If we love Jesus, we’ll obey Him

John 14:15-30

“If you love Me, obey My commandments.”

 

“And I will ask the Father; and He will give you another Comforter, Who will never leave you.”

 

“He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth.  The world at large cannot receive Him, because isn’t looking for Him and doesn’t recognize Him.  But you do, because He lives with you now and later will be in you.”

 

“No, I will not abandon you as orphans – I will come to you.”

 

“In just a little while the world will not see Me again, but you will.  For I will live again, and you will, too.”

 

“When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in My Father, and you are in Me, and I am in you.”

 

“Those who love Me, My Father will love them, and I will love them.  And I will reveal Myself to each one of them.”

 

Judas (not Iscariot, but the other disciple with that name) said to Him, “Lord, why are You going to reveal Yourself only to us and not to the world at large?”

 

Jesus replied, “All those who love Me will do what I say, My Father will love them, and we will come to them and live with them.”

 

“Anyone who doesn’t love Me will not do what I say.  And remember, My words are not My own.  This message is from the Father who sent Me.”

 

“I am telling you these things now while I am still with you.” 

 

“But when the Father sends the Counselor as My representative – and by the Counselor I mean the Holy Spirit – He will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I Myself have told you.”

 

“I am leaving you with a gift – peace of mind and heart.  And the peace I give isn’t like the peace the world gives.  So don’t  be troubled or afraid.”

 

“Remember what I told you: I am going away, but I will come back to you again.  If you really love Me, you will be very happy for Me, because now I can go to the Father, Who is greater than I am.”

 

“I have told you these things before they happen so that you will believe when they do happen.”

 

“I don’t have much more time to talk to you, because the prince of this world approaches.  He has no power over Me,”

 

“but I will do what the Father requires of Me, so that the world will know that I love the Father.  Come, let’s be going.”

Don’t be troubled, Trust Jesus

John 14:1-14

[Jesus is with His disciples to share the Last Supper before He goes to the cross as the Passover Lamb.  Judas has already left to betray Him and Peter has just declared that he’s ready to die for Him, but Jesus tells him that instead he’ll deny Him three times before the rooster crows. Jesus  encourages and teaches His disciples about their future and the faith and hope they must have in Him.]

“Don’t be troubled.  You trusted God, now trust in Me.”

 

“There are many rooms in My Father’s house, and I am going to prepare a place for you.  If this were not so, I would tell you plainly.”

 

“When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with Me where I am.”

 

“And you know where I am going and how to get there.”

 

“No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said.  “We haven’t any idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

 

Jesus told him, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  No one can come to the Father except through Me.”

 

“If you had known who I am, then you would have known who My Father is.  From now on you know Him and have seen Him!”

 

Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and we will be satisfied.”

 

Jesus replied, “Philip, don’t you even yet know who I am, even after all the time I have been with you?  Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father!  So why are you asking to see Him?”

 

“Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me?  The words I say are not My own, but My Father who lives in Me does His work through Me.”

 

“Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me.  Or at least believe because of what you have seen Me do.”

 

“The truth is, anyone who believes in Me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to the Father.”

 

“You can ask for anything in My name, and I will do it,  because the work of the son brings glory to the Father.”

 

“Yes, ask anything in My name, and I will do it!”

 

Again Jesus declares His Deity and His mission on this earth.  His disciples are not thinking about Heaven, but about this earth.  They can’t believe because they aren’t willing to believe that Jesus will die.  They are thinking like mere men with their hopes on what they see. They’re thinking Jesus will set up His kingdom on earth, so for Him to die just can’t be true in their minds. 

But after Jesus’ resurrection, when they see Him alive again after His crucifixion, they will believe Jesus’ words in a new way. They will truly understand that as the Messiah and the Lamb of God He fulfilled all righteousness by obeying the Father and giving Himself for our sins that He may redeem us back to God again.  The disciples will know first hand this deliverance.  Jesus will give them His Holy Spirit so that the work of God will be multiplied through the life of each disciple – even to this very day.  Jesus reassures them that He will always be with them.  Though they may not see Him after His ascension, He instructs them to ask for whatever they need and it will be theirs.  This will strengthen their faith in Him and they will be renewed in their spirits to do the work God has called for them to do.  This is true to this very day.  We’ve been given the spirit of God to teach us and to fill us to do the work of God as God’s instructed each of us to do.  As we draw closer to Him, and allow His word to live in us, we will know what His will for each of our lives.

 

Heavenly Father;

Thank You for the hope You’ve given us in the promises of Your word.  Thank You that Jesus was so patient with His disciples when they just weren’t grasping what He was telling them. Thank You that You’re so patient with us today. Thank You that You’ve given us Your Holy Spirit to help us and to guide us in all truth. Thank You that You have a plan for each of our lives.  Thank You that You want us to know You and to know Your will for our lives.  May we be seeking You and desiring to do Your will everyday.  Please fill us afresh with Your Holy Spirit.  Thank You for our pastors who love and serve You faithfully.  Thank You for the power of Your word that changes our hearts and lives.  Thank You for the many people who came to church this Resurrection Morning who don’t usually come.  Thank You that Your Holy Spirit did a might work in the hearts of those who were open to You.  Please continue to help those who struggle with their faith to know that You will help them if they will call out to You.  Please help them to believe in You, Lord Jesus.  Please help us to continue to ask You for those things we may think impossible, and for the faith to believe that You will do whatever we ask according to Your will.  Thank You for the mighty power of Your love that’s changing so many lives.  Please continue that good work You’re doing in Your church.  Be glorified Lord Jesus.  We love You!  In Your name we pray.  Amen.

