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.

The seriousness of our commitment to Christ

John 11:45-57

Many of the people who were with Mary believed in Jesus when they saw this happen. [Jesus had just raised Lazarus from the dead.]

 

But some went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done.

 

Then the leading priests and Pharisees called the high council together to discuss the situation.  “What are we going to do?” they asked each other.  “This Man certainly performs many  miraculous signs.”

 

“If we leave Him alone, the whole nation will follow Him, and then the Roman army will come and destroy both our Temple and our nation.”

 

This prophecy that Jesus should die for the entire nation came from Caiaphas in his position as high priest.  He didn’t think of it himself; he was inspired to say it.

 

It was a prediction that Jesus’ death would be not for Israel only, but for the gathering together of all the children of God scattered around the world.

 

So from that time on the Jewish leaders began to plot Jesus’ death.

 

As a result, Jesus stopped His public ministry among the people and left Jerusalem.  He went to a place near the wilderness, to the village of Ephraim, and stayed there with His disciples.

 

It was now almost time for the celebration of Passover, and many people from the country arrived in Jerusalem several days early so they could go through the cleansing ceremony before the Passover began. 

 

They wanted to see Jesus, and as they talked in the Temple, they asked each other, “What do you think?  Will He come for the Passover?”

 

Meanwhile, the leading priests and Pharisees had publicly announced that anyone seeing Jesus must report Him immediately so they could arrest Him.

 

John regarded Caiaphas’ statement as a prophesy.  As high priest, Caiaphas was used by God to explain Jesus’ death even though Caiaphas didn’t realize what he was doing.  In Isaiah 49:6 God speaks prophetically of Jesus through the prophet Isaiah, “He says, ‘You will do more than restore the people of Israel to Me. I will make You a Light to the Gentiles, and You will bring My salvation to the ends of the earth.’” 

 

The spiritual blindness of the Pharisees was caused by their pride. Jesus just raised Lazarus from the dead.  They spoke of His miraculous signs which pointed to His Deity as the reason they must have Him put to death.  They knew He was doing the works of God, they knew He had not committed any sin, nor was there any reason for them to charge Him with a crime. Jesus was innocent. Jesus only exposed their hypocrisy and man-made traditions which kept people from coming to God. Again and again they tried to kill Him because Jesus revealed their sin. In their pride they could not imagine being wrong. Jesus gave them the opportunity to repent and humble themselves before God, but they just hardened their heart more and more until they could not repent. They came to the place where they’d committed the unpardonable sin. Jesus told the Pharisees previously in John 8:44-45, “For you are the children of your father the Devil, and you love to do the evil things he does.  He was a murderer from the beginning and has always hated the truth.  There is no truth in him.  When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies. So when I tell you the truth, you just naturally don’t believe Me!”

 

The Pharisees didn’t kill Jesus, God had planned to have Jesus come to earth from Heaven from the beginning of time. (Hebrews 1-3) Jesus’ death was prophesied about in Genesis 22:1-18 as God tells Abraham to take his only son, Isaac, whom he loves so much – and go to the mountain of Moriah and sacrifice him there. (Mt. Moriah was also where Jesus was crucified, thus fulfilling the prophesy about Himself as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29).  While they were traveling to Mt. Moriah, Isaac asked his father where was the lamb to be sacrificed.  Abraham answered, “God will provide Himself a Lamb” vs.8 –  Abraham continued to follow through in obedience to what God had asked of him, then God stopped him and said, “Abraham!  Abraham! Do not hurt the boy in any way, for now I know that you truly fear God. You have not withheld even your beloved son from Me.” Vs.11-12 – Abraham named the place, “The LORD Will Provide.” (in Hebrew: Yahweh Yir’eh or Jehovah Jirah) vs.14  God was testing Abraham’s faith.  Previously God had come to Abram when he was 99 years old and told him He would make a covenant with him and guaranteed to make him a father of many nations (Gen.17:1-8).   When Abraham was 100 years old, God fulfilled His promise.  Sarah was 90 years old when she gave birth to her husband Abraham’s baby, Isaac. (Gen. 21:1-6).   Now God would get all the glory. God was faithful to His promise.  He called Abraham righteous because He believed and obeyed Him.

