Mark 13:20
“If the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would survive. But for the sake of the elect, whom he has chosen, he has shortened them.
Mark 13:22
For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.
Mark 13:27
And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens.
2 Timothy 2:10
Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.
Titus 1:1
Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ to further the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness—
Romans 11:5
So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace.
Revelation 17:14
They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.”
Colossians 3:12
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
The message of this week’s lesson is not how bad it will be before Jesus returns, but that Jesus will return. In this interlude, Jesus is again addressing his disciples about the things that must transpire before He returns. Interestingly, at this time we can divide the disciples into three groups: One who forsakes Jesus and His message (Judas), the rest who all will eventually be martyred for the sake of the Gospel and John, the Beloved, who will live until his death in exile on the isle of Patmos. From then until now, these three groups have remained in Christendom, some grow weary of waiting and return to the cares and concerns of the world. Many have died as martyrs, even to this present day. And still more have lived their entire lives in hope, with the faith that Jesus would soon return without seeing the actualization of the Blessed event occur in their lifetime.
Subsequently, history records many strange events and prophecy provides glimpses of many more. Schisms have formed within the Church and cults and false ‘messiahs’ have formed out side of Her over the misinterpretation of end time events. Many within and outside the Church have prophesied the return of Jesus at this time or that, with themselves some how at a premier position of authority when He arrives. Dates and times have been set and reset, time and time again, only to be debunked after the date passes with no Return.
The strength of the lesson this week is not about when he will return or what will transpire up to that time. The strength of the lesson this week is that in Jesus rests the power and ability to return. He is the Resurrection. He is the Truth and the Light. All Power, all Authority rests with Him. Keep Jesus as the center of your focus. Don’t get distracted. Don’t lose Hope. Whatever the eventualities are before you, whether it’s financial ruin, sickness, disease, death. On a larger scale there’s world wide economic collapse, wars and rumors of wars, earthquakes and other natural disasters. There’s even theories of planet killing meteors passing near our earth.
Jesus is telling the disciples (and us) that no matter the circumstance, God is in control. Complete control. The other thing Jesus wants you to know: You are a part of His eventuality. He has reserved a place for you in eternity and He will come personally to bring you into the Glory that awaits you whenever that is. My advice to you: stay in the boat (see below). Keep the Faith. All of these things will one day cause us all to stand before Jesus and proclaim in wonder and worship, as the disciples did below, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
Be encouraged!
.wb
John 5:25
Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live.
Matthew 14:33
Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Sunday School Lesson for Feb. 20, 2011: Jesus Came to Serve (Mark 10:35-45)
John 13:6
He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
John 13:8
… Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”
John 13:14
Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.
1 Timothy 5:10
and is well known for her good deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the Lord’s people, helping those in trouble and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds.
Romans 12:20
On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
Proverbs 22:29
Do you see someone skilled in their work? They will serve before kings…
Psalm 116:16
Truly I am your servant, LORD; I serve you just as my mother did; you have freed me from my chains.
Psalm 100:2
Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
Headed for Calvary, Jesus has to finish preparing His disciples for leadership. These are the men who will lead the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ. Future Apostles. Giants in the Kingdom. Counted among the twenty four elders. Chosen to sit at the very pinnacle of Glory, answering to the Holy Trinity only. Outranking, even the angels. And this particular moment offers an opportunity to put into place one of the foundational principles, literally one of the ‘pillars’ of the Church. He’s taken them to the mountain top at His Transfiguration. Exposed them to Divinity and Glory unparalleled as no others had been, then they come off the mountain and see His Power demonstrated in the deliverance of the child possessed by demons. James and John (and Zebedee in one account), the two ‘Sons of Thunder’ want a big piece of this. And they are willing to undercut the other disciples (including Peter) to get it. ‘Jesus’, they asked (gently demanded?), ‘ Give us whatever we ask’. Really? Really?? What kind of Church would have come out of that? Imagine for a moment (I can’t) how much hell would have come out of that. Yet, that was the heart of these men. Jesus seized the moment to make a point: The greatest in the Kingdom of God would take the position of the least: the position of the Servant. The Church could not have survived without this ‘teachable moment’. Power in Servitude.
