Blog 08-31-2011

Wednesday

 PRaP 08-31-2011  

           

 250 Events In The Life Of Christ/ A Harmony Of The Gospels Part 225

Section 3: Death And Resurrection Of Jesus Christ

“Annas Questions Jesus”

John 18:12-24

 

¹² Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus. They bound him ¹³ and brought him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. ¹⁴ Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jewish leaders that it would be good if one man died for the people.

 ¹⁵ Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Because this disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard, ¹⁶ but Peter had to wait outside at the door. The other disciple, who was known to the high priest, came back, spoke to the servant girl on duty there and brought Peter in.

 ¹⁷ “You aren’t one of this man’s disciples too, are you?” she asked Peter.

   He replied, “I am not.”

 ¹⁸ It was cold, and the servants and officials stood around a fire they had made to keep warm. Peter also was standing with them, warming himself.

 ¹⁹ Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching.

   ²⁰ “I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus replied. “I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret. ²¹ Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said.”

 ²² When Jesus said this, one of the officials nearby slapped him in the face. “Is this the way you answer the high priest?” he demanded.

   ²³ “If I said something wrong,” Jesus replied, “testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?” ²⁴ Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

 

He was bound and brought before leaders only to be slapped in the face for speaking the Truth.  Have you ever been falsely accused and slapped in the face for speaking truth?  Jesus was too.  Jesus’ accusers had no clue at what they were doing and they didn’t know Truth because if they had they would have set Him free.  But their hearts were hardened by the lies being told and the half truths which in my opinion are just lies in a different package.  Do you think Jesus knew that Peter had already denied Him once?  I think He felt it like a stab in the chest with a blunt object.  I have a spiritual connection with a few people and when something happens to them I feel it.  When it is against God’s will it is like a jab in the chest with a blunt object.  I wonder if they feel that when I mess up?  Remember what you do to one can be felt by others even if there are many miles in between.

Peace and Agape Love,

Pastor Steve

Blog 08-30-2011

Tuesday

 PRaP 08-30-2011  

           

 250 Events In The Life Of Christ/ A Harmony Of The Gospels Part 224

Section 3: Death And Resurrection Of Jesus Christ

“Jesus Is Betrayed An Arrested”

Matthew 26:47-56

Mark 14:43-52

Luke 22:47-53

John 18:1-11

 

⁴⁷ While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. ⁴⁸ Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.” ⁴⁹ Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him.

 ⁵⁰ Jesus replied, “Do what you came for, friend.”^[a]

   Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. ⁵¹ With that, one of Jesus’ companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.

   ⁵² “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. ⁵³ Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? ⁵⁴ But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?”

 ⁵⁵ In that hour Jesus said to the crowd, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest me. ⁵⁶ But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.

 

Betrayed and left alone to face this that He had to do.  How would you feel?  Scared is one feeling that would come across my mind.  Disappointment because of the ones who followed me left me.  He knew He had to go through this to fulfill what was written but I bet that didn’t make it any easier.  When we are in despair we go to Him.  Who did He go to?  Himself?  The Father in flesh hated by His own creation and put to death that He may rise again to defeat the very thing that was to kill Him.  Not just that He is glorified through it but to rescue all of us from ourselves.  The perfect example of what Love is.  Think about it.

Peace and Agape Love,

Pastor Steve

           

Blog 08-29-2011

Monday

 PRaP 08-29-2011  

           

 250 Events In The Life Of Christ/ A Harmony Of The Gospels Part 223

Section 3: Death And Resurrection Of Jesus Christ

“Jesus Agonizes In The Garden”

Matthew 26:36-46

Mark 14:32-42

Luke 22:39-46

 

³⁶ Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” ³⁷ He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. ³⁸ Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”

 ³⁹ Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

 ⁴⁰ Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. ⁴¹ “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

 ⁴² He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”

 ⁴³ When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. ⁴⁴ So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.

 ⁴⁵ Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. ⁴⁶ Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”

 

Agonizing sorrow to the point of death!  He knew what was coming and asked the Father to take it away.  But notice that He said not my will but Your will be done.  In life we have agonizing things that we have to go through and we ask the Lord to take the cup from us that we be spared the agony.  Think about this, if Jesus had not gone through what He went through we would not have Salvation.  We would not have Grace.  We would not have the Living Water of life that we would be able to live.  So when you get that hankering to play the blame game on who put Jesus to death remember that if God wanted it to stop it would have but in order for scripture to be fulfilled and our Salvation in place He had to go through with it.  God allows us to drink from the cup of agony on occasion too that we may grow in Him.  Remember as a child the growing pains you felt?  Yeah we can calls these spiritual growing pains.  If it doesn’t kill us it can only make us stronger and if it does kill us we will be with Jesus beginning or eternity.  So either way God’s will be done and praise Him who is all things.