 

Many of the people who were grieving with Mary over the death of her brother and were at Lazarus’ tomb, witnessed Jesus call him to come out of the tomb.  He came out with grave clothes on aftering being in a sealed tomb for 4 days. There was no doubt that Lazarus had been dead, and now was alive.  After seeing this, many believed that Jesus was who He said He was, the Messiah, the Son of God.  Their faith resulted in their salvation.  On the other hand, the Pharisees heard of Jesus’ miracles and knew that they were true, so in that sense they believed, but they were not saved because they didn’t receive Jesus, they hated Him all the more because they would not repent and believe with humble hearts of faith. 

We all have the same choice to make about Jesus today.  If we want to know Jesus and desire to learn more about Him, we will find Him.  We can receive Him with hearts of faith because He will reveal Himself to us.  But if some try to find fault with Jesus when they learn of Him,  they are like the Pharisees who chose to harden their hearts and reject Him.   God gives everyone the opportunity to receive Christ and to receive the salvation that is only offered through His blood shed on the cross for our sins.  Our decision begins in our heart.  We must pray for the Lord to help us to have hearts of humility and hearts of faith to believe in the Only Begotten Son of God who came to take away the sins of the whole world.  If anyone rejects Jesus, their sin remains upon them, so that when they die, the wrath of God’s judgment will send them to hell as eternal punishment for their sin. God said that He’s not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to salvation.  Each person chooses their own eternal destiny.  God is fair in all of His judgments.  He can’t just gloss over sin, it cost Him the life of His Only Begotten Son.  We can’t just gloss over sin, either.  We must reckon with our sin and recognize we can not save ourselves.  We need Jesus!

 

Heavenly Father;

Thank You for Your consistent and patient love toward us.  Thank You for Your plans and Your purposes which reveal that You are in control over all and You have always been in control.  Thank You that no one took Jesus’ life from Him, and no one could prove Him guilty of sin or any wrong doing. Thank You that Jesus was just in all of His ways.  He was perfect in His obedience to You.  Thank You for Your wisdom that gives everyone the opportunity to receive Jesus Christ and Your gift of salvation through His blood sacrificed on the cross for our sins.  Thank You that no one can boast of their own goodness before You, as when we see the works of Jesus which are recorded in Your word, the Bible, we are convicted of our sin and of our need to repent before a holy God.  Thank You for Your mercy and love which was extended to us while we were still Your enemies.  Thank You for Jesus’ obedience to Your will to come from Heaven to earth to live a perfect, sinless life then to go to the cross as ‘the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the whole world’.  Thank You for Your wonderful gift of salvation and the life we receive through Christ. 

 

Please help us to walk closely with You and to hear Your beautiful voice.  May our hearts be true to You during those times our faith is tested.  May You find us faithful to You.  Thank You that You never intend for the painful things we go through to hurt us, as we are Your children, but You do discipline and train us so that we may know You better and trust in You more fully.  Thank You for the wonderful opportunities You give us to share Your love and to testify of Jesus, who lives!  May Your harvest be plentiful and may lives be changed for Christ.  We love You, Lord Jesus.  Thank You for all You’ve given us! 

 

Please help our pastors to know You and to serve You faithfully.  Please help them hear from You clearly and to have Your wisdom as they face trials of all kinds.  May they have Your wisdom in their dealings with the people who come into Your church.  No doubt there are Pharisees today who have evil hearts and who secretly, or even openly, hate You but still come to church.   Please protect our pastors and all of Your precious children from those with evil intent in the church. Please help our leadership and protect them from the same self-deluded hypocrisy of the Pharisees. Please expose what is hidden in the darkness, that Your Light may be manifested for all to see.  Please help us to shine Your Light in this dark and dying world that those who are without hope may come to know that Jesus lives!  May those without Christ come to know how much God has done for them and may they see the seriousness of their decision for Christ.  May we all seek hard after Jesus while there is still the Light of Day.  In Jesus’ Name.  Amen.

Following Jesus

John 10:22-42

It was now winter, and Jesus was in Jerusalem at the time of Hanukkah. [Hanukkah commemorated the cleansing of the Temple under Judas Maccabeus in 164 B.C. after Antiochus Epiphanes had defiled it by sacrificing a pig on the altar of burnt offering.  The festival was celebrated toward the end of December.. – Life Application Bible notes.]

