuilding things that were damaged.  Think about it.

 

Peace and Agape Love,

Steve

Blog 11-16-2010

Tuesday

PRaP 11-16-10

 

250 Events In The Life Of Christ/ A Harmony Of The Gospels Part 86

Section 2: Message And Ministry Of Jesus

“Jesus Tells The Parable Of The Fishing Net”

Matthew 13:47-52

 

⁴⁷ “Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. ⁴⁸ When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. ⁴⁹ This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous ⁵⁰ and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

   ⁵¹ “Have you understood all these things?” Jesus asked.

   “Yes,” they replied.

 ⁵² He said to them, “Therefore every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.”

 

WOW I don’t remember ever reading this!  Especially verse 52.  Everyone who has been a teacher of the worldly things that have become disciples in the kingdom of heaven share the new things they have learned and are able to share what the old was like as well.  Now what do you think the blazing furnace really is?  The Bible speaks of the refining fire in four places in the NIV and I think that is what He is speaking of here as well.  I think that there are many out there that will hit the refining fire before they get to heaven.  There will be many who choose to stay in the fire rather than proclaim Jesus as Lord.  Kind of hard to believe but not all will enter even though they are given the chance.  Re you one who will have to go through the fire of refinement before you really believe?  We will all be refined either here as we go through life or will be refined in the heat of the refinery.  Which do you choose?

 

Here is a link to look up refine and fire http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=refine+fire

 

Peace and Agape Love,

Steve

Blog 11-15-2010

Monday

PRaP 11-15-10

 

250 Events In The Life Of Christ/ A Harmony Of The Gospels Part 85

Section 2: Message And Ministry Of Jesus

“Jesus Tells The Parable Of The Pearl Merchant”

Matthew 13:45-46

 

⁴⁵ “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. ⁴⁶ When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.

 

What is being said is that the Kingdom of God is worth everything.  It is worth giving up all you have everyone you know and all worldly possessions to be in the Kingdom.  Here is the thing.  Now listen good here.  You will one day give all these things up!  There will come a day when not even your family can stop what is happening.  You will give up all things that you have here in this world to kneel before the King!  King Jesus is the one you will be in front of giving an account of your life here on earth.  The only way that anyone could peacefully give up EVERYTHING is by having that relationship with Christ and knowing what is waiting on the other side for you.  Focus on earning treasure in heaven and not here on earth because there will be a day that you will have to give it all up.  Not even the IRS can touch this.  They may be able to get all your worldly possessions but they can’t touch your heavenly treasures that cannot be taken or destroyed.  So if I were you I would be working on building wealth in heaven more so than on earth.  Yes we need things here to survive until the return of Christ but don’t store up so much that in a lifetime it cannot be utilized to bless others with it.  God blesses those who bless others and if you do not bless someone with the blessings you have now God will give it all away for you when you take your last breath.  There is so much more that fits here go to your favorite Bible search and look up treasure in heaven.

 

Peace and Agape Love,

Steve

Blog 11-11-2010

Thursday

PRaP 11-11-10

 

250 Events In The Life Of Christ/ A Harmony Of The Gospels Part 84

Section 2: Message And Ministry Of Jesus

“Jesus Tells The Parable Of The Hidden Treasure”

Matthew 13:44

 

⁴⁴ “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.

 

So the kingdom of heaven is worth giving up all you have in order to get there.  Well that holds true because once you take your last breath that’s it all your stuff stays here and you go into heaven.  At least those of us who have chosen to have that relationship with Jesus Christ will.  Salvation is priceless there cannot be a monetary value put on it because there isn’t an amount that can describe it’s worth.  Many give everything they have including their very lives to have the salvation that only comes through Christ.  To get there is worth everything you have.  We will talk a little more about this next time.

 

Peace and Agape Love,

Steve

Blog 11-10-10

Wednesday

PRaP 11-10-10

 

250 Events In The Life Of Christ/ A Harmony Of The Gospels Part 83

Section 2: Message And Ministry Of Jesus

“Jesus Explains The Parable Of The Weeds”

Matthew 13:36-43

 

³⁶ Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.”

 ³⁷ He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. ³⁸ The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one, ³⁹ and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.

   ⁴⁰ “As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. ⁴¹ The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. ⁴² They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. ⁴³ Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear.

 

The harvest is coming soon.  Come Lord Jesus Come!

 

Peace and Agape Love,

Steve

Blog 11-09-2010

Tuesday

PRaP 11-09-10

 

250 Events In The Life Of Christ/ A Harmony Of The Gospels Part 82

Section 2: Message And Ministry Of Jesus

“Jesus Tells The Parable Of The Yeast”

Matthew 13:33-35

 

³³ He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds^[a] of flour until it worked all through the dough.”

 ³⁴ Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable. ³⁵ So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet:

   “I will open my mouth in parables,
   I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world.”^[b]

 

Let’s take a look at this from a different perspective.  If you take flour and mix it with water you get dough and that’s it just dough.  But when you ad yeast to the mix the dough rises and has more volume and you can make bread with it.  We are the flour and He is the Water and we become the dough and we can be dough all our lives if we want but we want to be bread something useful so we need to add faith, which is the yeast, and only then can we grow, only then can we be useful.  When you take us and mix in the Living Water with a little bit of faith we grow and expand into a part of the kingdom of heaven.  Now I’m hungry because I have the smell of baking bread in my nose.

 

Peace and Agape Love,

Steve