John 15,16
There was much Jesus had to tell his disciples before he left them. Much of what he told them was a little disturbing like his instruction; "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first."John 15:18
Those aren't very encouraging words. It's not encouraging to know that the world would be against them but this is the cost of discipleship. Jesus reminded them, "No servant is greater then his master. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also." And why? because they bear his name and proclaim his name. They would be light in a dark world and just as the world did not like Jesus light they would not like there light for they were the body of Christ. If you read through the book of Acts you will see evidence that Jesus words did indeed come true.
But it wasn't just the words about persecution that came true. His words about the power of the Holy Spirit working through them also came true. We remember that Jesus told them about this as well. Back in John 14:12 Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father."
These words seem to be for the first Century Christians that is for sure. They obeyed him, they accepted the pruning and the persecution, and they abided and loved him and they loved each other. As a result great things happened.
I wonder are Jesus world in John 15 and 16 for us today as well? You might say, "But I don't see that kind of open persecution in my life" and you might say "I don't see that kind of power in my life."
Could it be if we truly proclaimed the message of Christ we might see the good and the bad. If we truly loved him and each other would we see great miracles and feel the sting of Satan working in the world to extinguish that light? I wonder. Are we living in a time of compromise. Are we living that way to avoid the pain? If we are do we know what we are really missing when it comes to seeing the Holy Spirit move through our lives?
"No pain no gain." I wonder. I wonder if when we start becoming really devoted to the Lord and he starts to prune us so we will bear more fruit; will we simply turn away? Do we turn around? Do we assume something is wrong if we start to struggle?
I believe Jesus invites us to look once again at his instruction in John 14,15,16 and 17. I think it is time for us to learn to abide and to rely upon the Holy Spirit. I think it is time for us to really love each other and the world around us.
I have to confess that I really don't like the thought of persecution but I sure do love the thought of producing "Much fruit" for the Lord. I also love the thought of experiencing the peace that passes all understanding.
Why did Jesus tell his disciples these things. It wasn't so they would be fearful. It wasn't so they would be filled with pride when they did the miracles. Jesus said, "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."
My thought for the day is this. He has overcome the world. Will we join him and find true peace.
Just some thought to think about along the journey.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Monday, March 22, 2010
Is Jesus God? Did he claim to be?
One of the debates that has raged through the ages is the question. "Is Jesus God?" It is clear that Jesus claimed to be the Messiah but did he claim to be God? and what difference does it make to us? I believe our salvation rests upon this debate. If Jesus claims to be God but is not God then he is a lunatic, and there is absolutely no way that we can be saved if we are following a lunatic. We also must ask, "Can we be saved if Jesus isn't the God who redeems. In other words can a mortal die for anther mortal's sins?
I believe that there is no question that the book of John paints a picture of Jesus as one who claimed to be God. In John 1:1 says, "Jesus was with God at the beginning of creation." It doesn't say in the beginning God created the word. No it said, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of Men." Vs. 14 "The Word became flesh, and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father full of grace and truth." Clearly Jesus was the Word that became flesh.
In John 3:13 "Jesus claims to be from Heaven saying, "No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven the Son of Man. The Pharisees clearly knew that Jesus was claiming equality with God. In John 4:18 it says, "for this reason the Jews tried all the harder to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God." Later in John 4:21 it says, "For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him." Here Jesus claims to receive and deserve the same honor that is due to the father.
Jesus speaking to the Pharisees in John 8:23 saying, "You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins." From this statement it seem pretty important that we get Jesus identity correct.
but even with all of his statements which are recorded throughout the book of John, the Pharisees continued to disbelieve and threaten to kill Jesus. In John 10:33 the Pharisees proclaim, "We are not stoning you for any of these" (speaking of his miracles he had performed) "but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God."
Did Jesus claim to be God? It seems that the religious leaders of the time believed he did, and Jesus never corrected them. Actually over and over Jesus keeps on saying in the book of John that the Father and I are one. (See especially John 17)
So why does this matter to us today? Simply because only God can save man and if Jesus claims to be God he can save but if he claims to be God and is not then he is a blasphemer just like the Pharisees claimed.
Is he God? Right now we are reading in the tenth Chapter of John. Just keep reading and keep asking that question. I believe John's gospel offers us no other conclusion. So do the investigation for yourself.
If he is God, are you following Him with your whole heart, mind and strength? It's less then two weeks to Easter. This is a great time to draw your own conclusions and walk in the light of those convictions.