 

He was at the Temple, walking through the section known as Solomon’s Colonnade.

 

The Jewish leaders surrounded Him and asked, “How long are You going to keep us in suspense?  If You are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”

 

Jesus replied, “I have already told you, and you don’t believe Me.  The proof is what I do in the name of My Father.”

 

“But you don’t believe Me because you are not part of My flock.”

 

“My sheep recognize My voice; I know them, and they follow Me.”

 

“I give them eternal life, and they will never perish.  No one will snatch them away from Me,”

 

“for My Father has given them to Me, and He is more powerful than anyone else.  So no one can take them from Me.”

 

“The Father and I are one.”

 

Once again the Jewish leaders picked up stones to kill Him.

 

Jesus said, “At My Father’s direction I have done many things to help the people.  For which one of these good deeds are you killing Me?”

 

They replied, “Not for any good work, but for blasphemy, because You, a  mere Man, have made Yourself God.”

 

Jesus replied, “It is written in your own law that God said to certain leaders of the people, ‘I say, you are gods!’”

 

“And you know that the Scriptures cannot be altered.  So if those people, who received God’s message, were called ‘gods,’”

 

“why do you call it blasphemy when the Holy One who was sent into the world by the Father says, ‘I am the Son of God’?”

 

“Don’t believe Me unless I carry out My Father’s work.”

 

“But if I do His work, believe in what I have done, even if you don’t believe Me.  Then you will realize that the Father is in Me, and I am in the Father.”

 

Once again they tried to arrest Him, but He got away and left them. 

 

He went beyond the Jordan River to stay near the place where John was first baptizing.

 

And many followed Him.  “John didn’t do miracles,” they remarked to one another, “but all his predictions about this Man have come true.”

 

And many believed in Him there.

 

Imagine walking with Jesus and listening to Him teach!  How wonderful to see Jesus face to face and to hear His words.  Today through the power of the Holy Spirit we are moved in our spirits through God’s word.  We see that Jesus is alive!  We know through faith in Christ that He lives; our hearts are changed.  Those who chose not to believe see through their own blinded human perspective, and therefore miss the greatest opportunity to know God and to know forgiveness of sins.  Under the Covenant given to Moses, the ten commandments showed people their sin.  God provided for them to make sacrifices on the altar in the Temple to ‘cover’ their sins.  Today we are covered by the blood of the Lamb of God, who takes away our sin – once for all – through faith in Jesus.  This was always God’s plan, yet the Jewish leaders missed it because they didn’t believe in Jesus.  Some Jews did believe, but those who lorded their position over the people were proud and arrogant in themselves, and consequently, would not believe.  If they would have humbled themselves and listened to Jesus’ words and considered the miraculous works He did to help the people, their eyes would have been opened and they would have received new revelation of Christ, who stood in their midst and taught in their Temple – their questions would have been answered and they would have bowed themselves at Jesus’ feet and served Him gladly.  Their hearts were only hardened more and more each time they listened to Jesus and rejected Him.  They were determined to kill Him.  They would not be persuaded by His innocence, nor by His truthful answers to their questions.  They were blinded by the Truth because the father of lies, the devil, was their master and directed their thoughts and actions.  But the innocent, the humble, the common people, and even the children listened to Jesus and followed Him.  They believed and received God’s mercy and grace.  Those who hardened their hearts in unbelief received God’s judgment.

 

Heavenly Father;

Thank You for being so patient and kind to us. Thank You for answering the questions we ponder in our heart.  Thank You that You give everyone the opportunity to believe in You and show Yourself powerful in their lives. Thank You that You hear our prayers and meet our deepest needs through the power of Your Holy Spirit Who is actively working in this dark, and dying world.  Thank You that You are working though Your people who are listening to Your voice and following Jesus today. Thank You for Your Omniscience and Omnipotence in our lives today.  Thank You for the new life You’ve given us in Christ.  Thank You for the power to resist temptation and to resist sin, that we may be pleasing to You and a light to this world.  Thank You that through faith in Christ we have a new relationship with You and have been given Your Holy Spirit with Your promise to come again for us and to never leave us, nor forsake us.  Please use our lives for Your glory.  Please help us to walk closely with Jesus and to be strong in our faith in Him.  Please deliver us from anything that will cause us to sin and keep us in bondage.  Thank You for the freedom You’ve given us in Christ.

