Blog 02-28-2011

Monday

PRaP 02-28-2011  

 

250 Events In The Life Of Christ/ A Harmony Of The Gospels Part 147

Section 2: Message And Ministry Of Jesus

“Jesus Teaches About The Kingdom Of God”

Luke 13:18-21

 

 ¹⁸ Then Jesus asked, “What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to? ¹⁹ It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds perched in its branches.”

 ²⁰ Again he asked, “What shall I compare the kingdom of God to? ²¹ It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds^[a] of flour until it worked all through the dough.”

 

What do you think these mean?  What does your heart say?  There is a tiny piece of God in each and every one of us He put it there Himself and like a mustard seed which is the tiniest of the seeds in the field it grows so big that the birds of the air perch in it.  Same with the yeast a small amount of yeast can make the dough grow to enormous size.  He is telling us it takes time and work for us to reach the knowledge of the Kingdom of God.  It is a growth process and once we reach the point of understanding and accepting Christ the journey begins the seed is planted and now must grow.  The yeast is mixed into the dough and now will rise and expand.  This is the way of the Kingdom of God it is ever expanding and growing and one day it will reach its peak and God will say “It is done” and on that day those of us who have followed and understand and share and reach for Him through His Son will be able to enter His great Kingdom.  PRaP these things in your heart and allow God to show you His great way and His great plan that when the day comes you will be prepared.

 

Peace and Agape Love,

Pastor Steve

Blog 02-25-2011

Friday

PRaP 02-25-2011  

 

250 Events In The Life Of Christ/ A Harmony Of The Gospels Part 146

Section 2: Message And Ministry Of Jesus

“Jesus Heals The Crippled Woman”

Luke 13:10-17

 

¹⁰ On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, ¹¹ and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. ¹² When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.” ¹³ Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God.

 ¹⁴ Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue leader said to the people, “There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath.”

 ¹⁵ The Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Doesn’t each of you on the Sabbath untie your ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water? ¹⁶ Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?”

 ¹⁷ When he said this, all his opponents were humiliated, but the people were delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing.

 

Those who boast of knowing know nothing indeed.  If they had known who Jesus was they would have been on their knees before Him.  The woman healed praised God immediately for her healing.  Even then the people back then got enjoyment out of seeing people in high places get humiliated.  It all gives more warning to those in high places that if you boast of your knowledge of the law the law will judge you.  Everything we think we know we don’t know because we cannot comprehend the things of God.  His thinking is above ours and if anyone says they know Him they don’t.  All we can do is strive to know Him and the only One that knows Him is Christ alone.  The only people that will get to know God are those chosen by Christ and Christ will only take those who love Him and live in the ways that He has taught and still teaches today. Matthew 22:37-39   ³⁷ Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’^{[c] 38} This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.”

 

Here are some great words of wisdom from Deuteronomy 6:4-9

⁴ Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.^{[a] 5} Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. ⁶ These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. ⁷ Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. ⁸ Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. ⁹ Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

Peace and Agape Love,

Pastor Steve

Blog 02-23-2011

Wednesday

PRaP 02-23-2011  

 

250 Events In The Life Of Christ/ A Harmony Of The Gospels Part 145

Section 2: Message And Ministry Of Jesus

“Jesus Calls The People To Repent”

Luke 13:1-9

 

¹ Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. ² Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? ³ I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. ⁴ Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? ⁵ I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”

 ⁶ Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. ⁷ So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’

   ⁸ “‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. ⁹ If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’”

 

Jesus wants ALL of us to repent and follow Him.  This “all” includes me and my family as well as yours and your pastor and his family.  Go ask your pastor if he has to repent and if he is a true man of God he will let you know right away that he is a human and needs repentance just like you.  We all have our shortcomings and we will all one day be judged for what we have done on this earth in the short lives we are allowed here.  We must bear fruit or we too will be cut down.  We are the fig tree in the vineyard and if we do not produce amongst the vines we will not be allowed to be in the vineyard anymore.  Allow the Lord to graft you into the vine with repentance and belief in Him who holds the knife that cuts non-producing branches and burns them with eternal fire.  If you disagree with what I have said tell me so.  I will pray for you and will not argue this point or that point.  Ask a question and I will answer you.  Don’t fear me for I can do nothing.  Fear Jesus Christ who can.