Walking in the Light of Jesus brings in a plentiful harvest

John 12:20-36

Some Greeks who had come to Jerusalem to attend the Passover

 

paid a visit to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee.  They said, “Sir, we want to meet Jesus,”

 

Philip told Andrew about it, and they went together to ask Jesus.

 

Jesus replied, “The time has come for the Son of Man to enter into His glory.”

 

“The truth is, a kernel of wheat must be planted in the soil.  Unless it dies it will be alone – a single seed.  But its death will produce many new kernels – a plentiful harvest of new lives.”

 

“Those who love their life in this world will lose it.  Those who despise their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.”

 

“All those who want to be My disciples must  come and follow Me, because My servants must be where I am.  And if they follow Me, the Father will honor them.”

 

“Now My soul is deeply troubled.  Should I pray, ‘Father, save Me from what lies ahead’?  But that is the very reason why I came!’”

 

“Father, bring glory to Your name.”

 

Then a voice spoke from Heaven, saying, “I have already brought it glory, and I will do it again.”

 

When the crowd heard the voice, some thought it was thunder, while others declared an angel had spoken to Him.

 

Then Jesus told them, “The voice was for your benefit, not mine.”

 

“The time of judgment for the world has come, when the prince of this world will be cast out.”

 

“And when I am lifted up on the cross, I will draw everyone to Myself.”

 

He said this to indicate how He was going to die.

 

“Die?”  asked the crowd.  “We understood from Scripture that the Messiah would live forever.  Why are You saying the Son of Man will die?  Who is this Son of Man You are talking about?”

 

Jesus replied, “My light will shine out for you just a little while longer.  Walk in it while you can, so you will not stumble when the darkness falls.  If you walk in the darkness, you cannot see where you are going.”

 

“Believe in the Light while there is still time; then you will become children of the Light.”  After saying these things, Jesus went away and was hidden from them.

 

Jesus continues to tell all who are listening that He’s going to the cross to bring life to many.  Through Jesus’ death on the cross God will bring in a plentiful harvest of lives of those who believe in Him, receive Him and walk in His Light.  Jesus paves the way for salvation to all who will come to Him.  Again and again He speaks of His Father’s purpose for sending Him to the earth.  The people think that His Kingdom will be on the earth and that He will never die.  Jesus teaches that God’s kingdom is the opposite of what they are thinking.  Rather than building their lives on the foundation of this world, Jesus teachers that all who come after Him must build their foundation upon the things of God which are not of this world.  As Jesus gave up His life for us, so all who follow Him must give up their life for Him.  The flesh must die, so the spirit can live and rule our lives.  Jesus gave up His life on the cross so that we can know life with the Father in Heaven through His Spirit.  His Spirit fills all believers.  In this way, God redeems all the lives that are headed toward death for their sins.  Those in Christ will never die, as Christ lives we will live.  But our eternal life is not in this world. Where Jesus is, there will be all who believe and receive Him.  We are given abundant life in this world, and eternal life in Heaven with Him.  We lay down our lives for Jesus as we follow Him and obey His call upon our lives.  This means we chose to follow His will instead of our own.  This means our desire is the same as Jesus’ – to do His Father’s will.  When we surrender our will to God’s, we have peace with Him and His Holy Spirit fills and guides us.  Our life is in Christ, rather than living for ourselves.  As we abide in Jesus, draw close to Him, get to know Him through His word, fellowship, prayer and obedience to Him and His word, we will know Him more and more.  He speaks into our hearts and into our minds and transforms us to be like Him.  We will face trials and times when it’s very hard.  We pray and entrust ourselves to Him.  We depend upon His promises by faith and He strengthens us. It’s a walk in the spirit which can only be understood by walking in the spirit. This was the problem many had when Jesus told them he was going to die.  They didn’t understand.  God’s will will most often conflict with our human interests and the will of our fleshly desires.  We must expect this so we won’t be stumbled, as Jesus said.  We must walk in His Light or we will stumble in the darkness of this world.  If we chose to follow Jesus we will face persecution and opposition from those who resist Him.  We must expect this and be preparted so as not to lose faith.  God promised to never leave us, nor forsake us.  He promised to strengthen us as we turn to Him for help.  God is faithful.  Our testimony of God’s faithfulness will be a joyful experience.  God will give us His peace and love.  We will see more and more qualities of the fruit of His Holy Spirit which are found in Galatians 5:22-23 in our lives as we continue to hold onto Jesus and to walk faithfully with Him.  Jesus lives! 

 

Heavenly Father;

Thank You for the life You’ve given us in Christ.  Thank You for Jesus’ obedience and willingness to go to the cross for our sins.  Jesus was resisted all through His life – as the enemy or our souls hates Him and he hates You.   But You have won the victory over him.  You have defeated him who comes against Christ and all who love and follow Him.  In Jesus we continue to fight this spiritual warfare, but we fight from victory, not for victory.  Our victory comes by abiding in Christ.  Please help us to be strong in You today.  Please strengthen us and equip us to serve You and to be Lights in this dark world.  Please help us to stay close to Jesus and to follow Him faithfully.  Please use our lives for Your glory.  Please give us courage to fight the good fight of faith in Christ.  Please be our strength and foundation. When we are weary, may we find rest in You.  May Your peace lead us and guide us.  May Your love fill our lives.  May we serve You faithfully.  May Your harvest be plentiful through our lives for Your glory and honor.  Thank You for this life we have in Christ.   Please guide and lead our pastors according to Your will for their lives and ministry.  May they be faithful to You.  May they be filled with Your love and with Your word.  May You give them wisdom and grace in proportion to their need and as they seek You.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

For the glory of God!

