As Christians we love to romanticize things , I suppose it's human nature. We love to hear things like, “We are destined for great things' or “ My sister your husband is on his way”. We seem to overlook the fact that the devil hates us. He wont let us 2 step into heaven . He's going to fight tooth and nail to get what he wants. Trust me the battle will be scary and gruesome. It's time for us to face reality. I ain't a pastor or anyone with a degree to back me up. I may be uncultured in my speech but my Lord God has given me His stamp of approval. And I tell you now He is coming soon. Now is the time to ready ourselves, He may not be here tomorrow but I will sing this tune till the end of my days.
In 2 Peter 3:9 my bible tells me , “ The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” In the same way we do not view time the way He does. He may be arriving next week, next year or maybe in century or so, but the point I'm stressing is that the time is NOW for us to ready ourselves as the chosen people. Job 6:25 “ how painful are honest words” we make God sound like some hippie at times, who will not step up and get tough when the time comes. We view the devil as some guy that will consider your situation or your feelings before he strikes. That is not the case. He's the type of guy that will kick you when your down, spit in your face, push you so low and so far into the dark, you'll find yourself in a slump you will fail to rise from. Yes the battle is already won but it still needs to be fought!!
There is so much that has to be done we need to prepare ourselves and not stick to this comfort zone of following Christ. We need to break free from this cycle, the longer we stay the further we stray from a our true potential and purpose for which we were intended. There is nothing good about life on earth when God has prepared rooms for us up in heaven. We are simply passing through embarking on a journey that, yes, seems so never ending, but, here comes a cliché....there is light at the end of the tunnel. We say seek He 1st , but we don't really get the seriousness and intensity of such a statement. It took years of wading through sin, but when I finally surfaced I understood. Feeling anew. I was nothing and God gave me chance. What right do I have to give up on Him now?? Seek He 1st and everything else shall fall into place. I don't know about you but I do not serve a dormant God...Isaiah 66: 9 “ Do I bring the moment of birth and not give delivery?”
Like the lost coin in Luke 15:8 God will look high and low for us. It now becomes a personal choice as to whether you want to be found. And when you are found will you live by the spirit, will you “Endure hardship with us like the good solider of Christ Jesus. No-one serving as a solider gets involved in domestic affairs-he wants to please his commanding officer.” 2 Timothy 2:3-4. Someone once said and I quote “ we are married to too many things here on earth” how can can we embrace Him if our fists are already tightly clenched with our fingers, lips and hearts stained with immorality. Which has now become part of our day-to-day life. Look deep within yourself and you will realize I'm talking about you, about your life. About the lives of those close to you and you do nothing but watch them slowly self-destruct.
Yes we are sinners but if we let go and let God, our sins though like scarlet shall be white as snow. Revelations 14:12 says it best “this calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints..”. Patience with others is Love. Patience with self is Hope. Patience with God is Faith. And that's what we need to cover ourselves with; love for one another that 1st Corinthians kinda love. Hope which in itself is such a powerful thing how can the devil win when there is still hope within us, we are more than conquerors because of the hope factor rooted within. Faith that link between us and our Saviour that needs to be nurtured daily through prayer and interaction with others in fellowship.
Lets not restrict ourselves by giving the devil free reign in our lives. We need to challenge ourselves more in our faith, we need to WAKE UP from this slumber and get to know God and get to experience Him fully. Because He loves us so much, giving up is not an option and if tough Love is required then so be it...
by Nicola Manduna
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Saturday, October 16, 2010
**Spiritual Ark**
The destination is Heaven....but....THE JOURNEY is very important. He said He is coming and He sounded very close. He didn't go into detail about the exact time or location but He said He is coming. Thus the crucial stages of my journey began. You've heard the saying each man for himself and God for us all..but who really wants to go to Heaven alone?? He said the the journey is very important meaning that He's giving us a chance to ensure that we make it to our final destination. It would be sooo easy for Him to determine who deserves to make it there, but yet He gives us a chance to make it back home. I say home because this is not home. We are merely visitors who will soon have over stayed their welcome.
The time has come to sort out our spiritual households. The time to be honest with ourselves, who knows you better than you?? The time to let go of the things that weigh us down. A time to be rooted in our belief in Christ. A time to get soo much closer to Him. A time to grow in our faith. I mean we don't seem to realise how powerful faith actually is, it doesn't have to be huge it can be the size of a mustard seed and it will be efficient. A time to let God take the wheel and steer us in the right direction, but we tend to be "backseat drivers" we don't did give Him full control and now as the vehicle spins out of control that's when we realise that we cannot do it alone. I hope and pray that when we do it wont be too late. My Bible tells me in psalms 118 :8 "it is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man".
The journey is important as it prepares us for whats ahead. But being the "backseat drivers" we are we think we know best. Jeremiah 18 : 5-6 speaks of being in the potter's house. He says "like the clay in the hand of the potter so are you in my hand". The time has come for us to look deep within ourselves and let God take control. Like the clay we must be moulded for His intended purpose for us. We become vessels in which He fills with His word so that we may share it with others. Once moulded we will be put in to the furnace to make us steadfast in what God has intended. The furnace with it's blazing flames represents the afflictions we will face, they will burn, but according to your faith you will either harden and be rooted in your faith. And emerge being the vessel you were intended to be or you will merely be consumed by the flames.
We must seek God and follow His laws with the passion and determination expressed in psalms 119. To pray that the Lord forgives and over looks what it is we had become and to uplift what it is we are becoming. Moving forward with the Lord God being the light at our feet. Turning to Him when it seems our world is coming to end. Sharing with others the good and the bad things we go through and letting them know that having Christ in our lives makes life on earth a whole lot better. On this journey we will not emerge the same as when we entered.
This is our chance to grow.
There is a spiritual ark that's being built....and no-one should be left behind this time.
by Nicola Manduna
The time has come to sort out our spiritual households. The time to be honest with ourselves, who knows you better than you?? The time to let go of the things that weigh us down. A time to be rooted in our belief in Christ. A time to get soo much closer to Him. A time to grow in our faith. I mean we don't seem to realise how powerful faith actually is, it doesn't have to be huge it can be the size of a mustard seed and it will be efficient. A time to let God take the wheel and steer us in the right direction, but we tend to be "backseat drivers" we don't did give Him full control and now as the vehicle spins out of control that's when we realise that we cannot do it alone. I hope and pray that when we do it wont be too late. My Bible tells me in psalms 118 :8 "it is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man".
The journey is important as it prepares us for whats ahead. But being the "backseat drivers" we are we think we know best. Jeremiah 18 : 5-6 speaks of being in the potter's house. He says "like the clay in the hand of the potter so are you in my hand". The time has come for us to look deep within ourselves and let God take control. Like the clay we must be moulded for His intended purpose for us. We become vessels in which He fills with His word so that we may share it with others. Once moulded we will be put in to the furnace to make us steadfast in what God has intended. The furnace with it's blazing flames represents the afflictions we will face, they will burn, but according to your faith you will either harden and be rooted in your faith. And emerge being the vessel you were intended to be or you will merely be consumed by the flames.