So join us. On the Journey
I believe that there is no question that the book of John paints a picture of Jesus as one who claimed to be God. In John 1:1 says, "Jesus was with God at the beginning of creation." It doesn't say in the beginning God created the word. No it said, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of Men." Vs. 14 "The Word became flesh, and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father full of grace and truth." Clearly Jesus was the Word that became flesh.
In John 3:13 "Jesus claims to be from Heaven saying, "No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven the Son of Man. The Pharisees clearly knew that Jesus was claiming equality with God. In John 4:18 it says, "for this reason the Jews tried all the harder to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God." Later in John 4:21 it says, "For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him." Here Jesus claims to receive and deserve the same honor that is due to the father.
Jesus speaking to the Pharisees in John 8:23 saying, "You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins." From this statement it seem pretty important that we get Jesus identity correct.
but even with all of his statements which are recorded throughout the book of John, the Pharisees continued to disbelieve and threaten to kill Jesus. In John 10:33 the Pharisees proclaim, "We are not stoning you for any of these" (speaking of his miracles he had performed) "but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God."
Did Jesus claim to be God? It seems that the religious leaders of the time believed he did, and Jesus never corrected them. Actually over and over Jesus keeps on saying in the book of John that the Father and I are one. (See especially John 17)
So why does this matter to us today? Simply because only God can save man and if Jesus claims to be God he can save but if he claims to be God and is not then he is a blasphemer just like the Pharisees claimed.
Is he God? Right now we are reading in the tenth Chapter of John. Just keep reading and keep asking that question. I believe John's gospel offers us no other conclusion. So do the investigation for yourself.
If he is God, are you following Him with your whole heart, mind and strength? It's less then two weeks to Easter. This is a great time to draw your own conclusions and walk in the light of those convictions.
So join us. On the Journey
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Timid yet still standing
Based on John 7:43-52
One of the most interesting character in the drama of Jesus life was Nicodemus who was a Pharisee the one who visited Jesus secretively in the night). Nicodemus was a well respected teacher who came to Jesus out of curiosity. Jesus taught him about the need to be born again. We read his story back in John 3. We didn't hear his response back in John 3 but John brings him back for us again thus developing an interesting theme and character study. In the seventh chapter of John people were still wondering and speculating about Jesus. The leading Pharisees on the council had already made up there mind and sent guards to bring Jesus to them. Of course they could not take him because if was not yet his time. Their failure only made the Pharisees more mad especially when the guards added, "No man ever spoke like this man."
Defending Jesus wasn't exactly a popular thing to do but in his own way Nicodemus, who sought out Jesus at night, does offer a bold response. Nicodemus didn't exactly admit to believing Jesus but he did put forth a cautious opinion saying to the rest, "Does our law judge a man before it hears him and knows what he is doing?" I'm sure Nicodemus met with more then one frown and piercing glare. You see the Pharisees didn't really care about making a proper judgement they just wanted to get rid of Jesus. As I said it wasn't exactly a statement of faith but his boldness and Johns inclusion of this account acknowledges that timid Nicodemus was starting to come to faith.
No Nicodemus never becomes a major player in the drama of Jesus life but we do meet him yet again following Jesus death. It is Nicodemus who comes with Joseph of Arimathea to take down Jesus body from the cross and take him to the grave. It is Nicodumus who anointed his body with a mixture of myrrh and aloes about seventy five pounds. (John 19:39) This was a costly gesture both in money but also in terms of his reputation as a Pharisee.
We don't know much more about Nicodemus but my guess is that he was among the religious leaders who later became apart of the new movement of believers in Jesus and he probably helped to spread the news so that others came to faith in Christ as well. He was also probably the one responsible for giving so much details to the gospel writers so they could record events that otherwise they would not have been present to witness and later record.
God greatly used this timid man who first sought out Jesus at night away from the crowds and there would be no mistaking his allegiance when he helped to take Jesus down from the cross.
I pray that each one of us would grow in our faith and boldness regarding our witness. I pray that when the opportunity arises that we will stand up and let people know what we believe about Jesus. It may not be popular but our stance might mean salvation to many and our stand might bring great advancement to the gospel.
How will you respond when God calls you to stand up for him?