Peace and Agape Love,

Pastor Steve

           

Blog 08-25-2011

Thursday

 PRaP 08-25-2011  

 

 250 Events In The Life Of Christ/ A Harmony Of The Gospels Part 222

Section 3: Death And Resurrection Of Jesus Christ

“Jesus Again Predicts Peters Denial”

Matthew 26:31-35

Mark 14:27-31

 

³¹ Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written:

   “‘I will strike the shepherd,
   and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’^[a]

   ³² But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”

 ³³ Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.”

   ³⁴ “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.”

 ³⁵ But Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the other disciples said the same.

 

Poor Peter living in a fallen world and knowing Christ still reached into his heart and tried to be strong on his own accord as did all the other disciples.  Ever been in that situation?  You are strong and faithful and you tell yourself and others that in this situation or that situation I am going to do this or I am going to do that even if I have to die I will stand strong.  Well folks you will be tested in those things.  There will come a day that this situation or that situation will arise and you will likely be proven wrong in your statements especially if it is not in God’s will for you.  You see taking things into your own hands that God has willed will prove you wrong every time.  For God’s will is God’s will and it will be done as He wills it to be done and your not now nor will you ever be in a position to get in His way.  You may ask, seek, and knock and God can change His will but not because you were being mister tough guy but because you come to Him humbly and ask.  Think about it.

 

Peace and Agape Love,

Pastor Steve

Blog 08-23-2011

Tuesday

 PRaP 08-23-2011  

 

 250 Events In The Life Of Christ/ A Harmony Of The Gospels Part 221

Section 3: Death And Resurrection Of Jesus Christ

“Jesus Prays For Future Believers” (That’s Us!)

John 17:20-26

 

²⁰ “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, ²¹ that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. ²² I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— ²³ I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

   ²⁴ “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.

   ²⁵ “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. ²⁶ I have made you^[a] known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”

 

“That the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.” AWESOME!!!!!! It doesn’t get any better than that folks. This prayer brought tears to my eyes today. I needed to hear that Jesus loves me so much that He asked the Father to love us as He loves Jesus Himself. When you are down and out and lost in your sin know that Daddy loves you so much and wants you to come back to Him. No matter what you are going through remember this one thing. Jesus prayed for YOU!

 

Peace and Agape Love,

Pastor Steve

Blog 08-22-2011

Monday

 PRaP 08-22-2011  

 

 250 Events In The Life Of Christ/ A Harmony Of The Gospels Part 220

Section 3: Death And Resurrection Of Jesus Christ

“Jesus Prays For His Disciples”

John 17:6-19

 

⁶ “I have revealed you^[a] to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. ⁷ Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. ⁸ For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. ⁹ I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. ¹⁰ All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. ¹¹ I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of^[b] your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. ¹² While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by^[c] that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.

   ¹³ “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. ¹⁴ I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. ¹⁵ My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. ¹⁶ They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. ¹⁷ Sanctify them by^[d] the truth; your word is truth. ¹⁸ As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. ¹⁹ For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.

 

How powerful is that? Jesus asked God to protect the from evil and not to take them to heaven with Him just yet. He laid upon them the glory given to Him from God that they may continue to spread the Good News about Christ. I like this part too: ¹⁷ Sanctify them by^[d] the truth; your word is truth. Don’t just give it to them but sanctify them through He who is Truth. That’s so cool! We should all be sanctified by He who is Truth. Our sanctification comes through Christ and what He did for us on the cross and we shouldn’t take it for granted. It is easy for us to do with the world as it is today. Seek the Truth in the only place that Truth is and that is in God’s Word. Allow the Holy Spirit to guide you in Truth that it will go well with you in your basic training that we call life.

 

Peace and Agape Love,

Pastor Steve

Blog 08-18-2011

Thursday

 PRaP 08-18-2011  

 

 250 Events In The Life Of Christ/ A Harmony Of The Gospels Part 219

Section 3: Death And Resurrection Of Jesus Christ

“Jesus Prays For Himself”

John 17:1-5

 

¹ After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed:

“Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. ² For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. ³ Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. ⁴ I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. ⁵ And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.

 

Jesus is declaring His place with the Father in heaven that the disciples may hear that He is God in flesh that He has been here from the beginning and will be He in the end and for all eternity with us whom have been sent by God. Where do you stand? At the left hand of God or the right hand? For those of us whom have chosen Christ we have chosen life eternal at the right hand of God. Be careful what you do with this life for it will determine your eternal future. What do you believe?