 

Please help our pastors and the team in Mexico right now. Please give them Your peace and love for one another and for the people down there.  Please do a might work the hearts and lives of each person who stepped out in faith to serve with the team down there.  Thank You for the help each church is contributing to build the missions base.  Thank You for all the provisions and materials You’ve provided and for all the workers and the skills You’ve given them.  Please keep them healthy and give them rest.  Please keep them safe on the dangerous highway they need to travel on as they are coming and going.  Please keep the drivers alert.  Please give them some down time to relax and unwind and to enjoy the beautiful surroundings down there before they come home.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Serving God While There Is Still Time

John 9:1-12

As Jesus was walking along, He saw a man who had been blind from birth. 

 

“Teacher,” His disciples asked Him, “why was this man born blind?  Was it a result of his own sins or those of his parents?”

 

“It was not because of his sins or his parent’s sins,” Jesus answered.  “He was born blind so the power of God could be seen in him.”

 

“All of us must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the One who sent Me, because there is little time left before the night falls and all work comes to an end.”

 

“But while I am still here in the world, I am the light of the world.”

 

Then He spit on the ground, made mud with the saliva, and smoothed the mud over the blind man’s eyes.

 

He told him, “Go and wash in the pool of Siloam” (Siloam means Sent). So the man went and washed, and came back seeing!

 

His neighbor and others who knew him as a blind beggar asked each other, “Is this the same man – that beggar?”

 

Some said he was, and others said, “No, but he surely looks like him!”  And the beggar kept saying, “I am the same man!”

 

They asked, “Who healed you?  What happened?”

 

He told them, “The Man they call Jesus made mud and smoothed it over my eyes and told me, ‘Go to the pool of Siloam and wash off the mud.’  I went and washed, and now I can see!”

 

“Where is He now?” they asked.  “I don’t know,” he replied.

 

Jesus performed this miraculous healing for the glory of God, thus shining His light for all to see that He was from God, He was Deity in the flesh. His disciples saw the blind man and questioned Jesus about his blindness, thinking it was caused either by his sin or that of his parents.  Jesus assured them that neither  was the case. He proceeded to heal the beggar’s eyesight in a most peculiar way.  Jesus then fulfilled His own prophetic statement, “He was born blind so the power of God could be seen in him.”  How exciting it was for those who followed Jesus to see the miraculous works of God which Jesus performed to help the needy and suffering.  No doubt the disciple’s faith in Jesus was strengthened for they would need to be sure, beyond a shadow of a doubt who He was, to fulfill the call God had placed upon their lives after Jesus died on the cross and was resurrected from the dead. Jesus taught His disciples by His example of obedience to His Heavenly Father.  His disciples learned that not all illnesses, diseases, and disabilities were caused by sin, though some are, as seen in these passages from John 5:5-9,13-15 – [after Jesus healed the lame man who had an infirmity for 38 years, He told him, “See, you have been made well.  Sin no more, least a worse thing come upon you.”]  Showing that some infirmities are the result of sin.

 

 

After healing the blind beggar, the people who’d known him couldn’t believe it was the same man, even though he insisted he was that blind beggar.  Jesus kept a low profile when ministering to the people for the Religious leaders who hated Jesus also tried to persecuted and intimidate those whom He healed and helped.  Jesus had so much compassion and care for the people who are in need.  His love and obedience to His Heavenly Father would ultimately take Him to the cross for all mankind, even those who rejected and hated Him, such is the love of God – for mankind’s greatest need is the forgiveness of our sin Rom. 5:8: “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

 

As Jesus’ disciples, we have a call upon our lives – the work God has for us to do.  Jesus tells us here to make it a priority to serve Him, as time we have is short.  vs.4 Jesus said to His disciples, ”All of us must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the One who sent Me, because there is little time left before the night falls and all work comes to an end.”  In John 4:35 Jesus said to His disciples, “Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’?  Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!’  And again in Matt. 9:37-38, Jesus said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few.  Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”

 

Heavenly Father;

Thank You for the life of Christ and Your Word which teaches us of the miraculous healings and signs He did while walking on this earth.  Thank You that Jesus showed so much compassion for the people in need who were  suffering. Thank You that He shined His light in the darkness of this world to testify of You, that He was sent by You as our Messiah. Thank You for our salvation in Christ. Thank You for showing Your love for us by sending Jesus to the cross for our sin.  Thank You for all this means, both in this life and for all eternity with You.  May You be glorified in our hearts and in our lives. 

