Blog 06-29-2011

Wednesday

 

PRaP 06-29-2011  

 

250 Events In The Life Of Christ/ A Harmony Of The Gospels Part 202

Section 2: Message And Ministry Of Jesus

“Jesus Tells About His Return”

Matthew 24:26-35

Mark 13:24-31

Luke 21:25-33

 

²⁶ “So if anyone tells you, ‘There he is, out in the wilderness,’ do not go out; or, ‘Here he is, in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. ²⁷ For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. ²⁸ Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather.

   ²⁹ “Immediately after the distress of those days

   “‘the sun will be darkened, 
   and the moon will not give its light;
the stars will fall from the sky, 
   and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’^[a]

   ³⁰ “Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth^[b] will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory.^{[c] 31} And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.

   ³² “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. ³³ Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it^[d] is near, right at the door. ³⁴ Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. ³⁵ Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

 

So be prepared.  We have seen many things and have experienced the birth pains of life.  For He is coming soon and waste no more time on the things of this earth for it will pass away yet every word spoken by Jesus Christ will live on forever.  This is His message of love to all of us.  What you do with it is your choice.  Be careful what you choose because it will last an eternity.

 

Peace and Agape Love,

Pastor Steve

Blog 06-28-2011

Tuesday

 

PRaP 06-28-2011  

 

250 Events In The Life Of Christ/ A Harmony Of The Gospels Part 201

Section 2: Message And Ministry Of Jesus

“Jesus Tells About The Future”

Matthew 24:1-25

Mark 13:1-23

Luke 21:5-24

 

Matthew:

¹ Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings. ² “Do you see all these things?” he asked. “Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”

 ³ As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”

 ⁴ Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. ⁵ For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. ⁶ You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. ⁷ Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. ⁸ All these are the beginning of birth pains.

   ⁹ “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. ¹⁰ At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, ¹¹ and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. ¹² Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, ¹³ but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. ¹⁴ And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

   ¹⁵ “So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’^[a] spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand— ¹⁶ then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. ¹⁷ Let no one on the housetop go down to take anything out of the house. ¹⁸ Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak. ¹⁹ How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! ²⁰ Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath. ²¹ For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again.

   ²² “If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened. ²³ At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. ²⁴ For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. ²⁵ See, I have told you ahead of time.

 

In times of persecution even strong believers will find it difficult to be loyal.  To keep from being deceived by false messiahs, we must understand that Jesus’ return will be unmistakable, no one will doubt that it is He. If you have to be told that the Messiah has come, then He hasn’t.  Christ’s coming will be obvious to everyone.  All people of the earth will know that it is Jesus when the day comes not a living soul will doubt or miss it.

Jesus warnings about false teachers still hold true.  Upon close examination it becomes clear that many nice sounding messages don’t agree with God’s message in the Bible.  Only a solid foundation in God’s Word can equip us to perceive the errors and distortions in false teaching.  Be careful out there and remember that if it doesn’t line up with scripture then it isn’t the Truth.  Gain wisdom along with your knowledge for knowledge without wisdom is useless.

Peace and Agape Love,

Pastor Steve

Blog 06-27-2011

Monday

 

PRaP 06-27-2011  

 

250 Events In The Life Of Christ/ A Harmony Of The Gospels Part 200

Section 2: Message And Ministry Of Jesus

“A Poor Widow Gives All She Has”

Mark 12:41-44

Luke 21:1-4

 

Mark:

⁴¹ Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. ⁴² But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.

 ⁴³ Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. ⁴⁴ They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”

 

Luke:

¹ As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. ² He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. ³ “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. ⁴ All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”

           

Blessed are those who give out of their poverty for their faith is that God will pay them back:

Luke 6:38
Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

This doesn’t just go for money it is everything you give will be returned to you in this manner be it good or not.  If you judge others you will be given back in this manner.  If you condemn you too will be condemned in this manner.  If you give love it will be returned to you.  A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

 

Peace and Agape Love,

Pastor Steve

Blog 06-23-2011

Thursday

 

PRaP 06-23-2011  

 

250 Events In The Life Of Christ/ A Harmony Of The Gospels Part 199

Section 2: Message And Ministry Of Jesus

“Jesus Grieves Over Jerusalem Again”

Matthew 23:37-39

 

³⁷ “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing. ³⁸ Look, your house is left to you desolate. ³⁹ For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’

 

Jerusalem was the capital city of God’s chosen people, the ancestral home of David, Israel’s greatest king, and the location of the temple, the earthly dwelling place of God.  It was intended to be the center of worship of the true God and a symbol of justice to all people.  But Jerusalem had become blind to God and insensitive to human need.  Here we see the depth of Jesus’ feeling for lost people and for his beloved city, which would soon be destroyed.

Jesus wanted to gather His people together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings to protect them but they wouldn’t let Him.  We today are the same way.  How many times have you felt Him pulling you in only to turn away?  Many times we hurt and don’t know where to turn.  We reject Christ’ help because we don’t think He can give us what we need.  But who knows our needs better than the One who created us?  Those who turn to Jesus will find His comfort as no one else can.  Try it!  You’ll like it!  The change in some people is instantaneous and in others a gradual uplifting of mind, body, and spirit, but Jesus is the only way to the peace you seek.