We must seek God and follow His laws with the passion and determination expressed in psalms 119. To pray that the Lord forgives and over looks what it is we had become and to uplift what it is we are becoming. Moving forward with the Lord God being the light at our feet. Turning to Him when it seems our world is coming to end. Sharing with others the good and the bad things we go through and letting them know that having Christ in our lives makes life on earth a whole lot better. On this journey we will not emerge the same as when we entered.
This is our chance to grow.
There is a spiritual ark that's being built....and no-one should be left behind this time.
by Nicola Manduna
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Proverb to ponder!
Proverbs 14:4
"Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox"
Wisdom includes leveraging your efforts to accomplish much more than what one person can do. This proverb will teach you the lesson. God inspired King Solomon to write about economics, finance, and investments. God wants you to work smart to get ahead.
In his book of philosophy, he wrote, “If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct” (Eccl 10:10). Wisdom includes working smart, like using a file to sharpen an axe, so you can cut down a tree faster than others, who foolishly continue to beat against the tree with a dull blade.
Adam Smith wrote, “The Wealth of Nations,” in 1776. Before then, little was understood about savings, investment, capital, means of production, income-producing assets, and distribution of labor. But Solomon had taught these things in 920 BC, or almost 3000 years before Adam Smith! Give God the glory! Love Scripture! Love Proverbs!
Oxen are large bovine animals God created for the service of man. Today, when domesticated, we generally call them cattle; and specifically, they are castrated bulls that have reached full maturity and strength. (Bulls do not submit well to handling, yokes, and plowing!) They may easily weigh one ton and have enormous strength for pulling.
A crib is a barred storage apparatus where corn and other grain products are kept for feeding cattle and other farm animals. From this usage we have adapted the word to mean the barred small bed for children, which has a similar appearance. A cattle crib is similar to the manger in which our Lord and Saviour was placed after birth (Luke 2:7).
If a farmer plows, cultivates, and harvests by hand, he only has the strength and endurance to work a very small section of ground. His family may barely survive. And he will never get ahead. The storage crib for corn or other produce will be clean – empty, because he and his family will have eaten all he could plant and harvest. Nations in the world even today that still rely on manual labor are as poor as they were 4000 years ago.
But if a farmer can scrimp and save to purchase an ox, he will have invested in the means of much greater production. The strong ox can pull a plow through the soil for many hours a day (I Kgs 19:19). Many acres can be cultivated. But that is not all!
The ox can also trample the raw grain to separate its components (Deut 25:4), and he can drive a grinding wheel (Judges 16:21). The ox can pull heavily loaded wagons to market (Num 7:3). The farmer now produces much more than he needs to eat and increases his wealth and farm. This great reversal of fortune came by saving and investing.
Saving and investing are pillars of a capitalistic and prosperous economy. To buy an ox, a farmer denies himself short-term pleasures to accumulate the needed funds: this is saving. Then he must spend those saved funds for an ox that eats much feed every day and is expensive to maintain: this is investing. Wisdom loves saving and investing.
By saving some of his own production, the farmer created capital; by investing it in better means of production, he has converted his capital to be income producing. Invested capital will bring wealth, which creates more capital and investment, which leads to even greater wealth. Much increase is by the strength of the ox! Thank you, Solomon!
Consider the wisdom of the proverb. Oxen eat a lot of corn and other feed, yet it is a farm without oxen that has nothing in the crib. Farms with oxen, though they eat much corn, have great increase in their net corn production. There is very much corn left over to sell and buy luxuries they never dreamed of when cultivating their land by hand. God created the means of production – the ox – that wisely used will produce far more than it consumes. Thank you, Lord. God also gave the wisdom to use the ox. Thank you, Lord.
Both the ox and the wisdom to use the ox come from God. In fact, even the knowledge of how to plant, harvest, and process various grains comes from Him (Is 28:23-29). Do you grasp this precious truth – even basic farming wisdom comes from God? It was not learned by trial and error (or the first generation would have died before they learned it).
Where do witty inventions come from? They are God’s blessing, and they are the result of wisdom (8:12). God puts exceptional abilities in the hearts of some men, and He stirs those men up to use their creative genius to make tools that we marvel about and use to leverage our efforts (Ex 31:1-6; 36:1-2; II Chr 26:15). Are you thankful to God for the labor-saving devices you use every day? He will judge unthankfulness (Rom 1:21-22).
Here is economic wisdom, and Solomon taught it 3000 years ago! But there are societies and nation that have not learned these simple lessons. They still rely on manual labor, do not understand saving, make no investments, and ignore the means of production that are available. They pick berries and nuts, hunt wild game, wear skins, and live in huts or tents. They have not changed in thousands of years. Are you thankful for wisdom?
The United States and other nations that love and use these principles of wisdom enjoy great wealth and prosperity. They enjoy luxuries and leisure more than any society in history. Men categorize the other nations not using Solomon’s wisdom as second world or third world countries based on their ignorance of these simple economic principles.
Once a man sees the profit of saving and investing in an ox, he becomes very conscious of other possibilities, so other witty inventions take place, which are a further blessing of God upon those who fear Him (8:12). They invent better plows, planters, pickers, threshing devices, and tractors! They invent chainsaws, combines, PTO’s, conveyors, washing machines, typewriters, vacuum cleaners, microwave ovens, and computers!
Would you like to be a lumberjack with an axe … or a chainsaw? Would you like to slice meat in a deli with a knife or a meat slicer? Would you like to be an accountant with an abacus or a computer? Would you like to unload trucks with a forklift or by hand? Would you accept the assignment to build a car by hand or on an assembly line?
Summarize the lesson, and bless the Lord! The ox, the economic wisdom to use the ox, agricultural wisdom, and witty inventions are all from the Lord! Give God the glory!
Are you saving and investing as wisely as you should? Are you obeying this proverb in your own life? Do you own any means of production? Do you have any income-producing assets? Are you accumulating funds – capital – to invest in such things? If you spend everything you earn, you are foolish. You need to learn from the ant (6:6-8; 30:25).
Paul applies the rules of caring for oxen to ministers, so consider how the proverb addresses them (I Cor 9:6-14; I Tim 5:17-18). A church without a pastor will see little spiritual growth, for the God-given strength of the spiritual ox is missing. But where there is a laboring pastor, the church will benefit by this God-ordained means of increase. A hard working minister can be very profitable – and this is his calling (I Tim 4:13-16). And the harder he works, the more he should be fed (I Tim 5:17-18).
Are you taking care of your ox – the watcher of your soul? Do you pray for him daily?