I have a friend that I must mention in this writing. His name is Jim. At one time, he was occupied as a butler. Not a fireman, a nurse, a policeman; all most note worthy positions of service, but a butler. What kind of mindset does that require? To serve the wealthiest , the most affluent among us with such a spirit of excellence, that you actually compliment and augment the presence of the one you serve (unselfishly). Selah. Think about that for a moment.: the servant reflects the ‘glory’ of the master. Isn’t that what James and John wanted? Isn’t that what we all want? Listen, we’re big on words like prayer, faith, love, obedience, meditation; all keys to building ourselves ‘up’ in the Christ. But don’t overlook service, please don’t. In serving, you become ‘Christ’ on wheels, a true reflection of the Master of the universe, Jesus Christ, Our Lord in you own personal sphere of influence. Isn’t that what we want? To see the power Christ demonstrated through us? Serve and you will ‘demonstrate’ Christ to those you serve. Enjoy the lesson!
Blessings,
.wb
He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
John 13:8
… Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”
John 13:14
Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.
1 Timothy 5:10
and is well known for her good deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the Lord’s people, helping those in trouble and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds.
Romans 12:20
On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
Proverbs 22:29
Do you see someone skilled in their work? They will serve before kings…
Psalm 116:16
Truly I am your servant, LORD; I serve you just as my mother did; you have freed me from my chains.
Psalm 100:2
Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
Headed for Calvary, Jesus has to finish preparing His disciples for leadership. These are the men who will lead the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ. Future Apostles. Giants in the Kingdom. Counted among the twenty four elders. Chosen to sit at the very pinnacle of Glory, answering to the Holy Trinity only. Outranking, even the angels. And this particular moment offers an opportunity to put into place one of the foundational principles, literally one of the ‘pillars’ of the Church. He’s taken them to the mountain top at His Transfiguration. Exposed them to Divinity and Glory unparalleled as no others had been, then they come off the mountain and see His Power demonstrated in the deliverance of the child possessed by demons. James and John (and Zebedee in one account), the two ‘Sons of Thunder’ want a big piece of this. And they are willing to undercut the other disciples (including Peter) to get it. ‘Jesus’, they asked (gently demanded?), ‘ Give us whatever we ask’. Really? Really?? What kind of Church would have come out of that? Imagine for a moment (I can’t) how much hell would have come out of that. Yet, that was the heart of these men. Jesus seized the moment to make a point: The greatest in the Kingdom of God would take the position of the least: the position of the Servant. The Church could not have survived without this ‘teachable moment’. Power in Servitude.
I have a friend that I must mention in this writing. His name is Jim. At one time, he was occupied as a butler. Not a fireman, a nurse, a policeman; all most note worthy positions of service, but a butler. What kind of mindset does that require? To serve the wealthiest , the most affluent among us with such a spirit of excellence, that you actually compliment and augment the presence of the one you serve (unselfishly). Selah. Think about that for a moment.: the servant reflects the ‘glory’ of the master. Isn’t that what James and John wanted? Isn’t that what we all want? Listen, we’re big on words like prayer, faith, love, obedience, meditation; all keys to building ourselves ‘up’ in the Christ. But don’t overlook service, please don’t. In serving, you become ‘Christ’ on wheels, a true reflection of the Master of the universe, Jesus Christ, Our Lord in you own personal sphere of influence. Isn’t that what we want? To see the power Christ demonstrated through us? Serve and you will ‘demonstrate’ Christ to those you serve. Enjoy the lesson!
Blessings,
.wb
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Sunday School Lesson for Feb. 13, 2011: Jesus Is God’s Son (Mark 9:2-13)
Genesis 1:3
And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.
John 1:1
[ The Word Became Flesh ] In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Hebrews 1:3
The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.
John 1:14
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
This took a little time. I apologize. Bear with me. Let me start with a brief historical reference and fact: Scholars believe that the Mount of Transfiguration was actually Mount Tabor. It was customary for the Jews to light beacons from Mount Tabor to inform the northern villages of Israel of the coming of the Holy Days. In that light :) , lets follow Jesus as he leads Peter, James and John to 'a high mountain'. You see, the Bible says He 'led' them there. He had a reason, a purpose. So what happens? When they are alone, Jesus is tranfigured: He becomes dazzlingly brilliant in apperance. A light unlike any other. A beacon to the world, that a most Holy event is on the horizon.
Appearing beside Him are Moses and Elijah. Many have pointed out that their appearance represents the Law and the Prophets, both of which point to Jesus. Or how about the 'Logos' and the 'Rhema'. The Logos representing the Word that establishes, the Word upon which the very pillars of creation rest, and the Rhema: the Word that reveals the very heart and nature of God. In the Logos, He is power, In the Rhema, He is love. In the Logos He is goodness, in the Rhema He is mercy. And in Jesus stands the very enbodiement of the Logos and the Rhema, The Law and the Prophets, Goodness (Justice) and Mercy, Grace and Truth.