 

Please bless our pastor with grace and health as he and the team plan to leave for Mexico tomorrow.  Please help them to develop loving relationships and to have humble hearts of compassion toward one another as they work side by side and spend much time in close quarters with each other.  Please keep them safe on the road and in their work. Please provide safe food for them to eat and keep them from getting ill.  Please give them grace at the border that they may be able to get through without a long wait or obstacles that could detain them.  Thank You for this opportunity to help the people in Vizcaino and the surrounding communities.  Please bring more and more people to know You and to grow in their love for Jesus.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Sin blinds our view of Jesus

John 8:48-59

The people retorted, “You Samaritan devil!  Didn’t we say all along that You were possessed by a devil?”

 

“No,” Jesus said, “ I have no demon in Me. For I honor My Father – and you dishonor Me.”

 

“And though I have no wish to glorify Myself, God wants to glorify Me.  Let Him be the judge.”

 

“I assure you, anyone who obeys My teaching will never die!”

 

The people said, “Now we know You are possessed by a demon.  Even Abraham and the prophets died, but You say that those who obey Your teaching will never die!”

 

“Are You greater than our father Abraham, who died?”  Are You greater than the prophets, who died?  Who do You think You are?”

 

Jesus answered, “If I am merely boasting about Myself, it doesn’t count.  But it is My Father who says these glorious things about Me.  You say, ‘He is our God,’”

 

“but you do not even know Him.  I know Him.  If I said otherwise, I would be as great a liar as you!  But it is true – I know Him and obey Him.”

 

“Your ancestor Abraham rejoiced as He looked forward to My coming.  He saw it and was glad.”

 

The people said, “You aren’t even fifty years old.  How can You say You have seen Abraham?”

 

Jesus answered, “The truth is, I existed before Abraham was even born!”

 

At that point they picked up stones to kill Him.  But Jesus hid Himself from them and left the Temple.

 

Sin  blinds people from the truth.  Jesus spoke plainly and honestly about Himself as the Father had directed Him.  His Heavenly Father was His witness.  No one is greater that He.  When Jesus pointed out that the blind Religious leaders were of their father the Devil, rather than humble themselves and repent of their pride of self-righteousness, they saw their own sin in the one Who never sinned.  They accused Jesus of being possessed by a demon Himself.  The continued hatred that these Religious leaders had toward Jesus shows that they are committing the unpardonable sin. This is the end result of their rejection of Jesus: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in Heaven.  Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’  And I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’”  Matthew 7:21-23

 

Jesus is always in control of what goes on.  No one can force Him to do anything outside of God’s will.  Though He was in the Temple and standing up in front of the people preaching about the Kingdom of God and His Deity, those who hated Him and wanted to kill Him couldn’t touch Him – not until it was ‘His time’ to go to the cross according to God’s plan for Him, as Jesus willing obeyed His Heavenly Father, even unto death.  Until then, Jesus hid Himself in the crowd.  Jesus can make seeing eyes blind as well as He can make blind eyes see. 

 

The hold of the power of sin on those rejecting Jesus made them wise and self-righteous in their own blinded eyes.  We all can fall into the temptation to hypocrisy – as Peter did in Galatians 2:11-12 – but Paul withstood him to his face – Jesus always resisted the proud to their face.

 

James 4:6-12 says, “But God gives more grace, Therefore He says: ’God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’[Prov.3:34]. Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.  Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.  Cleanse your hands, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep!  Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.  Do not speak evil of one another, brethren.  He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law.  But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge.  There is One Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge another.”

 

Heavenly Father;

How wonderful You are to consider us and to send Jesus to pay for our sin on the cross.  How kind and gracious and loving is this mighty and powerful sacrifice and undeserved mercy shown toward us. Thank You for the cross, Lord Jesus.  Thank You for Your obedience to Your Heavenly Father.  Thank You for Your powerful example as You walked on this earth and spoke openly and plainly about this salvation offered through Christ alone.  You are good in all Your ways.  Jesus, You’re the perfect expression of Your Heavenly Father. 