Further, it is the spiritual duty of God’s saints to seek the purity of their churches, for spiritual and carnal blessings are by His favor (Psalm 144:9-15). Even the means of natural production, and certainly the means of spiritual production, are by His blessing. Strong and healthy oxen and garners full of food are both by divine mercy (Psalm 144:13-14). And it is a happy people indeed who have honored the Lord with holy lives to bring these great blessings! Happy is that people whose God is the LORD (Ps 144:15)!
"Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox"
Wisdom includes leveraging your efforts to accomplish much more than what one person can do. This proverb will teach you the lesson. God inspired King Solomon to write about economics, finance, and investments. God wants you to work smart to get ahead.
In his book of philosophy, he wrote, “If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct” (Eccl 10:10). Wisdom includes working smart, like using a file to sharpen an axe, so you can cut down a tree faster than others, who foolishly continue to beat against the tree with a dull blade.
Adam Smith wrote, “The Wealth of Nations,” in 1776. Before then, little was understood about savings, investment, capital, means of production, income-producing assets, and distribution of labor. But Solomon had taught these things in 920 BC, or almost 3000 years before Adam Smith! Give God the glory! Love Scripture! Love Proverbs!
Oxen are large bovine animals God created for the service of man. Today, when domesticated, we generally call them cattle; and specifically, they are castrated bulls that have reached full maturity and strength. (Bulls do not submit well to handling, yokes, and plowing!) They may easily weigh one ton and have enormous strength for pulling.
A crib is a barred storage apparatus where corn and other grain products are kept for feeding cattle and other farm animals. From this usage we have adapted the word to mean the barred small bed for children, which has a similar appearance. A cattle crib is similar to the manger in which our Lord and Saviour was placed after birth (Luke 2:7).
If a farmer plows, cultivates, and harvests by hand, he only has the strength and endurance to work a very small section of ground. His family may barely survive. And he will never get ahead. The storage crib for corn or other produce will be clean – empty, because he and his family will have eaten all he could plant and harvest. Nations in the world even today that still rely on manual labor are as poor as they were 4000 years ago.
But if a farmer can scrimp and save to purchase an ox, he will have invested in the means of much greater production. The strong ox can pull a plow through the soil for many hours a day (I Kgs 19:19). Many acres can be cultivated. But that is not all!
The ox can also trample the raw grain to separate its components (Deut 25:4), and he can drive a grinding wheel (Judges 16:21). The ox can pull heavily loaded wagons to market (Num 7:3). The farmer now produces much more than he needs to eat and increases his wealth and farm. This great reversal of fortune came by saving and investing.
Saving and investing are pillars of a capitalistic and prosperous economy. To buy an ox, a farmer denies himself short-term pleasures to accumulate the needed funds: this is saving. Then he must spend those saved funds for an ox that eats much feed every day and is expensive to maintain: this is investing. Wisdom loves saving and investing.
By saving some of his own production, the farmer created capital; by investing it in better means of production, he has converted his capital to be income producing. Invested capital will bring wealth, which creates more capital and investment, which leads to even greater wealth. Much increase is by the strength of the ox! Thank you, Solomon!
Consider the wisdom of the proverb. Oxen eat a lot of corn and other feed, yet it is a farm without oxen that has nothing in the crib. Farms with oxen, though they eat much corn, have great increase in their net corn production. There is very much corn left over to sell and buy luxuries they never dreamed of when cultivating their land by hand. God created the means of production – the ox – that wisely used will produce far more than it consumes. Thank you, Lord. God also gave the wisdom to use the ox. Thank you, Lord.
Both the ox and the wisdom to use the ox come from God. In fact, even the knowledge of how to plant, harvest, and process various grains comes from Him (Is 28:23-29). Do you grasp this precious truth – even basic farming wisdom comes from God? It was not learned by trial and error (or the first generation would have died before they learned it).
Where do witty inventions come from? They are God’s blessing, and they are the result of wisdom (8:12). God puts exceptional abilities in the hearts of some men, and He stirs those men up to use their creative genius to make tools that we marvel about and use to leverage our efforts (Ex 31:1-6; 36:1-2; II Chr 26:15). Are you thankful to God for the labor-saving devices you use every day? He will judge unthankfulness (Rom 1:21-22).
Here is economic wisdom, and Solomon taught it 3000 years ago! But there are societies and nation that have not learned these simple lessons. They still rely on manual labor, do not understand saving, make no investments, and ignore the means of production that are available. They pick berries and nuts, hunt wild game, wear skins, and live in huts or tents. They have not changed in thousands of years. Are you thankful for wisdom?
The United States and other nations that love and use these principles of wisdom enjoy great wealth and prosperity. They enjoy luxuries and leisure more than any society in history. Men categorize the other nations not using Solomon’s wisdom as second world or third world countries based on their ignorance of these simple economic principles.
Once a man sees the profit of saving and investing in an ox, he becomes very conscious of other possibilities, so other witty inventions take place, which are a further blessing of God upon those who fear Him (8:12). They invent better plows, planters, pickers, threshing devices, and tractors! They invent chainsaws, combines, PTO’s, conveyors, washing machines, typewriters, vacuum cleaners, microwave ovens, and computers!
Would you like to be a lumberjack with an axe … or a chainsaw? Would you like to slice meat in a deli with a knife or a meat slicer? Would you like to be an accountant with an abacus or a computer? Would you like to unload trucks with a forklift or by hand? Would you accept the assignment to build a car by hand or on an assembly line?
Summarize the lesson, and bless the Lord! The ox, the economic wisdom to use the ox, agricultural wisdom, and witty inventions are all from the Lord! Give God the glory!
Are you saving and investing as wisely as you should? Are you obeying this proverb in your own life? Do you own any means of production? Do you have any income-producing assets? Are you accumulating funds – capital – to invest in such things? If you spend everything you earn, you are foolish. You need to learn from the ant (6:6-8; 30:25).
Paul applies the rules of caring for oxen to ministers, so consider how the proverb addresses them (I Cor 9:6-14; I Tim 5:17-18). A church without a pastor will see little spiritual growth, for the God-given strength of the spiritual ox is missing. But where there is a laboring pastor, the church will benefit by this God-ordained means of increase. A hard working minister can be very profitable – and this is his calling (I Tim 4:13-16). And the harder he works, the more he should be fed (I Tim 5:17-18).
Are you taking care of your ox – the watcher of your soul? Do you pray for him daily?
Further, it is the spiritual duty of God’s saints to seek the purity of their churches, for spiritual and carnal blessings are by His favor (Psalm 144:9-15). Even the means of natural production, and certainly the means of spiritual production, are by His blessing. Strong and healthy oxen and garners full of food are both by divine mercy (Psalm 144:13-14). And it is a happy people indeed who have honored the Lord with holy lives to bring these great blessings! Happy is that people whose God is the LORD (Ps 144:15)!
And who is my neighbor?
We live in a world today where we don't know who to turn to in times of need.Our fathers,mothers,sisters,brothers,friends,pastors and elders have become our enemies.Long ago we could walk with other men in the dark and you would be sure of your safety.Today,we run away from a crowd of men cause we don't know their next move
A question was posed to Jesus by an expect of the law,and today this same question faces me and you..."AND WHO IS MY NEIGHBOR?..."