 

Peace and Agape Love,

Pastor Steve

Blog 06-22-2011

Wednesday

 

PRaP 06-22-2011  

 

250 Events In The Life Of Christ/ A Harmony Of The Gospels Part 198

Section 2: Message And Ministry Of Jesus

“Jesus Condemns The Religious Leaders”

Matthew 23:13-36       

 

¹³ “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to. ^{[14] [a]}

   ¹⁵ “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are.

   ¹⁶ “Woe to you, blind guides! You say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gold of the temple is bound by that oath.’ ¹⁷ You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes the gold sacred? ¹⁸ You also say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gift on the altar is bound by that oath.’ ¹⁹ You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred? ²⁰ Therefore, anyone who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. ²¹ And anyone who swears by the temple swears by it and by the one who dwells in it. ²² And anyone who swears by heaven swears by God’s throne and by the one who sits on it.

   ²³ “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. ²⁴ You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.

   ²⁵ “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. ²⁶ Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.

   ²⁷ “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. ²⁸ In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.

   ²⁹ “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous. ³⁰ And you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ ³¹ So you testify against yourselves that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets. ³² Go ahead, then, and complete what your ancestors started!

   ³³ “You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell? ³⁴ Therefore I am sending you prophets and sages and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town. ³⁵ And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. ³⁶ Truly I tell you, all this will come on this generation.

 

Being a religious leader in Jerusalem was very different from being a pastor in secular society today.  Israel’s history, culture, and daily life centered around its relationship with God.  The religious leaders were the best known, most powerful, and most respected leaders, Jesus made these stinging accusations because the leaders’ hunger for more power, money, and status had made them lose sight of God, and their blindness was spreading to the whole nation.  Sadly we still have these issues today and it is spreading throughout the world not just the nation.  Men and women of God be careful to be humble in your position for it was a gift given you and not a requirement.  What you have been blessed with can be taken and if misused will be taken.  Love God, love the people you serve and all will go well with you.

 

Peace and Agape Love,

Pastor Steve

 

Blog 06-21-2011

Tuesday

PRaP 06-21-2011  

 

250 Events In The Life Of Christ/ A Harmony Of The Gospels Part 197

Section 2: Message And Ministry Of Jesus

“Jesus Warns Against The Religious Leaders”

Matthew 23:1-12

Mark 12:38-41

Luke 20:45-47

 

Luke:

⁴⁵ While all the people were listening, Jesus said to his disciples, ⁴⁶ “Beware of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. ⁴⁷ They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.”

 

People desire positions of leadership not only in business but also in the church.  It is dangerous when love for the position grows stronger than loyalty to God.  This is what happened to the Pharisees and teachers of the law.  Jesus isn’t against leadership – we need Christian leaders – but He is against leadership that serves itself rather than the people.  I have seen this in almost every church I have walked in.  There is always someone struggling with the position of leadership and doing everything they can to get that position without thought to what the position is supposed to be.  I myself was guilty of that at one time in my life.  I was humbled though and realized that the position was nothing more than a title and keys to a door.  It was nothing without the guidance of the Lord and His plans for me to be a servant.  We think that this position is going to bring notoriety and recognition of our talents and it isn’t surprising because that is how society is.  Even today as back then your high position is how men rate themselves but Jesus challenged societal norms.  To Him greatness comes from serving – giving of yourself to God and helping others.  Service keeps us aware of others needs and it stops us from focusing only on ourselves.  Jesus came as a servant.  What kind of greatness do you seek?  Greatness in the eyes of God is serving Him through His will for you.  Serving people, serving servants.

 

Peace and Agape Love,

Pastor Steve

Blog 06-20-2011

Monday

PRaP 06-20-2011  

 

250 Events In The Life Of Christ/ A Harmony Of The Gospels Part 196

Section 2: Message And Ministry Of Jesus

“Religious Leaders Cannot Answer Jesus’ Question”

Matthew 22:41-46

Mark 12:35-37

Luke 20:41-44

 

Matthew:

⁴¹ While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, ⁴² “What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he?”

   “The son of David,” they replied.

 ⁴³ He said to them, “How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him ‘Lord’? For he says,

   ⁴⁴ “‘The Lord said to my Lord:
   “Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.”’^[a]

⁴⁵ If then David calls him ‘Lord,’ how can he be his son?” ⁴⁶ No one could say a word in reply, and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions.

Mark:

³⁵ While Jesus was teaching in the temple courts, he asked, “Why do the teachers of the law say that the Messiah is the son of David? ³⁶ David himself, speaking by the Holy Spirit, declared:

   “‘The Lord said to my Lord: 
   “Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.”’^[a]

³⁷ David himself calls him ‘Lord.’ How then can he be his son?”

   The large crowd listened to him with delight.