John 11:1-16

A man named Lazarus was sick.  He lived in Bethany with his sisters, Mary and Martha.

 

This is the Mary who poured the expensive perfume on the Lord’s feet and wiped them with her hair.  Her brother, Lazarus, was sick. 

 

So the two sisters sent a message to Jesus telling Him, “Lord, the one You love is very sick.”

 

But when Jesus heard about it He said, “Lazarus’s sickness will not end in death.  No, it is for the glory of God,  I, the Son of God, will receive glory from this.”

 

Although Jesus loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus,

 

He stayed where He was for the next two days and did not go to them.

 

Finally, after two days, He said to His disciples, “Let’s go to Judea again.”

 

But His disciples objected, “Teacher,” they said, “only a few days ago the Jewish leaders in Judea were trying to kill You.  Are You going there again?”

 

Jesus replied, “There are twelve hours of daylight every day.  As long as it is light, people can walk safely.  They can see because they have the light of this world.”

 

“Only at night is there danger of stumbling because there is no light.”

 

Then He said, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but now I will go and wake him up.”

 

The disciples said, “Lord, if he is sleeping, that means he is getting better!”

 

They thought Jesus meant Lazarus was having a good night’s rest, but Jesus meant Lazarus had died.

 

Then He told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead.”

 

“And for your sake, I am glad I wasn’t there, because this will give you another opportunity to believe in Me.  Come, let’s go see him.”

 

Thomas, nicknamed the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let’s go, too – and die with Jesus.”

 

Jesus did whatever the Father gave Him to do.  He perfectly represented His Heavenly Father Who sent Him, so that those who saw and listened to Jesus could know what His Father was like also.  The words He spoke and the miraculous signs He performed revealed His Deity.  Jesus was open and spoke plainly about who He was to those who questioned that His Authority and power was from God.  Jesus was always in complete control over all that came His way.  Those who did not believe in Him hardened their hearts more and more and were determined to kill Him for the wonderful works He did to help the people in need because He did not keep their traditions and rebuked them to their faces for their evil deeds and evil motives – telling them that they refused to believe in Him because they were of their father, the devil – the father of all lies and deceit.

 

Jesus’ disciples had great concern for Jesus’ life if He were to go back to the region of Judea in Bethany to help Lazarus. This showed that they still believed that Jesus would set up His Kingdom on this earth.  Jesus wanted them to see His glory and that He was Lord over all, even over death, and that His Kingdom was not of with world.  Jesus had told them, “Lazarus’s sickness will not end in death.  No, it is for the glory of God,  I, the Son of God, will receive glory from this.”  Jesus spoke of Lazarus sleeping, knowing he was already dead.  His disciples, still did not fully understanding the power of God in Jesus.  They were thinking in human terms according to their own limited understanding when they considered the word, ‘sleeping’.  Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead.” There could be no confusion about what Jesus was to do.  If His disciples could see this miraculous sign of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead, they would also know that Jesus could raise Himself from the dead and prove Himself the Messiah, by offering His life as a sacrifice on the cross, then rise again from the dead proclaiming victory over sin and death – once for all.  Jesus could then offer complete victory over sin and death for all who believed in Him and received Him as their Savior and Lord.  His disciples must believe in the resurrection power of Jesus, as they would face persecution and death for the Gospel message they would proclaim to the world, which includes all Gentiles.  Jesus was not worried about protecting His own life. Thomas said he would follow Jesus to His death, too, thinking that if Jesus went back to Judea His life would be taken by the Jews.    But this was not Jesus’ time to give up His life, as there was still work to be done.  His disciples would see once more that those who hated Jesus had no power over Him.  They would see the power of God in Jesus and Jesus would be glorified.  Their faith would be strengthened and their testimony would be enriched by what they were to see first hand.  Seeing Lazarus raised from the dead and ultimately seeing Jesus raised from the dead would make them creditable witnesses of the Truth of God as they testified that Jesus was indeed the Messiah, the Lamb of God, and the Savior of the world.  They would be more than willing to lay down their lives to follow Jesus and testify to the world of Him. 

 

We are given this same opportunity, today.  Jesus comes to us and we receive Him and He changes our lives.  This is for the glory of God that the world may see Jesus in us and come to know Him themselves.  We will also face persecution from those who hate Jesus, even today.  But we must be reminded that this world is not our home.  We must take heart in the words and promises of Jesus and always remember that He is still Lord over all.  Though His attoning work on the cross is finished, He is still drawing peole to Himself that they may know Salvation.  He does this work today through all who call Him Savior and Lord.  He’s given us His Holy Spirit that He may do the works of God through us, as we walk in His Light.  We are the light of the world, Jesus’ love shines through us as we abide in Him.  We must remember that God’s ways are not man’s ways – His thoughts are not our thoughts – that we may  trust in Him completely.  As long as Jesus’ church is in the world, His Light shines as the Light of day.  His work continues through His disciples today.  Soon His church will be taken out of this world, then judgment will begin on all who reject and hate Jesus.  May we be faithful to the end and bring glory to God through our testimony of His faithfulness.  May we serve Jesus faithfully and remember all His words and promises to us.  May we stay in close fellowship with Him and faithfully follow His leading in our lives . 