The book of Luke 10:30-37,we find a story that will answer who our true neighbors are.
Verse 30: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho"
He perhaps had something to do as he left the Holy City to go Down to Jericho.He may have people to see,business to handle,debts to pay,a small house(girlfriend)to see but all we know is he was going down.
Are you going Down?..
Is your life on a down hill and you don't have brakes to stop your fall? We have fallen from a place where we were once viewed well in society but not any more.We have gone down to the gutters of this world and have found a safe and comfort zone in the dirt of the world.We have gone down in spirituality and forgotten the God of Our Fathers.We have gone down to a point that even when we stand we can neither be seen or heard.Our lives are in tatters we cant mend them on our own when we are down there!!!...As we go down we are vulnerable.We are swayed by the wind.We are going to a place that is deep with sin and for us to fight it is another uphill battle.
As the man went down in his vulnerable state he was pounced on by robbers.Stripped him naked and left him for dead.
Have you been stripped naked and left for dead?..
As we go down in our vulnerability,the society strips us of a dignity that we once possessed.We no longer can stand proud and tall.We try to hide our nakedness by going further down into the chambers of sin.The society will strip you naked with the labels they put to your name,the comments they make about your character and the actions the make about your personality.They leave you for dead when they have stripped you of your true identity and given you a counterfeit identity of who they think you are.They don't care about you and they simply walk away!!!...
There are people who you think care about you.People who were suits to church every Saturday and call themselves pastors.They see you going down,stark naked,left for dead and all they can say is "WHAT A SHAME!!!"...(verse 31)The priest is on the same road as you are.He is also going down.Falling from divine grace to the simplicity of the sinful human race.All he can do is look at you and see a picture of what he could be in a few moments.He realizes he is going down too and he will pass on the other side.
(Verse 32)A levite may be on the way,but its not yet time to get all excited an think help is on the way because he is a passerby too.You see a deacon when you hold your can of CASTLE LAGER,and to you amazement they pass you by for they know they are going down too.A pastor meets his head elder walking hand in hand with another woman,he will pass by for he knows he is going down too.
But behold on the same road there is someone going up to Jerusalem.When we are going down,they are going up.We all don't fall at the same time.Amen!!!!.....They have been where we are and realize we are in need of help.They can not let society destroy us.(verse 33)People we do not expect,people we do not talk to,people who we distance ourselves from.Here they are covering our wounds,cleaning our wounds,dressing us up and taking us to a place of comfort where we can find healing and protection,taking us up the road we were going down.The good Samaritan came down his horse to help this man.We need people who are willing to come down from their financial horse,their spiritual horse,their educational horse and come to the level of the one who is labeled a nobody in this life.We need people who will cover our wounds not expose our pain and sorrow.Put oil on them for them to heal faster.
When we find such people embrace them then you will know who you neighbor is.
"A NEW COMMANDMENT I GIVE UNTO YOU,THAT YOU LOVE ONE ANOTHER AS I HAVE LOVED YOU."
MAY YOU ALL BE BLESSED
A question was posed to Jesus by an expect of the law,and today this same question faces me and you..."AND WHO IS MY NEIGHBOR?..."
The book of Luke 10:30-37,we find a story that will answer who our true neighbors are.
Verse 30: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho"
He perhaps had something to do as he left the Holy City to go Down to Jericho.He may have people to see,business to handle,debts to pay,a small house(girlfriend)to see but all we know is he was going down.
Are you going Down?..
Is your life on a down hill and you don't have brakes to stop your fall? We have fallen from a place where we were once viewed well in society but not any more.We have gone down to the gutters of this world and have found a safe and comfort zone in the dirt of the world.We have gone down in spirituality and forgotten the God of Our Fathers.We have gone down to a point that even when we stand we can neither be seen or heard.Our lives are in tatters we cant mend them on our own when we are down there!!!...As we go down we are vulnerable.We are swayed by the wind.We are going to a place that is deep with sin and for us to fight it is another uphill battle.
As the man went down in his vulnerable state he was pounced on by robbers.Stripped him naked and left him for dead.
Have you been stripped naked and left for dead?..
As we go down in our vulnerability,the society strips us of a dignity that we once possessed.We no longer can stand proud and tall.We try to hide our nakedness by going further down into the chambers of sin.The society will strip you naked with the labels they put to your name,the comments they make about your character and the actions the make about your personality.They leave you for dead when they have stripped you of your true identity and given you a counterfeit identity of who they think you are.They don't care about you and they simply walk away!!!...
There are people who you think care about you.People who were suits to church every Saturday and call themselves pastors.They see you going down,stark naked,left for dead and all they can say is "WHAT A SHAME!!!"...(verse 31)The priest is on the same road as you are.He is also going down.Falling from divine grace to the simplicity of the sinful human race.All he can do is look at you and see a picture of what he could be in a few moments.He realizes he is going down too and he will pass on the other side.
(Verse 32)A levite may be on the way,but its not yet time to get all excited an think help is on the way because he is a passerby too.You see a deacon when you hold your can of CASTLE LAGER,and to you amazement they pass you by for they know they are going down too.A pastor meets his head elder walking hand in hand with another woman,he will pass by for he knows he is going down too.
But behold on the same road there is someone going up to Jerusalem.When we are going down,they are going up.We all don't fall at the same time.Amen!!!!.....They have been where we are and realize we are in need of help.They can not let society destroy us.(verse 33)People we do not expect,people we do not talk to,people who we distance ourselves from.Here they are covering our wounds,cleaning our wounds,dressing us up and taking us to a place of comfort where we can find healing and protection,taking us up the road we were going down.The good Samaritan came down his horse to help this man.We need people who are willing to come down from their financial horse,their spiritual horse,their educational horse and come to the level of the one who is labeled a nobody in this life.We need people who will cover our wounds not expose our pain and sorrow.Put oil on them for them to heal faster.
When we find such people embrace them then you will know who you neighbor is.
"A NEW COMMANDMENT I GIVE UNTO YOU,THAT YOU LOVE ONE ANOTHER AS I HAVE LOVED YOU."
MAY YOU ALL BE BLESSED
Monday, October 11, 2010
The High cost of low living
Judges 16:20-31
THE HIGH COST OF LOW LIVING
Intro: When Benjamin Franklin was seven years old, a visitor gave him some small change. Later, seeing another boy playing with a whistle, young Benjamin gave the boy all his money for it. He played the whistle all over the house, enjoying it until he discovered that he had given four times as much as the whistle was worth. Instantly, the whistle lost its charm. As he grew older, Franklin generalized this principle. When he saw a man neglecting his family or business for political popularity, or a miser giving up friendship for the sake of accumulating wealth, he would say, 'He pays too much for his whistle."