Luke

: ⁴¹ Then Jesus said to them, “Why is it said that the Messiah is the son of David? ⁴² David himself declares in the Book of Psalms:

   “‘The Lord said to my Lord: 
   “Sit at my right hand ⁴³ until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”’^[a]

⁴⁴ David calls him ‘Lord.’ How then can he be his son?”

 

The Pharisees, Herodians, and Sadducees had asked their questions but Jesus turned the tables on them and asked a penetrating question – who they thought Messiah was.  The Pharisees knew that the Messiah would be a descendent of David but didn’t know it would be God himself.  Jesus quoted Psalm 110:1 to show that Messiah would be greater than David and in Hebrews 1:13 the same text is used as proof of Christ’s deity.  The most important question we will ever answer is what we believe about Christ.  Other theological questions are irrelevant until we believe that Jesus is who He said He is.  Maybe this is why arguments erupt when speaking of things of God.  The people who are arguing only think they know what they think they know and don’t really know what they want to know.  If we would take more time in consulting with Him directly there would be less reason to argue.  I believe that Jesus Christ is God in flesh and His spirit lives within us all.  The magnitude in which we notice this is related to the amount of our faith we have that will reveal His presence in each of us.  You say you believe but how much do you believe?  Does your very life reveal the Christ in you?  When someone looks into your eyes do they see you or do they see Him?  When you speak is it the voice of Christ or do we hear you speaking?  When someone touches you do they feel Christ in that touch or do they feel your touch?  See with His eyes, hear with His ears, speak with His mouth, feel with His heart, and live the life He wants you to live.

 

Peace and Agape Love,

Pastor Steve

Blog 06-02-2011

Thursday

PRaP 06-02-2011  

 

250 Events In The Life Of Christ/ A Harmony Of The Gospels Part 195

Section 2: Message And Ministry Of Jesus

“Religious Leaders Question Jesus About The Greatest Commandment”

Matthew 22:34-40

Mark 12:28-34

           

Matthew:

³⁴ Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. ³⁵ One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: ³⁶ “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

 ³⁷ Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’^{[a] 38} This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’^{[b] 40} All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Mark:

²⁸ One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”

   ²⁹ “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.^{[a] 30} Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’^{[b] 31} The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’^[c] There is no commandment greater than these.”

 ³² “Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. ³³ To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

 ³⁴ When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions.

 

Two commandments, if fulfilled will cover all ten commandments.  For if you love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength and love your neighbor as yourself you wouldn’t have the desire to cheat, steal, hurt, or kill anyone.  But unfortunately not everyone believes as we do therefore we need Salvation.  Also not any of us can fulfill these because of our own flesh and desire to have when we do not have and want things we shouldn’t want.  God gave us desire that we would love one another and if He didn’t give us these desires there wouldn’t be any more people we would have died off a long time ago.  But we take a good thing and turn it into something bad.  Praise God we have Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of our sin.  Do not take this as freedom to sin because this only means that we have freedom from sin.  Another one of those good things we twisted.  Here’s something to chew on today as you go through your day.  Do you consciously sin because you know you have freedom from it through Christ?

 

Peace and Agape love,

Pastor Steve

Blog 06-01-2011

Wednesday

PRaP 06-01-2011  

 

250 Events In The Life Of Christ/ A Harmony Of The Gospels Part 194

Section 2: Message And Ministry Of Jesus

“Religious Leaders Question Jesus About The Resurrection”

Matthew 22:23-33

Mark 12:18-27

Luke 20:27-40

 

Matthew:

²³ That same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him with a question. ²⁴ “Teacher,” they said, “Moses told us that if a man dies without having children, his brother must marry the widow and raise up offspring for him. ²⁵ Now there were seven brothers among us. The first one married and died, and since he had no children, he left his wife to his brother. ²⁶ The same thing happened to the second and third brother, right on down to the seventh. ²⁷ Finally, the woman died. ²⁸ Now then, at the resurrection, whose wife will she be of the seven, since all of them were married to her?”

 ²⁹ Jesus replied, “You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God. ³⁰ At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven. ³¹ But about the resurrection of the dead—have you not read what God said to you, ³² ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’^[a]? He is not the God of the dead but of the living.”

 ³³ When the crowds heard this, they were astonished at his teaching.

 

The Sadducees asked Jesus what marriage would be in heaven, Jesus said it is more important to understand God’s power than know what heaven will be like.  In every generation and culture, ideas of eternal life tend to be based upon our worldly existence of today.  Jesus answered that these faulty ideas are caused by lack of knowledge of Scripture.  We must not make up our own ideas about eternity and heaven thinking of it and God in human terms.  It just cannot be done for He is so much Higher than we are and His thinking is not our thinking.  We should concentrate more on our relationship with God than about what heaven will be like.  Eventually we will all find out and it will be beyond anything we will expect it to be.  Relationship, relationship, relationship, preparation, preparation, preparation.  We must have the relationship which will help us in the preparation.

 

Peace and Agape Love,

Pastor Steve