 

Peace and Agape Love,

Pastor Steve

Blog 02-22-2011

Tuesday

PRaP 02-22-2011  

 

250 Events In The Life Of Christ/ A Harmony Of The Gospels Part 144

Section 2: Message And Ministry Of Jesus

“Jesus Warns About The Future Crisis”

Luke 12:54-59

 

⁵⁴ He said to the crowd: “When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, ‘It’s going to rain,’ and it does. ⁵⁵ And when the south wind blows, you say, ‘It’s going to be hot,’ and it is. ⁵⁶ Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don’t know how to interpret this present time?

   ⁵⁷ “Why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right? ⁵⁸ As you are going with your adversary to the magistrate, try hard to be reconciled on the way, or your adversary may drag you off to the judge, and the judge turn you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. ⁵⁹ I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.”

 

Basic interpretation here for those of you that missed it:  We know the signs of the end times yet we still do nothing to prepare for it.  The world and the things of the world blind us and we do not see and do not hear what is being told to us.  Where is your heart?  Does it belong to Him who Saves?  The time is coming soon that we will be taken to the Judge don’t you think that you should reconcile with Him who is Judge for all mankind.  There are some of you that will read this that will be taken to Him today or tomorrow for we are not guaranteed our very next breath so why do you continue with your salvation roulette that you play.  If you lose it is an eternal loss.  I don’t think that as humans we can comprehend eternity because it goes on and on forever.  Where will you bee 500 years from now or even 1,000 years?  What about 1,000,000 years from now where will you be?  Through repentance and acceptance of Christ you will likely be with Him.  All He is asking is that you trust Him and believe in Him and He will make sure you have what you need for eternity.  You are all invited to my 1,000,000 birthday party it will be in heaven so get right with Christ so you can attend He will be checking your invitations at the door.  Party attire required, my Lord Jesus Christ will provide gifts no need to bring anything at all for all will be at our fingertips and the mansion will be open to all who attend.

 

Peace and Agape Love,

Pastor Steve

Blog 02-18-2011

Friday

PRaP 02-18-2011  

 

250 Events In The Life Of Christ/ A Harmony Of The Gospels Part 143

Section 2: Message And Ministry Of Jesus

“Jesus Warns About Coming Division”

Luke 12:49-53

 

⁴⁹ “I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! ⁵⁰ But I have a baptism to undergo, and what constraint I am under until it is completed! ⁵¹ Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. ⁵² From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. ⁵³ They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”

 

First off I would like to share that in the NIV the title of this section is “Not Peace but Division”.  In how many households do we see exactly these things going on?  We see division around the world in all households.  Every one of us has at least one family member that is or has been divided against the family if not more than one.  Even in my own family this is apparent.  It’s not easy keeping peace in the household much less an entire family especially when you have a large family.  Keeping everyone on one accord though is so important and that can only be done through a relationship with Christ that the entire family must participate in.  A family that prays together stays together.  I know that this is likely not going to be accomplished by all families but we must still strive to walk with Him in peace.

 

Lord Jesus we come to you in solidarity today for families around this world to come together in peace with You as the leader of the family.  Father forgive me of my own sin and lack of ability to bring family together as one.  Lord Jesus I know that I know that through You we can agree and we can come together as one in peace through this time Lord I ask for hearts and minds to be changed to seek You and Your guidance in all family issues.  Thank you in Jesus name Amen.

 

Peace and Agape love,

Pastor Steve

Blog 02-17-2011

Thursday

PRaP 02-17-2011  

 

250 Events In The Life Of Christ/ A Harmony Of The Gospels Part 142

Section 2: Message And Ministry Of Jesus

“Jesus Warns About Preparing For his Coming”

Luke 12:35-48

 

³⁵ “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, ³⁶ like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. ³⁷ It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. ³⁸ It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the middle of the night or toward daybreak. ³⁹ But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. ⁴⁰ You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”

 ⁴¹ Peter asked, “Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everyone?”

 ⁴² The Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? ⁴³ It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. ⁴⁴ Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. ⁴⁵ But suppose the servant says to himself, ‘My master is taking a long time in coming,’ and he then begins to beat the other servants, both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk. ⁴⁶ The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.

   ⁴⁷ “The servant who knows the master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what the master wants will be beaten with many blows. ⁴⁸ But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.

 

So to answer Peter’s question.  Jesus was speaking to all who believe and follow Him.  Be prepared in season and out of season as not to be caught off guard.  Yes, He is coming soon but He will come at a time that we do not know.  Yes, the signs He told us to watch for are coming to pass so we really need to be paying attention.  Woe to those who say they are prepared yet do nothing to help prepare their brothers and sisters.  The master will come and take up the servants of the Lord and sit them at His table and He will serve them as they recline.  Brothers and Sisters in Christ keep your eyes on the prize and never look back always moving forward in Christ never wavering left or right but always straight on the narrow path to the gate where He waits for us.  Listen for Him calling you in the distance and reach out your hand to take His in yours so that you may receive what the Father wills to bless you with today and every day.