The above story has an excellent lesson in it: Too often we pay too great a price for something that looks so good and promises so much. Fish are hooked because they are attracted to something that looks like food and would make a good meal only to become food themselves. Do not be fooled, the world offers you whistles that are not worth the price.
In our text, we are given the tragic end of a man who "paid too much for his whistle." Samson lost his power, his position and his testimony because he valued the sin in his life more than he valued the God of his life. I would like for us to take a closer look at the life of this man and see where he failed and how we can avoid the same kind of trouble in our lives. I want to preach for a time on The High Cost Of Low Living. It may be that some in this room are living below their means spiritually. If so, we will see the problems that causes and solutions God offers.
I. THE POTENTIAL OF SAMSON'S LIFE
A. He Was Extraordinary In His Advent - (Judges 13:2-7, 24-25 - The birth of Samson was announced by a visit from the Lord, Himself.) Just for the record, the child of God has had a miraculous "new" birth - 1 Pet. 1:23; John 3:3, 7; 1 John 3:1-3.
B. He Was Extraordinary In His Accomplishments - Samson is remembered as the strong man of the Bible.
1. His Energies - He killed a lion - 14:5-6; He performed many great feats of strength - 15:4-7; 16:3.
2. His Enemies - Samson was always battling the Philistines, to prevent them from capturing control of Israel. He killed 30 Philistines one time, 14:19. Another time he killed 1,000 with the jawbone of a donkey, 15:13-17.
3. His Evidences - Samson proved he was a man of God by the power of the Spirit that rested on him, 13:25; 14:19; 15:14. He enjoyed miracles from the hand of God - 15:18-19. He was a servant of the Lord's for many years - 15:20.
(Note: Just like Samson, the child of God lives an extraordinary life. Redeemed from sin by the grace of God, indwelt by the Spirit of God, privileged to hold and read the Word of God and able to fellowship with God through prayer. Our lives are marked by many victories and many advantages. Things which we do so often that we have come to take them for granted, like prayer, service to the Lord, witnessing, getting to be a blessing, etc, all prove that we are different and that we have a God given potential to achieve great things through Him! We just move from victory to victory as His children - 1 Cor. 15:57.)
II. THE PROBLEMS OF SAMSON'S LIFE
(Ill. As great as Samson's strength and potential might have been, he was a man faced with many spiritual problems. These spiritual weaknesses overrode his physical power to make him the weakest strongman in the history of the world.)
A. He Faced Powerful Adversaries - Ill. Judges 14:1-7 - Samson may have battled the Philistines for over 20 years, but his greatest enemy was Samson! His own flesh and his fleshly appetites proved to be his undoing. Instead of surrendering body, soul and spirit to the will of the Lord, he allowed his flesh to control his life and he paid a high price. (Note: You and I can fuss about the devil, or about this enemy or that enemy, but the greatest enemy we all face is our own selves! As one man said, "We have met the enemy and he is us!" It's true, but every problem we face with temptation and sin in our lives, does not come from an external source, it originates within, James 1:14-15. That is a hard thing to swallow, but it is still true! It isn't the devil out to get you, it is you out to get yourself! Folks, your flesh is never going to get any better - Eph. 4:22. However, we are not to give in to it, we are to fight it every moment of every day - 1 Cor. 9:27.)
B. He Faced Powerful Attractions - Ill. Judges 14:8-10 - Samson was a Nazarite, Judges 13:7; Num. 6:1-8. His was to be a life dedicated totally to the Lord. Yet, he lived for himself, taking his vows for granted. He was deceitful, he was lustful, he was proud and arrogant. It would seem that Samson had a bent toward evil within him. (Note: Of course, that could describe any of us this evening! The Old Testament uses three words to describe our sins, Psa. 32:1-2; 5. There is the word sins - which refers to our shortcomings in the sight of God., It means "to miss the mark". Then there is the word transgressions. This word means "to step over a boundary". It refers to intentionally breaking the Laws and commandments of the Lord. Another word is iniquity. This word means "bent or crooked". It refers to the bent within the human nature toward evil! There is a natural tendency within each of us to seek the lowest levels of life. (Ill. What Jacob said to Reuben - Gen. 49:4 - Like water always seeks the lowest level, man acting according to his flesh will always seek the lowest levels of living!)
C. He Faced Powerful Addictions - Judges 16:1-2; 4-20 - Samson, by the end of his career, seems to be living a total lifestyle of sin. He has reached a place where he treats his testimony like a trinket and his reputation like rubbish, 16:1-18! (Note: Your testimony is the ost valuable thing you possess in this world! Guard it with your life. If you ever allow your testimony to become tarnished, you will never be able to restore it to where it was in the eyes of those who saw you fail! God will forgive the repentant saint, but men will remember it to their dying day!)
III. THE PRODUCT OF SAMSON'S LIFE
(Ill. Because of his sinfulness and his failure to control his fleshly desires and impulses, Samson paid a terrific price.)
A. The Losses In His Life - Ill. The context of his sins with Delilah. As a result of his sins, he suffered some pretty significant losses.
1. He Lost His Vision - 16:21 - (Blind) - Samson lost his physical sight. When a child of God lives his or her life under the control of the flesh, they too will lose their eyesight. They may keep their physical vision, but they will lose the spiritual. They will lose their vision of the Lord, His Word His house, lost souls, holy living etc.
2. He Lost His Vitality - 16:20-21 - (Bind) - Samson lost his physical strength when he disclosed the secret of that strength. For the believer in our day, the danger of losing one's spiritual power is great. Imagine not being able to get a hold of the Lord for your needs or the needs of others. Imagine not having the peace of God. Imagine being bound down by sin so that you cannot worship, cannot experience God, cannot enjoy Him, His Word or His people. Low living carries with it the high price of sapping your spiritual strength and leaving you weak before the Lord!)
3. He Lost His Victory - 16:21 - (Grind) - Samson is made to do the work of grinding corn. This was women's work and was given to him to humiliate him and is an indication of how weak he had become! Can you see the great man of God grinding corn for the Philistines? He has lost his power and he has lost his victory. He is a pitiful spectacle! Nothing is anymore sad than a believer who is out of fellowship with the Lord Jesus! They lack joy and peace. They are no happy. They are defeated, discouraged and demoralized. Sin will literally grind you to powder!
B. The Lessons From Samson's Life - For all of the pain this man experienced, there are some great lessons that we can take away from the life of Samson.
1. A Lesson About Ridicule - Samson is ridiculed by the enemies of God! If we must endure persecution and ridicule, let us do so only for the cause of Jesus and not because of foolish and sinful living - 1 Pet. 4:12-17; Matt. 5:11-12.) (Note: Don't give Satan the pleasure of mocking a child of God!)
2. A Lesson About Repentance - Before he died, Samson made things right with the Lord. However, he did it when it was too late to salvage much of anything for the glory of God. You and I need not make the same mistake! If we recognize the presence of evil in our lives, the time to deal with it is now, 1 John 1:9; Pro. 28:13, before we are forced to pay the ultimate price for our sins. Repentance can take place at any time!