 

Heavenly Father;

Thank You for the wisdom You have shown that makes believing in Jesus so simple that even children can come to Him and receive Your free gift of salvation.  Thank You for showing us the humanity of those You chose to spread the Gospel message.  Thank You that You show us through Scripture that those who will trust in You and rely upon You, those who love You and follow Jesus will be used by You.  Thank You for the wisdom You’ve shown in sending Jesus, that no one can boast of their own efforts and good works to win favor with You or to earn their way in to Heaven.  We have no good works to offer You, in and of ourselves.  Even our understanding of You is skewed by our sin nature and our own  fleshly desires.  May we purify our hearts and minds by staying in Your word and in fellowship with You and other believers commited to You.  Thank You for Your mercy and grace.  You are so patient, kind and forgiving toward us.  May our hearts be true to You.  May our lives bring You glory as we shine for Jesus in this dark and dying world, among those who desperately needs You.   May we not fear death, nor the threats of those who seem to have power in this world, for You are in complete control over all.  You are Lord over all.  May we be about Your work and may we serve You in sincerity and purity of heart. 

May You do a mighty and great work in and through our fellowship.  Please lead and guide our pastors and leaders.  Please help them to discern Your will and protect them from distraction, deception, or anything that will draw them away from You.  Please strengthen them physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Thank You for their heart for You, for Your people, and for Your church.  May Your church truly love and worship You in Spirit and Truth by their example and through our prayers for them.  May we each have a testimony of Your faithfulness in our lives, that we may encourage and strengthen one another in faith and good works in Your church.  You are worthy of all praise, honor and glory! 

Please bless my brothers and sisters serving in Mexico right now.  Please give them wisdom to keep them from getting ill.  Please provide safe water and food for them.  Please help them to get the rest they need from all their hard work.  Please help them to see how they are connected to one another and to bless each other with loving thoughts, words and deeds.   Please bring them all home safely with a testimony of Your faithfulness and love which they are currently experiencing.  Please strengthen their faith in You through their steps of faith and sacrifices to serve on this short-termed mission’s trip to Vizcaino, Mexico, Baja Sur.   Thank You for all that’s getting accomplished by the hard work of so many coming from so far away.   May You be loved and adored for Your goodness toward us.  May the people in Vizcaino be blessed by the love of Jesus through each person who is serving You  working on the Missions Base construction site,  serving at Calvary Chapel, Vizcaino, helping the people through outreaches of sharing the Gospel, humanitarian aide, medical and dental clinics and all that’s done in Your name.  May You be glorified!  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Whose voice are you listening to?

John 10:1-21

“I assure you, anyone who sneaks over the wall of a sheepfold, rather than going through the gate, must surely be a thief and robber”

 

“For a shepherd enters through the gate.”

 

“The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice and come to him.  He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.” 

 

“After he has gathered his flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they recognize his voice.”

 

“They won’t follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don’t recognize his voice.”

 

Those who heard Jesus use this illustration didn’t understand what He meant, so He explained it to them.  “I assure you, I am the Gate for the sheep,”  He said.

 

“All others who came before Me were thieves and robbers.  But the true sheep did not listen to them.”

 

“Yes, I am the Gate.  Thos who come in and through Me will be saved.  Wherever they go, they will find green pastures.”

 

“The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy.  My purpose is to give life in all it’s fullness.”

 

“I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.”

 

“A hired hand will run when he sees a wolf coming.  He will leave the sheep because they aren’t his and he isn’t their shepherd.  And so the wolf attacks them and scatters the flock.”

 

“The hired hand runs away because he is merely hired and has no real concern for the sheep.”

 

“I am the Good Shepherd; I know My own sheep, and they know Me,”

 

“just as My Father knows Me and I know the Father.  And I lay down My life for the sheep.”

 

“I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold.   I must bring them also, and they will listen to My voice; and there will be one Flock with one Shepherd.”

 

“The Father loves Me because I lay down My life that I may have it back again.”

 

“No one can take My life from Me.  I lay down My life voluntarily.  For I have the right to lay it down when I want to and also the power to take it again.  For My Father has given Me this command.”

 

When He said these things, the people were divided in their opinions about Him.

 

Some of them said, “He has a demon, or He’s crazy.  Why listen to a man like that?”

 

Others said, “This doesn’t sound like a man possessed by a demon!  Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”

 

Because Jesus never sinned, death had no hold on Him.  No matter how badly He was beaten when He was nailed on the cross, He wouldn’t have died unless He gave up His own spirit.  He had the power to send legends of angels to His defense if He wanted to.  He had the power to disappear in the crowds so when others who hated Him wanted to arrest Him, they couldn’t – because it wasn’t His time.  Jesus did only what the Father sent Him to do.  It was planned before all creation for Jesus to come redeem mankind and to give His life for our sins.  The power and majesty of God is so far above anything we can imagine.  The people who didn’t know the Scriptures concerning the Messiah and in particular the passages in Psalms 22 that spoke of the suffering He would endure on the cross, also didn’t understand He was fulfilling prophesy concerning Himself.  Those who viewed Jesus through their own human understandings and limitations could not receive Him. They didn’t have faith and trust in God.  They weren’t looking for the Messiah, but a kingdom on this earth.  This world had become their home and they were looking for a king they could exalt and worship who would deliver them in a manner pleasing to their intellect and flesh.  They were looking for deliverance from their earthly enemies, not realizing that their greatest enemy was death and eternal separation for God is Heaven.

