The Love of Christ Compels...

The Love of Christ Compels....

Saturday, July 27, 2013

Scriptures: John 20:11-17; II Corinthians 5:13-15; James 3:1

Does the love of Christ compel us? Is that love the motivating factor in our lives?

An example of Jesus' love is found in the gospel of John.   Jesus had just risen from the dead.  Mary Magdalene was standing outside of the tomb of Christ weeping, still in grief from her Lord's death.  She thought that someone had taken Jesus' body.  She didn't yet realize that Jesus was risen from the dead. When she first saw Jesus standing there in front of her, she didn't recognize Him.

Too caught up in her grief, focused on the situation and not really focused on Christ.

Jesus asks her whom she is seeking. She asks her Lord where the body of her Lord is.

Jesus simply calls her in love by name....”Mary”.

I can hear the concern and love in His voice for her as He calls her name.  As His voice breaks through her grief, she turns to Him and says “Rabboni!”.

Several translations of the bible use an exclamation point at the end of her statement, indicating excitement and fervor.

In various versions of the bible the word “Rabboni” seems to be translated in two ways.

1. Teacher
2. Master

Master combined with the exclamation point, shows Mary's joyful, exuberant and willful surrender to her master, Jesus.

There is no better person to surrender yourself to. His love is a perfect love. No one else can understand grief and loss better than our Lord.

The grief and loss that our Lord felt when the first human beings (Adam and Eve) sinned drove Him to the cross to pay for our sins and buy us back with His blood.

That's what the compelling love of Christ is.

In Christ our Lord,

Don 

What makes you a follower of Christ

For you my brothers and sister consider yourselves to be children of God please take note of this story

 Pastor Jeremiah Steepek (pictured below) transformed himself into a homeless person and went to the 10,000 member church that he was to be introduced as the head pastor at that morning. He walked around his soon to be church for 30 minutes while it was filling with people for service....only 3 people out of the 7-10,000 people said hello to him. He asked people for change to buy food....NO ONE in the church gave him change. He went into the sanctuary to sit down in the front of the church and was asked by the ushers if he would please sit n the back. He greeted people to be greeted back with stares and dirty looks, with people looking down on him and judging him.

 As he sat in the back of the church, he listened to the church announcements and such. When all that was done, the elders went up and were excited to introduce the new pastor of the church to the congregation........"We would like to introduce to you Pastor Jeremiah Steepek"....The congregation looked around clapping with joy and anticipation.....The homeless man sitting in the back stood up.....and started walking down the aisle.....the clapping stopped with ALL eyes on him....he walked up the altar and took the microphone from the elders (who were in on this) and paused for a moment....then he recited

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

After he recited this, he looked towards the congregation and told them all what he had experienced that morning...many began to cry and many heads were bowed in shame.... he then said....Today I see a gathering of people......not a church of Jesus Christ. The world has enough people, but not enough disciples...when will YOU decide to become disciples? He then dismissed service until next week.......Being a Christian is more than something you claim. It's something you live by and share with others.
Pastor Jeremiah Steepek (pictured below) transformed himself into a homeless person and went to the 10,000 member church that he was to be introduced as the hea...d pastor at that morning. He walked around his soon to be church for 30 minutes while it was filling with people for service....only 3 people out of the 7-10,000 people said hello to him. He asked people for change to buy food....NO ONE in the church gave him change. He went into the sanctuary to sit down in the front of the church and was asked by the ushers if he would please sit n the back. He greeted people to be greeted back with stares and dirty looks, with people looking down on him and judging him.

As he sat in the back of the church, he listened to the church announcements and such. When all that was done, the elders went up and were excited to introduce the new pastor of the church to the congregation........"We would like to introduce to you Pastor Jeremiah Steepek"....The congregation looked around clapping with joy and anticipation.....The homeless man sitting in the back stood up.....and started walking down the aisle.....the clapping stopped with ALL eyes on him....he walked up the altar and took the microphone from the elders (who were in on this) and paused for a moment....then he recited

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

After he recited this, he looked towards the congregation and told them all what he had experienced that morning...many began to cry and many heads were bowed in shame.... he then said....Today I see a gathering of people......not a church of Jesus Christ. The world has enough people, but not enough disciples...when will YOU decide to become disciples? He then dismissed service until next week.......Being a Christian is more than something you claim. It's something you live by and share with others.

We as Godly women seem to have forgotten the secret of being satisfied, content, that inner sufficiency that can only be found through a solid foundation in your relationship with God.
Life has taught us through the media what it is that we need to be happy. We're constantly bombarded with advertisements that tell us what brands are acceptable. If you're single your told that marriage will complete you. If your married being single would be the best thing because no one can make you happy but yourself. If you live in a rental or a condo you will be happier in a house with more space and a back yard, but once anyone acquires these things make the changes, buy the things will you truly be happy,will you be satisfied, will you have real contentment?