Here's that Holy Intersection we've talked about before, where Heavan and Earth are manifest in the same place and time: an interdimensional moment that defies all that we understand. Peter and the others fall to their faces in fear. What's happening and Why? Peter says, " Lord, it's good for us to be here. Let's put up three temples." Then, the Father shows up, a Voice from Heaven, "This is my Beloved Son. Hear ye Him!". The Book is closed... or it's about to be. And God does not want the disciples looking back. To these men, God reveals (rhema) Jesus in all His Glory, then declares (logos) Him as the one and only answer to man's problem. The Christ. The Son fo God who came out of God. The Messiah.
In this moment, we need to see Jesus in all of His power and compassion. So great is the depth of our sin. It required the sacrifice of the One who was the very Son of God. Only He could pay the price. He loves us that much. Then, only He could throw off the chains of death, then release us as well. He is the Ressurection. God wanted us to see it through the eyes of His witnesses: Peter, James and John. In the mouth of two or three witnesses, the truth is established. Whatever it is you've been through, what ever it is you're going through, whatever lies in wait before you, Hope has a Name. A Name grater than every other. Jesus. If you need Him, cry out. If you have Him, He has you. Be comforted. He loves you and He cares for you.. like no one else can...
Blessings,
.wb
Luke 4:16-20
16 He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:
18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”[a]
20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. (Yours should be as well!! :)
And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.
John 1:1
[ The Word Became Flesh ] In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Hebrews 1:3
The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.
John 1:14
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
This took a little time. I apologize. Bear with me. Let me start with a brief historical reference and fact: Scholars believe that the Mount of Transfiguration was actually Mount Tabor. It was customary for the Jews to light beacons from Mount Tabor to inform the northern villages of Israel of the coming of the Holy Days. In that light :) , lets follow Jesus as he leads Peter, James and John to 'a high mountain'. You see, the Bible says He 'led' them there. He had a reason, a purpose. So what happens? When they are alone, Jesus is tranfigured: He becomes dazzlingly brilliant in apperance. A light unlike any other. A beacon to the world, that a most Holy event is on the horizon.
Appearing beside Him are Moses and Elijah. Many have pointed out that their appearance represents the Law and the Prophets, both of which point to Jesus. Or how about the 'Logos' and the 'Rhema'. The Logos representing the Word that establishes, the Word upon which the very pillars of creation rest, and the Rhema: the Word that reveals the very heart and nature of God. In the Logos, He is power, In the Rhema, He is love. In the Logos He is goodness, in the Rhema He is mercy. And in Jesus stands the very enbodiement of the Logos and the Rhema, The Law and the Prophets, Goodness (Justice) and Mercy, Grace and Truth.
Here's that Holy Intersection we've talked about before, where Heavan and Earth are manifest in the same place and time: an interdimensional moment that defies all that we understand. Peter and the others fall to their faces in fear. What's happening and Why? Peter says, " Lord, it's good for us to be here. Let's put up three temples." Then, the Father shows up, a Voice from Heaven, "This is my Beloved Son. Hear ye Him!". The Book is closed... or it's about to be. And God does not want the disciples looking back. To these men, God reveals (rhema) Jesus in all His Glory, then declares (logos) Him as the one and only answer to man's problem. The Christ. The Son fo God who came out of God. The Messiah.
In this moment, we need to see Jesus in all of His power and compassion. So great is the depth of our sin. It required the sacrifice of the One who was the very Son of God. Only He could pay the price. He loves us that much. Then, only He could throw off the chains of death, then release us as well. He is the Ressurection. God wanted us to see it through the eyes of His witnesses: Peter, James and John. In the mouth of two or three witnesses, the truth is established. Whatever it is you've been through, what ever it is you're going through, whatever lies in wait before you, Hope has a Name. A Name grater than every other. Jesus. If you need Him, cry out. If you have Him, He has you. Be comforted. He loves you and He cares for you.. like no one else can...
Blessings,
.wb
Luke 4:16-20
16 He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:
18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”[a]
20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. (Yours should be as well!! :)
Friday, February 4, 2011
Sunday School Lesson for Feb. 6, 2011 Jesus Is the Messiah (Mark 8:27–9:1)