One of the most interesting character in the drama of Jesus life was Nicodemus who was a Pharisee the one who visited Jesus secretively in the night). Nicodemus was a well respected teacher who came to Jesus out of curiosity. Jesus taught him about the need to be born again. We read his story back in John 3. We didn't hear his response back in John 3 but John brings him back for us again thus developing an interesting theme and character study. In the seventh chapter of John people were still wondering and speculating about Jesus. The leading Pharisees on the council had already made up there mind and sent guards to bring Jesus to them. Of course they could not take him because if was not yet his time. Their failure only made the Pharisees more mad especially when the guards added, "No man ever spoke like this man."
Defending Jesus wasn't exactly a popular thing to do but in his own way Nicodemus, who sought out Jesus at night, does offer a bold response. Nicodemus didn't exactly admit to believing Jesus but he did put forth a cautious opinion saying to the rest, "Does our law judge a man before it hears him and knows what he is doing?" I'm sure Nicodemus met with more then one frown and piercing glare. You see the Pharisees didn't really care about making a proper judgement they just wanted to get rid of Jesus. As I said it wasn't exactly a statement of faith but his boldness and Johns inclusion of this account acknowledges that timid Nicodemus was starting to come to faith.
No Nicodemus never becomes a major player in the drama of Jesus life but we do meet him yet again following Jesus death. It is Nicodemus who comes with Joseph of Arimathea to take down Jesus body from the cross and take him to the grave. It is Nicodumus who anointed his body with a mixture of myrrh and aloes about seventy five pounds. (John 19:39) This was a costly gesture both in money but also in terms of his reputation as a Pharisee.
We don't know much more about Nicodemus but my guess is that he was among the religious leaders who later became apart of the new movement of believers in Jesus and he probably helped to spread the news so that others came to faith in Christ as well. He was also probably the one responsible for giving so much details to the gospel writers so they could record events that otherwise they would not have been present to witness and later record.
God greatly used this timid man who first sought out Jesus at night away from the crowds and there would be no mistaking his allegiance when he helped to take Jesus down from the cross.
I pray that each one of us would grow in our faith and boldness regarding our witness. I pray that when the opportunity arises that we will stand up and let people know what we believe about Jesus. It may not be popular but our stance might mean salvation to many and our stand might bring great advancement to the gospel.
How will you respond when God calls you to stand up for him?
Monday, March 8, 2010
Come and See
Based on John 1:29-51
Today we can find many books and models for doing evangelism. Just go to a Christian book store and you'll find a full shelf of books talking about evangelism and many of those books are wonderful but perhaps we have made "evangelism" too complicated.
I think we can find a great example of effective evangelism in the first chapter of John. There we find Philip's story. Philip was approached by Jesus who simply asked him, "Follow me." A short time later Philip found Nathanael and proclaimed to him saying, "We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote - Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."
Nathanael wasn't sold at first saying, "Nazareth? can anything good come from there?"
At this point Philip didn't try to convince him or argue with him he simply said, "Come and see"
and as we read on that is exactly what he did and because of that personal encounter with Jesus, Nathanael became a disciple as well.
So what does this teach us about evangelism or sharing our faith? First we have to have a personal encounter with Christ. Second we must come to the realization in our head and in our heart that Jesus is the Messiah. Third we have to share with someone what we have come to believe in our heart. Fourth, after we have shared our story we need to tell them to "come and see" or perhaps we will say, "Jesus has been great for me, why don't you try Him for yourself. Why don't you come and see."
Evangelism is about having a story and telling someone about it but ultimately the other person has to try it for themselves and when they do Jesus will meet with them and the Spirit will speak to their heart.
We need to remember that it is our job to spread the seed. the Lord is the one who makes it grow.
Today we can find many books and models for doing evangelism. Just go to a Christian book store and you'll find a full shelf of books talking about evangelism and many of those books are wonderful but perhaps we have made "evangelism" too complicated.
I think we can find a great example of effective evangelism in the first chapter of John. There we find Philip's story. Philip was approached by Jesus who simply asked him, "Follow me." A short time later Philip found Nathanael and proclaimed to him saying, "We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote - Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."
Nathanael wasn't sold at first saying, "Nazareth? can anything good come from there?"
At this point Philip didn't try to convince him or argue with him he simply said, "Come and see"
and as we read on that is exactly what he did and because of that personal encounter with Jesus, Nathanael became a disciple as well.