Philipians 4:11
I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstance.

Philipians 4:12
I know what it is to be in need ,and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.

Philipians 4:13
I can do all things who gives me strength.

Truly how do you think Paul was able to endure the innumerable hardships he suffered?
He figured out the secret and put it in motion throughout his life time.

The secret, as I have already mentioned is simply finding contentment in your personal relationship with God. Trusting that He will keep His promises to each and everyone of us as it is written in His word, because when put into action, we can find fulfillment in the joy and emotional stability that will get us through anything in life. We become free and can fully participate in the situations we face at any given point in our lives.

2 corinthians 9:8
And God is able to make every grace overflow to you, so that in every way, always having everything you need, you may excel in every good work.

So in closing, I challenge you to look at your life situation and weed out those things that causing you to feel incomplete, substandard, unhappy, uncontrolled, unfulfilled, dissatisfied, and cast them into the sea of forgetfulness and trust in you Lord and savior to take care of those things you truly have no control over and take in His joy and peace so you can get through those situations in your life you are facing or will be facing.

John Mark...A Character Study

John Mark...A Character Study

Saturday, July 20, 2013

Scriptures: Acts 13:13, Acts 15:36-39, II Timothy 4:11, Colossians 4:10-11

John Mark (referred the majority of the time in the bible as Mark) was a cousin of Barnabas.

Apparently, he was a young believer. His first missionary journey was with Paul and Barnabas to Perga, a port town in Pamphylia which was located in the Northern Mediterranean Sea, North of Cyprus. Scripture (Acts) tells us that Mark left Paul and Barnabas and returned to Jerusalem. It does not say why Mark left. Evidently, the pressures of missionary life were too much for young Mark.

Later, when Paul and Barnabas were preparing to go on another missionary journey, Barnabas wanted to take Mark, but Paul didn't. Paul felt that since Mark left them in Perga, he wasn't dependable and just didn't have what it took to be a missionary with Paul and Barnabas. But Barnabas wanted Mark to go with them. So, Paul and Barnabas split up. Paul took Silas and Barnabas took Mark.

Now scripture doesn't tell us much about what happened with Barnabas and Mark. Did Barnabas take Mark “under his wing” and really begin to disciple him? Barnabas is known in the bible as a person who had the gift of encouragement. We can speculate about what happened, but God's word doesn't say much.

What we do know is that years later, Paul asked for Mark by name and said that he (Mark) was helpful to him (II Timothy 4:11).

Later, in the book of Philemon, Paul includes Mark as one of his fellow co-workers! What a change! What a compliment from Paul!

Also of note....History tells us that this same Mark (with Paul) wrote the Gospel of Mark!

So, before you are ready to “kick that person to the curb”, you might want to seek God on it first. You can't see what God is doing in the person's heart...only our Lord sees the heart.

John Mark.....A testament to the changing power of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

In Christ our Lord,

Don 

The IF(s) of the Bible pt2

On our last installment, we explored the differences between man's perception and God perception.
  
King David in the Old Testament ask God "to search me and try me and see if there's any wicked way within me". So as modern day Christian believers in Jesus Christ, we should as well have a heart like King David's.
  Let's explore your relationship with Christ. how often do you pray, how often do you read the Bible, how often do you serve with the church? Or have you even have a relationship with Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior? Too this last question if you are unsure this series will be completely pointless to you.
  Prayer: how do you expect to have a relationship with a friend, lover let alone God if you don't simply talk to them? Look in the Psalms God describes himself as a lover of your soul. As your friend, as your comforter. and then you can look and the revelation of John where he refers to us is the bridegroom of Christ. prayer, is nothing much less than simple conversation, communication between us and God.
  If you find yourself to be one with the a problem with praying. Find a private place such as you Drive to work, in the shower ect. and pray out loud to God have a conversation as if your having a conversation with a friend.

To be or not to be content

When I was "volentold" to write the Sunday devotional, I wasn't particularly happy because I'm not one to write for public consumption. So I prayed and pondered upon what I should write and I also consulted with my dear husband who has the gift of words both written and spoken.  Then I was reminded about a book that my dear  sister Kathy and I are reading "The Resolution for Women".