 

Heavenly Father;

Thank You for Your word that teaches us of Jesus, our Great Shepherd!  Thank You for Your magnificent love for us and for the power to live eternally with You in Heaven through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross for us.  Thank You for the blind eyes that Jesus has opened, those physically blind as well as those spiritually blind who love You and who love Jesus.  Thank You that You take such wonderful, tender care of us and refer to Your children as ‘sheep’ – so that we may have a visual of our deep, deep need for You and of Your deep, deep love and care for us.  Please work in our hearts and lives today that we may love You more, that we may listen to You with ears tuned in to Your voice and that we may follow You more closely.  As Your desire is to care for us, being closest to You is the very best place we can be.  Please help us to call out to You moment by moment in our heart of hearts that we may fellowship with You and be attentive to Your voice when You answer us.  Please help us to follow only You. There are many voices speaking for You,  but they are not all from You.  Please give us discernment to know Your voice, and especially when You whisper, that we may follow only no other voice or influence.  May You be glorified in our lives.  May we have Your peace which passes all understanding that we may shine Your light in this dark world and do that for which You’ve prepared for us to do.

 

Please help the team in Mexico this week.  Please strengthen our pastor and keep him healthy.  Please give him rest and deliver him from his migraines.  Please help each person there make time to get alone with You and spend time in Your word that they may be strengthened spiritually.  Please help the team to work together in unity and love.  Please guide them in their work.  Please give them safe food to eat and help them remember to keep their hands sanitized so that they may not have stomach problems.  Please bring safe water to the area where the missions base is being built.  Please touch the government’s heart to provide better provisions for the poor people in the work camps.  Please minister to the hearts of the people who live down there to hear the voice of their Great Shepherd calling their name that they may have life – abundant life today and eternal life to come.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Do we have compassion for those without Christ?

John 8:1-11

Jesus returned to the Mount of Olives,

 

but early the next morning He was back again at the Temple.  A crowd soon gathered, and He sat down and taught them.

 

As He was speaking, the teachers of religious law and Pharisees brought a woman they had caught in the act of adultery.  They put her in front of the crowd.

 

“Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the very act of adultery.”

 

“The law of Moses says to stone her.  What do You say?”

 

They were trying to trap Him into saying something they could use against Him, but Jesus stood down and wrote it the dust with His finger.

 

The kept demanding an answer, so He stood up again and said, “All right, stone her. But let those who have never sinned throw the first stone!” 

 

Then He stooped down again and wrote in the dust.

 

When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman.

 

Then Jesus stood up again and said to her, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?”

 

“No, Lord,” she said.  And Jesus said, “Neither do I.  Go and sin no more.”

 

Jesus offers us forgiveness and grace. We all have sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard (Romans 3:23).  The Religious leaders hated Jesus so much that they were blind to their own sin.  They were consumed with trying to kill Him.  Before they could legally arrest Him, they needed to have a reason.  Here they are trying to trap Him to justify their hatred of God’s only begotten Son.  The wisdom of Jesus turns their evil intent back upon them.  They all left and could not accuse this poor woman who was paraded around in front of everyone and exposed for her sin.  Jesus shows great compassion upon her and protects her from those who thought they should kill her. God has great power over all evil, over the schemes of the devil, and over all those whom the devil would use for his evil purposes.  Jesus confounds the Religious leaders and once again teaches all who want to hear and know Him how to have eternal life.  The compassion Jesus had upon this woman made a believer out of her.  She feared for her life and was publicly humiliated.  If they had caught her ‘in the very act of adultery’, it’s possible she was not even dressed.  Jesus bent down and wrote in the dirt.  He didn’t look upon the woman to shame or embarrass her any further.  Instead He came to her defense with great power and authority in all humility, wisdom and grace.  No one could find fault in Jesus.  He was completely without sin.  The woman called Jesus Lord, showing that she had become a believer by experiencing His compassion and forgiveness for her sin.  Jesus commanded her to repent, which is consistent with the very first message He preached, and is still the message to all, especially those in the church who may feel comfortable because they are in church and know something about God.  We all need to be very careful that we are abiding in Jesus and loving Him with all our heart.  May we love like Jesus loved – proving we are His disciples.

 

Heavenly Father;

Thank You for the grace, mercy and wisdom Jesus shows toward those who are caught in sin.  Thank You for the kindness and compassion He gives to all who come to him in humility and faith.  Thank You that even those who lack faith, but want to believe, Jesus patiently teaches and draws out more faith from them.  Please help us walk humbly with Jesus in faith, hope and love.  Please fill us with Your power and wisdom to serve You and share the hope of eternal life with those in the world who are hopeless lost in their sin.  Please change us from the inside out, that we may have the mind of Christ and the compassion He has for others who are in need of forgiveness, mercy and grace.

 

Please help our pastor to be protected from the wiles of the devil and those the devil would try to use to bring him down.  Please come to his defense and strengthen him in the power of Your Holy Spirit as he faces many spiritual battles.  Please renew him, strengthen him, and use him for Your purposes.  Please grant him wisdom and power to do Your will.  Please work in Your church through the power of Your Holy Spirit, so people will be changed and love Jesus.  We want Jesus to always be welcome in His church and be worshiped by those He redeemed in the power and love of Your Holy Spirit. Thank You for all You’ve done for us! In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Speaking the Truth without Fear

John 7:10-31

But after His brothers had left for the festival, Jesus also went, though secretly, staying out of public view. 