3. A Lesson About Restoration - Samson received his power back from the Lord. Whatever we may lose to sin, in a spiritual sense, the Lord can and will restore if we will repent. However, we need to know that we will never gain back everything we lose in the eyes of men! But, thank God, He can cleanse us and He can use us for His glory once more - Ill. Simon Peter!
Conclusion: Friend, please don't pay the high cost of low living! If things in your life are not where they need to be tonight, you can come before the Lord and find the help and forgiveness you need. Just like the Prodigal Son found a loving, forgiving father back home, you will find a heavenly Father Who loves you and is ready to forgive you and restore you to the place you ought to be.
THE HIGH COST OF LOW LIVING
Intro: When Benjamin Franklin was seven years old, a visitor gave him some small change. Later, seeing another boy playing with a whistle, young Benjamin gave the boy all his money for it. He played the whistle all over the house, enjoying it until he discovered that he had given four times as much as the whistle was worth. Instantly, the whistle lost its charm. As he grew older, Franklin generalized this principle. When he saw a man neglecting his family or business for political popularity, or a miser giving up friendship for the sake of accumulating wealth, he would say, 'He pays too much for his whistle."
The above story has an excellent lesson in it: Too often we pay too great a price for something that looks so good and promises so much. Fish are hooked because they are attracted to something that looks like food and would make a good meal only to become food themselves. Do not be fooled, the world offers you whistles that are not worth the price.
In our text, we are given the tragic end of a man who "paid too much for his whistle." Samson lost his power, his position and his testimony because he valued the sin in his life more than he valued the God of his life. I would like for us to take a closer look at the life of this man and see where he failed and how we can avoid the same kind of trouble in our lives. I want to preach for a time on The High Cost Of Low Living. It may be that some in this room are living below their means spiritually. If so, we will see the problems that causes and solutions God offers.
I. THE POTENTIAL OF SAMSON'S LIFE
A. He Was Extraordinary In His Advent - (Judges 13:2-7, 24-25 - The birth of Samson was announced by a visit from the Lord, Himself.) Just for the record, the child of God has had a miraculous "new" birth - 1 Pet. 1:23; John 3:3, 7; 1 John 3:1-3.
B. He Was Extraordinary In His Accomplishments - Samson is remembered as the strong man of the Bible.
1. His Energies - He killed a lion - 14:5-6; He performed many great feats of strength - 15:4-7; 16:3.
2. His Enemies - Samson was always battling the Philistines, to prevent them from capturing control of Israel. He killed 30 Philistines one time, 14:19. Another time he killed 1,000 with the jawbone of a donkey, 15:13-17.
3. His Evidences - Samson proved he was a man of God by the power of the Spirit that rested on him, 13:25; 14:19; 15:14. He enjoyed miracles from the hand of God - 15:18-19. He was a servant of the Lord's for many years - 15:20.
(Note: Just like Samson, the child of God lives an extraordinary life. Redeemed from sin by the grace of God, indwelt by the Spirit of God, privileged to hold and read the Word of God and able to fellowship with God through prayer. Our lives are marked by many victories and many advantages. Things which we do so often that we have come to take them for granted, like prayer, service to the Lord, witnessing, getting to be a blessing, etc, all prove that we are different and that we have a God given potential to achieve great things through Him! We just move from victory to victory as His children - 1 Cor. 15:57.)
II. THE PROBLEMS OF SAMSON'S LIFE
(Ill. As great as Samson's strength and potential might have been, he was a man faced with many spiritual problems. These spiritual weaknesses overrode his physical power to make him the weakest strongman in the history of the world.)
A. He Faced Powerful Adversaries - Ill. Judges 14:1-7 - Samson may have battled the Philistines for over 20 years, but his greatest enemy was Samson! His own flesh and his fleshly appetites proved to be his undoing. Instead of surrendering body, soul and spirit to the will of the Lord, he allowed his flesh to control his life and he paid a high price. (Note: You and I can fuss about the devil, or about this enemy or that enemy, but the greatest enemy we all face is our own selves! As one man said, "We have met the enemy and he is us!" It's true, but every problem we face with temptation and sin in our lives, does not come from an external source, it originates within, James 1:14-15. That is a hard thing to swallow, but it is still true! It isn't the devil out to get you, it is you out to get yourself! Folks, your flesh is never going to get any better - Eph. 4:22. However, we are not to give in to it, we are to fight it every moment of every day - 1 Cor. 9:27.)
B. He Faced Powerful Attractions - Ill. Judges 14:8-10 - Samson was a Nazarite, Judges 13:7; Num. 6:1-8. His was to be a life dedicated totally to the Lord. Yet, he lived for himself, taking his vows for granted. He was deceitful, he was lustful, he was proud and arrogant. It would seem that Samson had a bent toward evil within him. (Note: Of course, that could describe any of us this evening! The Old Testament uses three words to describe our sins, Psa. 32:1-2; 5. There is the word sins - which refers to our shortcomings in the sight of God., It means "to miss the mark". Then there is the word transgressions. This word means "to step over a boundary". It refers to intentionally breaking the Laws and commandments of the Lord. Another word is iniquity. This word means "bent or crooked". It refers to the bent within the human nature toward evil! There is a natural tendency within each of us to seek the lowest levels of life. (Ill. What Jacob said to Reuben - Gen. 49:4 - Like water always seeks the lowest level, man acting according to his flesh will always seek the lowest levels of living!)
C. He Faced Powerful Addictions - Judges 16:1-2; 4-20 - Samson, by the end of his career, seems to be living a total lifestyle of sin. He has reached a place where he treats his testimony like a trinket and his reputation like rubbish, 16:1-18! (Note: Your testimony is the ost valuable thing you possess in this world! Guard it with your life. If you ever allow your testimony to become tarnished, you will never be able to restore it to where it was in the eyes of those who saw you fail! God will forgive the repentant saint, but men will remember it to their dying day!)
III. THE PRODUCT OF SAMSON'S LIFE
(Ill. Because of his sinfulness and his failure to control his fleshly desires and impulses, Samson paid a terrific price.)
A. The Losses In His Life - Ill. The context of his sins with Delilah. As a result of his sins, he suffered some pretty significant losses.
1. He Lost His Vision - 16:21 - (Blind) - Samson lost his physical sight. When a child of God lives his or her life under the control of the flesh, they too will lose their eyesight. They may keep their physical vision, but they will lose the spiritual. They will lose their vision of the Lord, His Word His house, lost souls, holy living etc.
2. He Lost His Vitality - 16:20-21 - (Bind) - Samson lost his physical strength when he disclosed the secret of that strength. For the believer in our day, the danger of losing one's spiritual power is great. Imagine not being able to get a hold of the Lord for your needs or the needs of others. Imagine not having the peace of God. Imagine being bound down by sin so that you cannot worship, cannot experience God, cannot enjoy Him, His Word or His people. Low living carries with it the high price of sapping your spiritual strength and leaving you weak before the Lord!)