So what does this teach us about evangelism or sharing our faith? First we have to have a personal encounter with Christ. Second we must come to the realization in our head and in our heart that Jesus is the Messiah. Third we have to share with someone what we have come to believe in our heart. Fourth, after we have shared our story we need to tell them to "come and see" or perhaps we will say, "Jesus has been great for me, why don't you try Him for yourself. Why don't you come and see."
Evangelism is about having a story and telling someone about it but ultimately the other person has to try it for themselves and when they do Jesus will meet with them and the Spirit will speak to their heart.
We need to remember that it is our job to spread the seed. the Lord is the one who makes it grow.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
The thief that steals our joy
Based upon Philippians 4
This is a favorite passage for many but one that is hard to live out. If we can embrace the truths of our text then we can indeed say as Paul. "Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice." But there is a thief who comes to steal that joy. That thief's name is worry.
Paul says in verse 6 "Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." You'll notice Paul doesn't suggest that we deny our concerns but he does give us ways to deal with them. We bring them before the throne and then in faith we rejoice and thank God that he will help us with our burdens. Yes, thanksgiving is the key because it reminds us of our faith our foundation and our hope. It's easy to say thank you after you receive the blessing but saying thank you before we receive the help is an indication that we know the blessing is on the way.
It's when we have the proper balance of supplication and thanksgiving that we receive the Peace of God, which surpasses all understand, which guards our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Worry is born in our minds as well as our heart. Our job is to allow God to transform our minds and our hearts. We allow the Lord to transform our minds by focusing them in the right direction. Paul says in verse 8 "Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." Thinking properly is another key to reducing worry. Like being thankful, it doesn't come second nature we must intentional. In this way it becomes a Spiritual discipline but like all other disciplines if we do it long enough it is easier and even second nature. Thinking about the bad in other and about our situations will only bring us down and heighten our worry.
The last prescription Paul offers about worry is to live a good life. Paul says, "Keep on doing that things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me and the God of peace will be with you you." Wouldn't it be great if we lived such exemplary lives that we could encourage others to follow what we have said and what we have done.
Peace of mind come through living a life of integrity. When we walk in sin our life tends to fall apart and when our life falls apart we have more things to worry about. A well disciplined life that works with God will bring blessing and peace. As a result we will have more to be thankful for and we will more good things to think about.
the Lord doesn't want us to worry. He wants to carry our burdens and give us rest. So let us pray with Thanksgiving. Think about those things that are praise worthy and walk with integrity and purpose in our living. When we do this the Lord will guard our hearts and our minds so Satan can't come in and steal our joy.
This is a favorite passage for many but one that is hard to live out. If we can embrace the truths of our text then we can indeed say as Paul. "Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice." But there is a thief who comes to steal that joy. That thief's name is worry.
Paul says in verse 6 "Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." You'll notice Paul doesn't suggest that we deny our concerns but he does give us ways to deal with them. We bring them before the throne and then in faith we rejoice and thank God that he will help us with our burdens. Yes, thanksgiving is the key because it reminds us of our faith our foundation and our hope. It's easy to say thank you after you receive the blessing but saying thank you before we receive the help is an indication that we know the blessing is on the way.
It's when we have the proper balance of supplication and thanksgiving that we receive the Peace of God, which surpasses all understand, which guards our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Worry is born in our minds as well as our heart. Our job is to allow God to transform our minds and our hearts. We allow the Lord to transform our minds by focusing them in the right direction. Paul says in verse 8 "Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." Thinking properly is another key to reducing worry. Like being thankful, it doesn't come second nature we must intentional. In this way it becomes a Spiritual discipline but like all other disciplines if we do it long enough it is easier and even second nature. Thinking about the bad in other and about our situations will only bring us down and heighten our worry.
The last prescription Paul offers about worry is to live a good life. Paul says, "Keep on doing that things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me and the God of peace will be with you you." Wouldn't it be great if we lived such exemplary lives that we could encourage others to follow what we have said and what we have done.
Peace of mind come through living a life of integrity. When we walk in sin our life tends to fall apart and when our life falls apart we have more things to worry about. A well disciplined life that works with God will bring blessing and peace. As a result we will have more to be thankful for and we will more good things to think about.
the Lord doesn't want us to worry. He wants to carry our burdens and give us rest. So let us pray with Thanksgiving. Think about those things that are praise worthy and walk with integrity and purpose in our living. When we do this the Lord will guard our hearts and our minds so Satan can't come in and steal our joy.
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