 

Peace and Agape Love,

Pastor Steve

Bloh 08-17-2011

Wednesday

 PRaP 08-17-2011  

 

 250 Events In The Life Of Christ/ A Harmony Of The Gospels Part 218

Section 3: Death And Resurrection Of Jesus Christ

“Jesus teaches about using his name in prayer”

John 16:16-33

¹⁶ Jesus went on to say, “In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me.”

 ¹⁷ At this, some of his disciples said to one another, “What does he mean by saying, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me,’ and ‘Because I am going to the Father’?” ¹⁸ They kept asking, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We don’t understand what he is saying.”

 ¹⁹ Jesus saw that they wanted to ask him about this, so he said to them, “Are you asking one another what I meant when I said, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me’? ²⁰ Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. ²¹ A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. ²² So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. ²³ In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. ²⁴ Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.

   ²⁵ “Though I have been speaking figuratively, a time is coming when I will no longer use this kind of language but will tell you plainly about my Father. ²⁶ In that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. ²⁷ No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. ²⁸ I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.”

 ²⁹ Then Jesus’ disciples said, “Now you are speaking clearly and without figures of speech. ³⁰ Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God.”

   ³¹ “Do you now believe?” Jesus replied. ³² “A time is coming and in fact has come when you will be scattered, each to your own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me.

   ³³ “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

 

Praise God! This goes back to ask, seek, and knock and the door will be open. Our flesh has a tendency to block us from going to Him and asking. We think we can just handle everything on our own. Well you may be able to handle some things but know this, God allowed it. Our joy should be in Him and His joy will be in us. Ask, seek and knock. Go to the Father in all things and it will go well with you.

Peace and Agape love,

Pastor Steve

Blog 08-16-2011

Tuesday

 PRaP 08-16-2011  

 

 250 Events In The Life Of Christ/ A Harmony Of The Gospels Part 217

Section 3: Death And Resurrection Of Jesus Christ

“Jesus Teaches About The Holy Spirit”

John 16:5-15

 

⁵ but now I am going to him who sent me. None of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ ⁶ Rather, you are filled with grief because I have said these things. ⁷ But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. ⁸ When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: ⁹ about sin, because people do not believe in me; ¹⁰ about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; ¹¹ and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.

   ¹² “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. ¹³ But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. ¹⁴ He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. ¹⁵ All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.”

 

Jesus is explaining to the disciples what we already have in Him. The Holy Spirit as our guide to help us get through this mess we call life. Thankfully it is but a temporary stop before we begin eternity. Do you allow the Advocate to advocate for you? Do you allow the Spirit of Truth speak truth in your life? Not easy to do because we love things of instant gratification and that isn’t what He is all about. Oh He may give you some things instantly but for the most part they are gradual and they always come in God’s time. You can force the hand but it will be of your own choice and not that of God’s will. Some of us miss God’s will because we want a sign so big the world can see it before we move but God speaks in a small voice sometimes and we have to be a keen listener to hear Him. Sometimes He does blast it out because it may be something that He really wants for us but still we have to be able to listen for it. Interestingly I am in a moment to where I am waiting on God. Many would say this is silly just do it but I am waiting for the right moment and the right way and the right car. Think about it. PS: NO Pastor Mary I didn’t buy the red VW convertible!

Peace and Agape Love,

Pastor Steve

Blog 08-15-2011

Monday

 PRaP 08-15-2011  

 

 250 Events In The Life Of Christ/ A Harmony Of The Gospels Part 216

Section 3: Death And Resurrection Of Jesus Christ

“Jesus Warns About The Worlds Hatred”

John 15:18-16:4

 

¹⁸ “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. ¹⁹ If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. ²⁰ Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’^[a] If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. ²¹ They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me. ²² If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin. ²³ Whoever hates me hates my Father as well. ²⁴ If I had not done among them the works no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. As it is, they have seen, and yet they have hated both me and my Father. ²⁵ But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ‘They hated me without reason.’^[b]

    ²⁶ “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me. ²⁷ And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.

John 16

 ¹ “All this I have told you so that you will not fall away. ² They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, the time is coming when anyone who kills you will think they are offering a service to God. ³ They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me. ⁴ I have told you this, so that when their time comes you will remember that I warned you about them. I did not tell you this from the beginning because I was with you,

           

So if you are hated because of whom you serve give glory to God!  Remember in your time of persecution they hated Him first.  There will come a time in every believers life that they will be persecuted for their belief and as you stand there taking that beating remember that Jesus was beaten first.  He didn’t utter a word during that time.  He didn’t scream out as it would have brought pleasure to the ones doing the beating.  Jesus gives us hope through the Holy Spirit that gives us the strength to endure the unreasonable hatred and evil in our world and the hostility that many have toward Christ, which brings comfort for those who are persecuted.

 

Peace and Agape Love,

Pastor Steve