3. He Lost His Victory - 16:21 - (Grind) - Samson is made to do the work of grinding corn. This was women's work and was given to him to humiliate him and is an indication of how weak he had become! Can you see the great man of God grinding corn for the Philistines? He has lost his power and he has lost his victory. He is a pitiful spectacle! Nothing is anymore sad than a believer who is out of fellowship with the Lord Jesus! They lack joy and peace. They are no happy. They are defeated, discouraged and demoralized. Sin will literally grind you to powder!
B. The Lessons From Samson's Life - For all of the pain this man experienced, there are some great lessons that we can take away from the life of Samson.
1. A Lesson About Ridicule - Samson is ridiculed by the enemies of God! If we must endure persecution and ridicule, let us do so only for the cause of Jesus and not because of foolish and sinful living - 1 Pet. 4:12-17; Matt. 5:11-12.) (Note: Don't give Satan the pleasure of mocking a child of God!)
2. A Lesson About Repentance - Before he died, Samson made things right with the Lord. However, he did it when it was too late to salvage much of anything for the glory of God. You and I need not make the same mistake! If we recognize the presence of evil in our lives, the time to deal with it is now, 1 John 1:9; Pro. 28:13, before we are forced to pay the ultimate price for our sins. Repentance can take place at any time!
3. A Lesson About Restoration - Samson received his power back from the Lord. Whatever we may lose to sin, in a spiritual sense, the Lord can and will restore if we will repent. However, we need to know that we will never gain back everything we lose in the eyes of men! But, thank God, He can cleanse us and He can use us for His glory once more - Ill. Simon Peter!
Conclusion: Friend, please don't pay the high cost of low living! If things in your life are not where they need to be tonight, you can come before the Lord and find the help and forgiveness you need. Just like the Prodigal Son found a loving, forgiving father back home, you will find a heavenly Father Who loves you and is ready to forgive you and restore you to the place you ought to be.
Why did God make you?
"For God is faithful through whom you were called into Fellowship with His Son Christ Jesus."
Have you ever wondered why you are here? Why God created you?
Was it to satisfy a hidden need in Him? Was it because God was bored just hanging around forever in empty space doing nothing. Maybe it was because He was just curious and wanted to know what would happen if He made a bunch of people and put them on a planet in the middle of nowhere. The Bible doesn't specifically say why God made us, but it does say that he created us.
Rev. 4:11 says, "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being."
But, why are you here?
1.To find out why God made you we have to look in the Bible. And a good place to start is The Garden of Eden.
A.God walked with Adam and Eve in the Garden (Gen. 3:8).
i.What does it mean for God to walk with them.
a.It means closeness, intimacy, communion.
b.Picture this. Adam and Eve and God literally walking next to each other in perfect harmony.
ii.Why did God walk with them?
a.Because He loved them.
b.Because He wanted fellowship with them.
B.When Adam and Eve sinned, what did they do?
i.They hid themselves: Gen. 3:8 "And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden."
ii.Who came looking for who?
a.God came looking for them: Gen. 3:9 says, "Then the LORD God called to the man, and said to him, 'Where are you?'"
C.Who was the first to shed blood?
i.Gen. 3:21, "And the LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them."
ii.God made an atonement for them.
iii.Jesus is the first to shed blood, because the Father is never seen in the Bible: John 6:46. But Adam and Eve were with God, God the Son.
D.They had been cast out of God's presence.
2.But, that isn't the end. God sought His people again.
A.From the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve went out and had children who had children, etc.
i.They filled the earth
ii.Eventually, after the tower of Babel, after Noah's Flood, God called a Abraham to go to a new land.
iii.Abraham became the first of God's chosen people who multiplied on the earth.
iv.They became enslaved in Egypt and eventually were freed by Moses.
B.After leaving Egypt and after the 10 commandments had been given to the Jews, God said something most interesting to Moses in Exodus 25:8, "And let them construct a sanctuary for Me, that I may dwell among them."
i.There is more physical space in the Bible devoted to the subject of the tabernacle than any other subject even heaven, hell, Jesus, or the cross... anything.
C.If you remember, God sought Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Here in the Wilderness He sought them again.
D.Why did He tell them to build a sanctuary?
i.He needed a holy place to dwell.
ii.He wanted to be among His people in a special way.
E.The tabernacle
i.It was a movable tent.
ii.One hundred cubits long and fifty cubits wide (about 150 feet long by 75 feet wide)
iii.It had many furnishings, but the most important was the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies.
a.In the Holy of Holies is where the ark of the covenant was
i.Aaron's Rod, a jar of manna, and the ten commandments
ii.The Mercy Seat was a top made of pure gold with 2 angels fashioned in them. This was on top of the Ark of the Covenant.
iv.The Tabernacle was where the yearly offering of atonement would be made by the High Priest
F.After the tabernacle was built, the Temple was built and the Holy of Holies was moved in there along with the Ark of the Covenant.
G.This was with Israel up until the time of Jesus.
3.In the N.T. God still seeks to be with His people.
A.In John 1:1,14 it says, "In the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God... and the word became flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth."
B.The Greek word there for "dwelt" is skanae. It means to tabernacle.
C.Again, God is seeking His people, but this time, instead of dwelling in a temple, he was then walking around among the people.
i.Jesus, who was God in flesh, was again walking with His people, just like the Garden of Eden.
4.But we know what they did to Jesus. They killed Him. They crucified Him.
A.But God was not surprised by this. In fact, it was part of his plan. Instead making a sacrifice by a high priest, once a year, in the holy of holies, Jesus became that sacrifice once and for all by dying on the cross so that we can believe in Jesus and be forgiven of our sins.
B.That is why it says in John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever would believe in Him would not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).
C.The nature of Love is to give
D.What is the best thing God could give? - love.
E.What is the best thing YOU can give? - love...
i.Love people by showing them Jesus, by being honest, good, and true.
5.1 Cor. 1:9, "For God is faithful through whom you were called into Fellowship with His Son Christ Jesus."
A.He wants to have fellowship with you because He loves you.
B.Fellowship in Greek is the word koinonia. It means intimacy, communion, and fellowship.
i.It is also translated into the word, "communion" when referring to the communion supper.
ii.The communion supper is the place of intense intimacy between God and the Christian.
a.Describe what happens there.
C.This fellowship with God the Father, MUST be through God the Son: Jesus. There is no other way.
D.You HAVE to go through Jesus. You cannot make yourself right before God by what you do, by what you think, or by being sincere.... You can only be right before God by trusting in what Jesus did on the cross, by the sacrifice of Himself so you could be forgiven of your sins...... and then be able to be with God.... forever.
i.Only through Jesus..... which is why God made you to be with Him, forever.
ii.God wants to have fellowship with you, through His Son.
iii.God wants to love you forever.