Heavnely Father, thank You for calling us to be Your children, Your disciples, Your inheritance.  May our lives reflect Jesus and may Your love fill our hearts and lives to overflowing that others may see You in us and desire to come to know and walk with You, Lord Jesus.  May we be faithful to obey You and so prove ourselves Jesus’ disciples.

 

Please help and strengthen our pastor as he prepares to go to Mexico with a team of workers.  May You be glorified in this trip. Please pave the way for him and all who are going with him.  Please help each person on this missions trip to have fervent love for You and one another.  May Your joy fill their hearts with songs of rejoicing and praise. 

 

You are a wonderful, loving God and we are grateful for all You’ve done for us in Christ Jesus.  Please help Your church to grow in love for You and to express that love with songs of worship and praise all throughout the days You give to us, so that when we come together on Sunday morning, Thursday night, or whenever we meet, our worship will be an overflow of our life and walk with Jesus, and nothing less. 

 

We love You, Lord Jesus –  We love You, Heavenly Father – We love You, Holy Spirit.  Be glorified in and through us.  May Your church honor and love You and obey You.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

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.

Jesus Prays For Us

JESUS PRAYS FOR HIMSELF – John 17:1-5

“. . .  Jesus looked toward Heaven and prayed:

“Father, the time has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son may glorify You.   For You granted Him authority over all people that He might give eternal life to all those You have given Him. 

Now this is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, Whom You have sent. 

 

I have brought You glory on earth by completing the work You gave Me to do.  And now, Father, glorify Me in Your presence with the glory I had with You before the world began.”

 

 JESUS PRAYS FOR HIS DISCIPLES – John 17:6-19

“I have revealed You to those whom You gave Me out of the world.  They were Yours; You gave them to Me and they have obeyed Your word. 

Now they know that everything You have given Me comes from You.  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.

I pray for them.  I am not praying for the world, but for those You have given me, for they are Yours.  

All I have is Yours, and all You have is mine.  And glory has come to Me through them. 

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 Your name – the name You gave Me – so that they may be one as we are one.  While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name You gave Me.  None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled. 

 

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. 

I have given them Your Word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more any more than I am of the world. 

 

My prayer is not that You take them out of the world but that You protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 

 

Sanctify them by the truth: Your word is truth.  As You sent Me into the world, I have sent them into the world.  For them I sanctify Myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.”

 

 

 JESUS PRAYS FOR ALL BELIEVERS –  John 17:20-26

“My prayer is not for them alone.  I pray also for those who will believe in Me through their message, 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.  I have given them the glory that You gave Me, that they may be one as We are one.  I in them and You in Me. 

 

May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that You sent Me and have loved them even as You have loved Me.

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.

 

Righteous Father, though the world does not know You, I know You, and they know that You have sent Me.  I have made You known to them, and will contine 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.”

 

 

TODAY’S PRAYER FOR MY PASTOR

Heavenly Father; 

Thank You for sending Jesus to redeem us and to give us life that we may know You and be with You.

 

Thank You that in Christ we are sanctified and that this is a work done through the power of Your Holy Spirit. 

 

Thank You Heavenly Father, for the family in Christ that You’ve ordained and for the calling of each believer to be united in Christ and to be connected through the Holy Spirit to one another in love. 

Please guide and protect our pastor and give him wisdom for that which You have for him today. 

Thank You that You know all the things that are in his heart, and on his mind and going on in his life – even better than he does. 

Thank You that we can come boldly to Your throne of grace to find mercy and grace in our time of need.

May he be led by Your Holy Spirit today and may his faith in You be strengthened. 

Please meet with him in the quietness of his heart and speak to him through his time of prayer with You;  As fellowship between friends is so sweet and uplifting, please meet with him in this way and strengthen by reminding him that You are with him and You will help him. 

Please bless our pastor with health and grace to meet all that’s before him today. 

Thank You for all You’re doing in and through each of us.  May You be glorified in our fellowship and may Your love be seen in each believer as we grow in our love for You and in obedience to Your word.

Please help us to be faithful witnesses for your so that the world will know that we are Your disciples.

In Jesus’ name.  Amen.