The following isn't just for women because it can be applied to the male persuation also. So with that the question becomes "are you content or are you looking towards the next thing coming? That new this or better that or change because you're not happy? The bible tells us "Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment." 1Timothy 6:6. In the book I'm reading it speaks about how we are always looking to the next something. The next career move, the better car, getting married, having children, getting the children out of the house, but we don't seem to take the time to enjoy that college graduation, the engagement, the marriage, the little things in life really. "Not that I am speaking of being in need . For I have learned that in whatever situation I am content." Phil. 4:11. " Keep your life free from love of money and be content with what you have, for he has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." Hebrews 13:5. The word of the Lord is clear, yet we fail to listen because even in the study of the word, we're looking to what's coming next not taking the time to really listen and take in the Word, not allowing it to reveal itself to us we just don't seem to have the time. We don't want to slow down and be content with what the Lord has to say in His Word nor what He wants to show us through our daily lives. We seem to think that we can do it all ourselves even though we can't se where God is trying to lead us.
As a woman trying to be a Godly wife, mother and individual, I can truly say I fall short daily, but I do try daily to remind myself that my God is in control, He knows the why of all that is going on in my life and though I can't trust anyone else I can trust Him to make me the Godly wife I need to be for my husband. A Humble wife who holds her husband only second to the Lord without trying to be an overbearing nagging wife that feels she needs to control everything because the husband can't be trusted to execute the role God created him to have in his household. So I trust God and endeavor to be content in my life situation to learn from it and grow my faith within it. To enjoy the happy moments, and have faith and look to God in those times of trouble.
So what are you going to do, take the time and be content where you are, seeking the Lord for guidance or are you going to do what most do, take the situation on by your own strength and carry the burden God never intended you to carry?

The "IF(s)" of the Bible

You may ask me; What do you mean "if?" Having been in "Church" for most of my life I've hear what I believe as misassumption in the Body. The Main one I want to hit on is:

                                        If our God is for us whom/what can stop us?

Many Christians  assume the "just" because we go to church or feed homeless or attend a mid-week bible study, that "I'm good". When doing these things can help "earn favor" but, its not by work that we receive our Salvation(Eph 2:8-9).  We can look at the book of Job and see a outstanding man of God who went though pain, suffering and lost just about everything in his life. But he was a man whom you would have thought that, "out of anybody God would have been for Job".
   Or we can look at John the Baptist(John 3), who lived in the desert and mocked by the religious leaders. This guy eat bugs and wear camel hair. By todays standers he'd be the stinky, homeless and even possibly crazy guy on corner shouting "THE END IS NEAR!!" When John's cousin(Jesus) came to be baptized, there by proclaiming that "I'm behind this man and the ministry and what he is doing". And Christ did not get Baptized or hold a big "Revival" at the Temple or tell the religious Leaders, "that you guy's are doing a great job". He called them a lot of mean things and cursed there ministry(Matt 3:7, Matt 23:27).
   We have these big churches and big pastors, like Joel Olstean or T.B. Jakes or the Crystal Cathedral or even Verdict city. Should we just assume that because they're big and flashy or have a big following that these people or places have favor from God? and He will fulfill all His promises that we find in the Bible?  Now lets bring this back down to us, if our God is for us then what can stop us? If Job was a Good man even a righteous man. Why would God allow or put him though that? Or John, a Homeless Bum that preached in the boonie's, Jesus, Son of God said this is a man I can support.
  King David I believed had the best answers of all "Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts. And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting"(Ps. 139:23-34).

Letting the Word of God speak

Letting the Word of God speak for itself....

Saturday, July 13, 2013

Scriptures: II Timothy 3:16-17; Hebrews 4:12; John 3:29-31

Over the years, I have been blessed to sit and be taught by some very gifted teachers in the Body of Christ. Through their being led by the Holy Spirit, they have done research on the background of the scriptures that they were teaching on. The history of the culture of the time that the scripture was referring to. The depth and significance of the teaching has been great.  I am and continue to be thankful to God and to the gifted teachers for this.

But something that I believe we all need to minimize is our opinions when teaching God's word. The opinions are going to be there and they will come out as we are teaching. But as teachers, we need to actively seek our Lord, and be filled with His Spirit. We also need to continually read His word and have our minds filled with it. Then, more of His word will be taught and less of our human opinions. Hebrews 4:12 says that the Word of God is living and active. That it IS sharper than a double edged sword. That it IS able to divide between soul and spirit. It judges the thoughts and attitudes of our heart. It lays us open to our Lord. It can cut deep into where we really are...where we live...the “real us”! When scripture does this, our Lord can work real change in our lives. I DO NOT believe that scripture mentions our opinions being able to do that. Hmm....something to think about....

In II Timothy 3:16-17, we read that ALL scripture is given by inspiration of God. It is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction. It can instruct us in righteousness. The word of God is able to make us complete, and equip us for every good work that our Lord wants to accomplish through us.

So...what should we do? I think that it is time to let God's word speak for itself. In the book of John, we read a quote from a man that our Lord calls the “greatest of the old testament prophets”, John the Baptist. That He (Jesus) must increase, but that he (John) must decrease. Maybe one of the practical ways to apply this, is to allow the word of God to be the Word of God and minimize injecting our opinions when we teach. In other words....Let the Word of God speak for itself! Hmm....

Lord, may we decrease that You would increase in our lives. We offer ourselves to You, to Your Holy Spirit. Use us for the glory of You and Your kingdom we pray.

In Christ our Lord,

Don