Luke 12:20-21
20But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
21So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
John 1:11-13
11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
Mark 8:35
35 For whoever wants to save their life[a] will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.
Whose ‘Christ’ is He? Yours or God’s? Why do I ask? Because He came to fulfill the Father’s will, not ours. Last week, I shared some of my personal ‘testimony’ in this blog. During the ‘Before Christ’ period of my life, I had no ‘sin consciousness’. Most non-believers don’t. I could not imagine a real ‘Hell’, or fathom why a ‘loving God’ would send me there. After all, If you had asked me, I’d have told you that all of my problems were the fault of someone else. In my eyes, I was a victim. I needed God’s help, not necessarily His ‘Christ’, His ‘Jesus’, His Salvation. I didn’t know. But, God knew. He understood from before the beginning that I (we) would need a redemption so complete, that His wrath against us would forever be satisfied (propitiation). What? I didn’t even know He was mad at me(us). Did you? Really? Listen my ‘Jesus’ would have filled up my pockets with money, told me everything was going to be alright and given me some kind of ‘sign’ to verify to me that what He said was going to happen (all to my benefit). Most non-believers (and some believers) are looking for a Genie from a bottle, Not Jesus, sent from God. But God’s ‘Christ’ came to suffer. He came to die. In death, He conquered sin. He satisfied God’s requirement for the redemption of fallen mankind. And when He rose from the grave, He left death and the grave behind and made ‘new life’ available to us. It was not until all this was accomplished that God could dwell with us and in us in the person of the Holy Ghost and in the institution of the ‘Church’. The Kingdom of God has come to us. It has come by the shed blood of our Savior; Jesus, The Christ of God, The Anointed One of God. The Lamb of God, without spot or blemish (sin). Halleluiah! This Jesus: God’s Son, God’s Anointed had a little more on His mind than just my personal well being, a little more on His plate than just me and my situation. HE literally had the whole world in His hands.
What then is required of me(us)? First: acceptance. Can you get on board? Get with the program? Get on the same page with Jesus? If so, then: discipleship: to hear, to obey, to abide, to love, to preach, to teach, to give, to pray, to heal, to bind, to loose, to comfort. To let a dying world know that Hope has a name, a name above every other: Jesus. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.
Be Blessed!
.wb
p.s. This week marks one year that I’ve been sending out this weekly email. God has been gracious throughout. To Him be the Glory. I thank you all for participating in this effort. Every time you send a word of encouragement or share a point of view or pass this email along, you strengthen and encourage me. Thanks and Thank God for you. Blessings… .wb
20But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
21So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
John 1:11-13
11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
Mark 8:35
35 For whoever wants to save their life[a] will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.
Whose ‘Christ’ is He? Yours or God’s? Why do I ask? Because He came to fulfill the Father’s will, not ours. Last week, I shared some of my personal ‘testimony’ in this blog. During the ‘Before Christ’ period of my life, I had no ‘sin consciousness’. Most non-believers don’t. I could not imagine a real ‘Hell’, or fathom why a ‘loving God’ would send me there. After all, If you had asked me, I’d have told you that all of my problems were the fault of someone else. In my eyes, I was a victim. I needed God’s help, not necessarily His ‘Christ’, His ‘Jesus’, His Salvation. I didn’t know. But, God knew. He understood from before the beginning that I (we) would need a redemption so complete, that His wrath against us would forever be satisfied (propitiation). What? I didn’t even know He was mad at me(us). Did you? Really? Listen my ‘Jesus’ would have filled up my pockets with money, told me everything was going to be alright and given me some kind of ‘sign’ to verify to me that what He said was going to happen (all to my benefit). Most non-believers (and some believers) are looking for a Genie from a bottle, Not Jesus, sent from God. But God’s ‘Christ’ came to suffer. He came to die. In death, He conquered sin. He satisfied God’s requirement for the redemption of fallen mankind. And when He rose from the grave, He left death and the grave behind and made ‘new life’ available to us. It was not until all this was accomplished that God could dwell with us and in us in the person of the Holy Ghost and in the institution of the ‘Church’. The Kingdom of God has come to us. It has come by the shed blood of our Savior; Jesus, The Christ of God, The Anointed One of God. The Lamb of God, without spot or blemish (sin). Halleluiah! This Jesus: God’s Son, God’s Anointed had a little more on His mind than just my personal well being, a little more on His plate than just me and my situation. HE literally had the whole world in His hands.
What then is required of me(us)? First: acceptance. Can you get on board? Get with the program? Get on the same page with Jesus? If so, then: discipleship: to hear, to obey, to abide, to love, to preach, to teach, to give, to pray, to heal, to bind, to loose, to comfort. To let a dying world know that Hope has a name, a name above every other: Jesus. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.
Be Blessed!
.wb
p.s. This week marks one year that I’ve been sending out this weekly email. God has been gracious throughout. To Him be the Glory. I thank you all for participating in this effort. Every time you send a word of encouragement or share a point of view or pass this email along, you strengthen and encourage me. Thanks and Thank God for you. Blessings… .wb
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)