 

The Jewish leaders tried to find Him at the festival and kept asking if anyone had seen Him.

 

There was a lot of discussion about Him among the crowds.  Some said, “He’s a wonderful man,” while others said, “He’s nothing but a fraud, deceiving the people.”

 

But no one had the courage to speak favorably about Him in public, for they were afraid of getting in trouble with the Jewish leaders.

 

Then, midway through the festival, Jesus went up to the Temple and began to teach.

 

The Jewish leaders were surprised when they heard Him.  “How does He know so much when He hasn’t studied everything we’ve studied?”  they asked.

 

So Jesus told them, “I’m not teaching My own ideas, but those of God who sent Me.”

 

“Anyone who wants to do the will of God will know whether My teaching is from God or is merely My own.” 

 

“Those who present their own ideas are looking for praise for themselves, but those who seek to honor the One who sent them are good and genuine.” 

 

“None of you obeys the law of Moses!  In fact, you are trying to kill Me.”

 

The crowd replied, “You’re demon possessed!  Who’s trying to kill You?”

 

Jesus replied, “I worked on the Sabbath by healing a man, and you were offended.” 

 

“But you work on the Sabbath, too, when you obey Moses’ law of circumcision.  (Actually, this tradition of circumcision is older than the law of Moses; it goes back to Abraham.)”

 

“For if the correct time for circumcising your son falls on the Sabbath, you go ahead and do it, so as not to break the law of Moses.  So why should I be condemned for making a man completely well on the Sabbath?”

 

“Think this through and you will see that I am right.”

 

Some of the people who lived there in Jerusalem said among themselves, “Isn’t this the man they are trying to kill?” 

 

“But how could He be?  For we know where this Man comes from.  When the Messiah comes, He will simply appear; no one will know where He comes from.”

 

While Jesus was teaching in the Temple, He called out, “Yes, you know Me, and you know where I come from.  But I represent One you don’t know, and He is true.”

 

“I know Him because I have come from Him, and He sent Me to you.”

Then the leaders tried to arrest Him; but no one laid a hand on Him, because His time had not yet come.

 

Many among the crowds at the Temple believed in Him.  “After all,” they said, “would you expect the Messiah to do more miraculous signs than this Man has done?”

 

Jesus proved that He had no fear of the Religious leaders who were trying to kill Him because He accused them of sin and evil.  He went to the Festival of Shelters to witness for His Father and speak His words of truth to all who would listen.  Though He was among the crowd, He couldn’t be found by those who were seeking Him for evil purposes.  Half way through the festival, 3 ½ days later, Jesus went up to the Temple to teach for all to hear. He spoke openly to those who were offended by Him, offended by His words and offended by the miraculous works He did.  He exposed the evil intentions of the Religious leaders and spoke specifically about their intent to kill Him due to their own hypocritical reasoning, as they were guilty of the same thing they accuse Him of doing: breaking the Sabbath.  Instead of repenting, they hardened their hearts even more and accused Him of being demon possessed, showing they’d committed the unpardonable sin or blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. (Matt. 12:31-32; Lk.12:10; Heb. 6:4-6; 1 Jn. 5:16).

 

Once again the Religious leaders tried to arrest Jesus, but God didn’t allow it because Jesus’ time had not yet come. This wasn’t God’s will or timing for Jesus to be arrested at that time.  When Jesus’ time would come He would be unlawfully arrested by those who hated Him, have a mock trial and be falsely condemned, then chosen to take the place of the condemned criminal, Barabbas  to be crucified on cross.  Only it wasn’t a victory for the Religious leaders and those who hated Him in the spirit world as they had thought, but  victory over sin once for all.  This was always God’s plan of salvation for all mankind: to have Jesus pay for our sin with His innocent blood on the cross so all who believe in Him may have life.

 

This powerfully shows that no one took Jesus’ life from Him, He lovingly and willingly laid it down for us all (even those who hated Him), ‘for God so loved the world that He gave His only Begotten Son, that whoever would believe in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.’ (John 3:16)

 

This shows that God’s in control over everything in all creation and He continues to extend His hand of mercy and grace to all who will receive Him and believe in Jesus for His free offer of eternal life.

 

Heavenly Father;

Thank You that You think of us and You love us so much.  Thank You for Jesus!  Thank You that Jesus always did those things which pleased You.  Thank You that Jesus was not fearful of the accusations and plotting of those who hated Him.  Thank You for the wisdom He showed in how He lived before the unbelievers. Thank You that Jesus exposed the true motives of His enemies as He taught openly in the Temple where they would hear and be convicted of their sin and evil ways. Thank You that Jesus spoke the truth of who He is and why He’d come, to give opportunity for all to repent and receive Your mercy and grace.  Thank You that through the truth preached, none who opposed Jesus will be able to stand before You on judgment day and say You are unfair or unrighteous in any of the judgments You make against them.  Thank You for Your mercy and grace in Christ.  You are a wonderful, loving and kind Heavenly Father.  Thank You for Your gift of life in Christ.  May we hunger for more and more of Jesus and obey You more and more every day. 

 

Please help our pastors today with the challenges they face each Sunday to speak the truth to those in their fellowships and throughout the week in the community and in their counseling.  May we all speak the truth wherever we are.  Please grant our pastors wisdom to confront the lies and deceit of those who oppose You in their hypocrisy, giving them opportunity to repent and humble their hearts before You. May we all who call Jesus Lord walk humbly before You and in fellowship with Him. 