 

Peace and Agape Love,

Pastor Steve

Blog 02-16-2011 (Happy Birthday Micah 16)

Wednesday

PRaP 02-16-2011  

 

250 Events In The Life Of Christ/ A Harmony Of The Gospels Part 141

Section 2: Message And Ministry Of Jesus

“Jesus Warns About Worry”

Luke 12:22-34

 

²² Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. ²³ For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. ²⁴ Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! ²⁵ Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life^[a]? ²⁶ Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?

   ²⁷ “Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. ²⁸ If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! ²⁹ And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. ³⁰ For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. ³¹ But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

   ³² “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. ³³ Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. ³⁴ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

 

All I can add to this is “Don’t worry be happy”.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also and for me and my house our treasure is in Heaven.

 

Peace and Agape Love,

Pastor Steve

Just a Thought

God uses doubt to bring faith, ignorance to bring knowledge and foolishness to bring wisdom.  He will use sickness to heal, anger to bring peace, and fear to bring love.  Just a thought

Pastor Steve

Blog 02-15-2011

Tuesday

PRaP 02-15-2011  

 

250 Events In The Life Of Christ/ A Harmony Of The Gospels Part 140

Section 2: Message And Ministry Of Jesus

“Jesus Tells The Parable Of The Rich Fool”

Luke 12:13-21

 

¹³ Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”

 ¹⁴ Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” ¹⁵ Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”

 ¹⁶ And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. ¹⁷ He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’

   ¹⁸ “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. ¹⁹ And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’

   ²⁰ “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’

   ²¹ “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”

 

Do not store up for yourself worldly possessions for yourself.  So many people take this scripture as meaning that a good Christian is to live poor lives with nothing.  Let’s look at verse 21 again: ²¹ “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”  This parable is telling us that we need to be sure that what we store up is a blessing from God and that we recognize that He is the giver of ALL things.  There is nothing you have that wasn’t given you through blessing.  If you begin to say that you did this and you did that and you will store up the things you do with your hands then God will show you what a fool you are.  The Bible is clear that those who are responsible for a little, much will be given but with that “much” comes great responsibility to give much as well.  For if you have much and do not give much the much you have will be taken from you.  Everyone should have a budget in place and at the top of that budget should be “Tithe” and 10% of your gross income should be in that box.  What I have done is setup a tithe account with my bank and each pay period I put 10% of my gross income in that account which is interest bearing.  As the Lord prompts me to give I give to whom ever it is and I do not expect anything in return.  If you do not have a budget please look up Crown Financial Ministry and start working on becoming debt free it is an awesome feeling to be a good steward of God’s blessings.  So take the blessings He gives and fill His storehouse that those in need will be blessed through us. 

 

Peace and Agape love,

Pastor Steve

Blog 02-14-2011

Monday

PRaP 02-14-2011  

 

250 Events In The Life Of Christ/ A Harmony Of The Gospels Part 139

Section 2: Message And Ministry Of Jesus

“Jesus Speaks Against Hypocrisy”

Luke 12:1-12

 

¹ Meanwhile, when a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus began to speak first to his disciples, saying: “Be^[a] on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. ² There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. ³ What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.

   ⁴ “I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. ⁵ But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him. ⁶ Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. ⁷ Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

   ⁸ “I tell you, whoever publicly acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man will also acknowledge before the angels of God. ⁹ But whoever disowns me before others will be disowned before the angels of God. ¹⁰ And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.

   ¹¹ “When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, ¹² for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.”

 

These are powerful words and you need to take heed of their warning.  Be not afraid to speak His name for He will announce you to the angels of God.  Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior the King of kings and the Lord of lords.  He is the only way to the Father and there is no other.  You can think and believe what you want but it will never change the Truth.  You can go wherever you want and you do whatever you want to do but these words that are spoken from the lips of Christ will never disappear or change.  Beware the One who can send you to hell.  Be not afraid of those who can kill the body but do nothing to the soul for the soul is eternal and only One can get you to the final destination of peace and that is Christ alone. Just because you do not believe in these things does not mean that they are not Truth.  Live your life for Christ and do not live in fear for there is nothing man can do to take away your rewards in heaven.  The only thing that a man can do is get you to your reward faster by destroying the body and they can only do that if the Lord allows it.  People get ready Jesus is coming soon.

Peace and Agape Love,

Pastor Steve