Thank You so much for this new day filled with Your mercy and grace and all of Your wonderful and abundant blessings! 

Please bring more and more people to hear Your Great News that gives hope and life through Your Gospel message.   May we be faithful to share this hope and Good News in the power of Your Holy Spirit with those who don’t yet know You.  In Jesus’ Name.  Amen.

Our Time In God’s Timing

John 7:1-9

“After this, Jesus stayed in Galilee, going from village to village.  He wanted to stay out of Judea where the Jewish leaders were plotting His death. 

 

But soon it was time for the Festival of Shelters,

 

and Jesus’ brothers urged Him to go to Judea for the celebration.  “Go where Your followers can see Your miracles!”  they scoffed.

 

“You can’t become a public figure if You hide like this!  If You can do such wonderful things, prove it to the world!”

 

For even His brothers didn’t believe in Him.

 

Jesus replied, “Now is not the time for Me to go.  But you can go anytime, and it will make no difference.”

 

“The world can’t hate you, but it does hate Me because I accuse it of sin and evil.”

 

“You go on, I am not yet ready to go to this festival, because My time has not yet come.”

 

So Jesus remained in Galilee.”

 

The Festival of Shelters is described in Leviticus 23:33-43.  This event occurred in October, about 6 months after the Passover celebration mentioned in John 6:2-5.  The festival commemorated the days when the Israelites wandered in the wilderness and lived in shelters. (Leviticus 23:43),  The festival was a feast that lasted for 7 days celebrating God’s protection and guidance in the wilderness. It was celebrated annually to renew Israel’s commitment to God and trust in His guidance and protection. [Life Application Study Bible notes]

 

This passage shows that Jesus had half-brothers and that they were not believers in God, nor in Him at this time. In this passage they mocked Him and openly ridiculed Him to His face.  Jesus showed them their sin of unbelief, which perhaps caused them to be even more resistant to Him, as Jesus said the world hated Him because He accused it of sin and evil.  People whom Jesus confronted either repented or hardened their hearts in unbelief.  There is no middle of the road with Jesus.  Sin can not go unnoticed, nor unpunished by a holy and just God. Yet God in His compassion and mercy sent Jesus to save us by paying for our sin on the cross.

 

These passages also show that Jesus’ mother was not always a virgin.  She and Joseph consummated their marriage after Jesus’ birth which resulted in them having children of their own.  This shows Mary’s humanity, though she was greatly honored for how God chose to use her.  God must get all the glory, not Mary, for the birth of Jesus.  Mary recognized her own need for a Savior, showing she herself knew she was not divine.

 

In Luke 1:46-48 “Mary responded, ‘Oh, how I praise the Lord.  How I rejoice in God my Savior.”  We must not worship or idolize Mary. We praise God as she did for the service God chose for her, giving all praise and honor to God our Father. 

 

Time was on Jesus’ side. He was in control over all that came His way. He was not moved by circumstances nor by the threat nor will of mankind, ‘because His time had not yet come.’ (John 2:4; 7:30; 8:20) 

 

Jesus knew His Father’s will and followed it faithfully, without sin or compromise. Jesus came from Heaven to earth to live amongst the people, identifying with them. He healed and helped those who were suffering and without hope.  He showed great compassion for the people and always pointed our their need for a Savior.  He showed them that He was the Savior sent from God, then proved it by going to the cross to pay for the sin of all mankind. 

 

 

This was God’s will for His only begotten Son.  His ‘time had come’ when He went to the cross. After Jesus agonized in prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, He said to His disciples, “…The time has come. I, the Son of Man, am betrayed into the hands of sinners.”  Mark 14:41b

 

Heavenly Father;

Thank You so much for the cross!  Thank You that Christ Jesus came from Heaven to earth to live amongst us to show that You are a compassionate and merciful God by paying for our sin, once for all!  Thank You, Heavenly Father for the life we are offered in Christ. 

 

Thank You that Jesus endured so much persecution and rejection, yet did not turn away from Your will, even when it was so hard for Him and He pleaded with You in the Garden of Gethsemane, praying with great drops of blood coming from his brow,  “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death.”  We will never know that kind of suffering and deep grief, yet You allowed Your precious and only begotten  Son to endure all of this and  more because You love us and want us to be with You.  There is nothing in this world worth more than knowing You and being forgiven of our sin.  You once walked in the Garden of Eden with Adam and had perfect, beautiful fellowship with him.  It’s so wonderful to know this fellowship and sweet communion with You through Christ.  Thank You!  Thank You for Your wonderful provision in our lives.  Thank You for hearing our prayers.

 

Please help our pastors as they serve You and are led by Your Holy Spirit to have Your abundant grace and favor in their lives.  Please help them hear clearly from You and to have Your wisdom and guidance in the decisions they need to make.  Please give them peace which passes all understanding as they follow Jesus.  Please strengthen their faith through the trials they face.  Please strengthen them physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually for all they are called to do to serve You and take care of Your precious children in their fellowship.  Please help them be equipped for the good work You’ve called them to do.  Please help those in their fellowships to also be equipped for the good work You’ve called them to do.  Please be glorified in Your church.  We love You, Lord Jesus.  You are so good to us, Heavenly Father!    Thank You!  In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

All Sufficient God

ALL SUFFICIENT GOD

O lord of grace,

The world is before me this day,

And I am weak and fearful,

But I look to thee for strength;

If I venture forth along I stumble and fall,

But on the Beloved’s arms I am firm as the eternal hills;

If left to the treachery of my heart I shall shame thy name.

But if enlightened, guided, upheld by Thy Spirit,

I shall bring Thee glory.

Be Thou my arm to support, my strength to stand,

and my light to see, my feet to run,

my shield to protect, my sword to repel.

To enrich me will not diminish Thy fullness;

All Thy loving kindness is in Thy Son.

I bring Him to Thee in the arms of faith,

I urge His saving name as the One who died for me.

I plead His blood to pay my debts of wrong,

accept His worthiness for my unworthiness,

His sinlessness for my transgressions,

His purity for my uncleanness,

His sincerity for my guile,

His truth for my deceits,

His meekness for my pride,

His constancy for my backslidings,

His love for my enmity,

His fullness for my emptiness,

His faithfulness for my treachery,

His obedience for my lawlessness,

His glory for my shame,

His holy life for my unchaste ways,

His righteousness for my dead works,

His death for my life.

Condemnation or Grace

John 5:16-30

So the Jewish leaders began harassing Jesus for breaking the Sabbath rules.

 

But Jesus replied, “My Father never stops working, so why should I?”

 

So the Jewish leaders tried all the more to kill Him. In addition to disobeying the Sabbath rules, He had spoken of God as His Father, thereby making Himself equal with God.

 

Jesus replied, “I assure you, the Son can do nothing by Himself. He does only what He sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does.”

 

“For the Father loves the Son and tells Him everything He is doing, and the Son will do far greater things than healing this man. You will be astonished at what He does.”

 

“He will even raise from the dead anyone He wants to, just as the Father does.”

 

“And the Father leaves all judgment to His Son,”

 

“so everyone will honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. But if you refuse to honor the Son, then you are certainly not honoring the Father who sent Him.”

 

“I assure you, those who listen to My message and believe in God who sent Me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death to life.”

 

“And I assure you that the time is coming, in fact it is here, when the dead will hear My voice – the voice of the Son of God. And those who listen will live.”

 

“The Father has life in Himself, and He has granted His Son to have life in Himself.”

 

“And He has given Him authority to judge all mankind because He is the Son of Man.”

 

“Don’t be so surprised! Indeed, the time is coming when all the dead in their graves will hear the voice of God’s Son,”

 

“and they will rise again. Those who have done good will rise to eternal life, and those who have continued in evil will rise to judgment.”

 

“But I do nothing without consulting the Father. I judge as I am told. And my judgment is absolutely just, because it is according to the will of God who sent Me; it is not merely My own.”

 

Here again, Jesus speaks boldly, clearly and directly to the Religious leaders who were supposed to be representing God, but who didn’t even recognize Jesus as being sent from God because of their own spiritual blindness and hardness of heart by their unbelief.

In their self righteousness they prided themselves in living according to their own worldly, man-made rules and regulations which were actually making them enemies of God.  (James 4:4)

Because they rejected Jesus, God’s only begotten Son Who was not only sent from Heaven, but perfectly reflected the Father and was in complete unity with Him, they were condemning themselves.

They knew they were under God’s judgment but rather than repent,  they hardened their hearts even further and hated Jesus all the more, plotting and planning to kill Him.

 Their own sin was being reflected back upon them in the face of Christ’s words against them, but in their spiritual blindness they were projecting their own guilt upon the only One who could save them; the only One who could open their eyes to God’s Truth and set free from their guilt and sin.

 Jesus always showed compassion upon the people, especially those who were caught in sin or who struggled with  hardship, pain and grief,  whether due to consequences of sin or not. Jesus told us He didn’t come to condemn people,  but to set them free. (John 3:17)

Heavenly Father;

Thank You that You’ve showed us more about Jesus and about Yourself in this passage.  You’ve showed us how You hate sin and strongly correct those who misrepresent You, as Jesus did with the Religious leaders.

Thank You that Your ways are not man’s ways.  Thank You that Jesus showed kindness, mercy and patience by confronting those who opposed Him; He gave them many opportunities to hear and to repent. 

Thank You that Your wisdom is not man’s wisdom.  Jesus answered all their questions and provided proof that He was sent from Heaven, but because they were spiritually blind, the Religious leaders they didn’t even see or understand. 

Thank You for Your word that speaks into our hearts of who Jesus is and the life we have in Him.  Please help us to hold onto Jesus in all humility of heart and mind. Please help us to guard our hearts to the Truth of God’s Word that we may not become like the Religious leaders who were proud in themselves apart from Christ, causing them to actually reject the very God they thought they were serving so faithfully.

 Please help our pastor today and strengthen him in Your word and in fellowship with You. Please help him to see clearly as he serves You today. Please give him rest and refresh his soul. Please give him grace and direct him according to Your plans for our fellowship.

Please speak through him and give him wisdom as he desires to strengthen the body of believers as You’ve called to him to do.

Please move in the hearts of his whole congregation that we may obey You.  May we live as though He were coming this very day.  May we be watching,  waiting, and faithful servants.

Please help those who are struggling in their walks with You to hear Your words and to be strengthened in faith through Your Holy Spirit.  Please be glorified in Your church and in each of our lives.  

Thank You for all You’ve done for us so that we may be called Your own dear children.

May our hearts be filled with love and gratitude to You for all You are.  You are so good!  Words can not express the wonder of who You are.  May we be faithful to You and have a faithful witness of You.

In Jesus’ Name – Amen.