Conclusion
God wants fellowship with you not because of what you are but because of what He is.
•He is loving
•He is giving
•The best He can give is Himself.
•He has given you the Holy Spirit so that you might have God living within you. Not in a desert sanctuary or a stone temple, but in a living intimate way.
•You can know Him, experience Him, and feel Him.
•He made the universe for you.
•He created you for Him.
Enjoy Him.
Have you ever wondered why you are here? Why God created you?
Was it to satisfy a hidden need in Him? Was it because God was bored just hanging around forever in empty space doing nothing. Maybe it was because He was just curious and wanted to know what would happen if He made a bunch of people and put them on a planet in the middle of nowhere. The Bible doesn't specifically say why God made us, but it does say that he created us.
Rev. 4:11 says, "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being."
But, why are you here?
1.To find out why God made you we have to look in the Bible. And a good place to start is The Garden of Eden.
A.God walked with Adam and Eve in the Garden (Gen. 3:8).
i.What does it mean for God to walk with them.
a.It means closeness, intimacy, communion.
b.Picture this. Adam and Eve and God literally walking next to each other in perfect harmony.
ii.Why did God walk with them?
a.Because He loved them.
b.Because He wanted fellowship with them.
B.When Adam and Eve sinned, what did they do?
i.They hid themselves: Gen. 3:8 "And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden."
ii.Who came looking for who?
a.God came looking for them: Gen. 3:9 says, "Then the LORD God called to the man, and said to him, 'Where are you?'"
C.Who was the first to shed blood?
i.Gen. 3:21, "And the LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them."
ii.God made an atonement for them.
iii.Jesus is the first to shed blood, because the Father is never seen in the Bible: John 6:46. But Adam and Eve were with God, God the Son.
D.They had been cast out of God's presence.
2.But, that isn't the end. God sought His people again.
A.From the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve went out and had children who had children, etc.
i.They filled the earth
ii.Eventually, after the tower of Babel, after Noah's Flood, God called a Abraham to go to a new land.
iii.Abraham became the first of God's chosen people who multiplied on the earth.
iv.They became enslaved in Egypt and eventually were freed by Moses.
B.After leaving Egypt and after the 10 commandments had been given to the Jews, God said something most interesting to Moses in Exodus 25:8, "And let them construct a sanctuary for Me, that I may dwell among them."
i.There is more physical space in the Bible devoted to the subject of the tabernacle than any other subject even heaven, hell, Jesus, or the cross... anything.
C.If you remember, God sought Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Here in the Wilderness He sought them again.
D.Why did He tell them to build a sanctuary?
i.He needed a holy place to dwell.
ii.He wanted to be among His people in a special way.
E.The tabernacle
i.It was a movable tent.
ii.One hundred cubits long and fifty cubits wide (about 150 feet long by 75 feet wide)
iii.It had many furnishings, but the most important was the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies.
a.In the Holy of Holies is where the ark of the covenant was
i.Aaron's Rod, a jar of manna, and the ten commandments
ii.The Mercy Seat was a top made of pure gold with 2 angels fashioned in them. This was on top of the Ark of the Covenant.
iv.The Tabernacle was where the yearly offering of atonement would be made by the High Priest
F.After the tabernacle was built, the Temple was built and the Holy of Holies was moved in there along with the Ark of the Covenant.
G.This was with Israel up until the time of Jesus.
3.In the N.T. God still seeks to be with His people.
A.In John 1:1,14 it says, "In the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God... and the word became flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth."
B.The Greek word there for "dwelt" is skanae. It means to tabernacle.
C.Again, God is seeking His people, but this time, instead of dwelling in a temple, he was then walking around among the people.
i.Jesus, who was God in flesh, was again walking with His people, just like the Garden of Eden.
4.But we know what they did to Jesus. They killed Him. They crucified Him.
A.But God was not surprised by this. In fact, it was part of his plan. Instead making a sacrifice by a high priest, once a year, in the holy of holies, Jesus became that sacrifice once and for all by dying on the cross so that we can believe in Jesus and be forgiven of our sins.
B.That is why it says in John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever would believe in Him would not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).
C.The nature of Love is to give
D.What is the best thing God could give? - love.
E.What is the best thing YOU can give? - love...
i.Love people by showing them Jesus, by being honest, good, and true.
5.1 Cor. 1:9, "For God is faithful through whom you were called into Fellowship with His Son Christ Jesus."
A.He wants to have fellowship with you because He loves you.
B.Fellowship in Greek is the word koinonia. It means intimacy, communion, and fellowship.
i.It is also translated into the word, "communion" when referring to the communion supper.
ii.The communion supper is the place of intense intimacy between God and the Christian.
a.Describe what happens there.
C.This fellowship with God the Father, MUST be through God the Son: Jesus. There is no other way.
D.You HAVE to go through Jesus. You cannot make yourself right before God by what you do, by what you think, or by being sincere.... You can only be right before God by trusting in what Jesus did on the cross, by the sacrifice of Himself so you could be forgiven of your sins...... and then be able to be with God.... forever.
i.Only through Jesus..... which is why God made you to be with Him, forever.
ii.God wants to have fellowship with you, through His Son.
iii.God wants to love you forever.
Conclusion
God wants fellowship with you not because of what you are but because of what He is.
•He is loving
•He is giving
•The best He can give is Himself.
•He has given you the Holy Spirit so that you might have God living within you. Not in a desert sanctuary or a stone temple, but in a living intimate way.
•You can know Him, experience Him, and feel Him.
•He made the universe for you.
•He created you for Him.
Enjoy Him.
Gods Talents granted to us.
Sermon Matthew 25:13-31
There is a saying in English, "Use it or lose it." Use your muscles or they become weak and you fall down. Use your brain or later in life you will become senile. "Use it or lose it." It seems like simple wisdom.
The English saying certainly comes from today's scripture passage. A master was going away and he entrusts his money to his servants. To one he gives five thousand dollars, to another two thousand, and to another one thousand. Actually he gives them five, two, and one talents. A "talent" is a block of silver worth about $1000. As you know the word "talent" in English comes from this scripture passage.
We say, "Lin Yin, is a talented musician." We say, "Wei Hsi is a talented music director." We look at our children and say, "Oh, my son is a talented artist. My daughter is a talented math student." But, even though the English language uses the word talent to describe being gifted with a special skill, today's text isn't talking about all sorts of skills.
Today's text isn't even about money, although some have tried to say it is. We know of sermon's where clergy, often with wealthy congregations will say, "See, the one with the 5 talents worked hard, and therefore God blessed him. And the wicked lazy servant, those are the poor people who don't work hard with what God gives them so its their fault they suffer." This text has cruelly been used to justify wealth and condemn the poor as lazy, even though we know that among the wealthy there are people who have become rich by working very hard and other wealthy people who have become rich by working very little. Just as we know that there are poor people who work very hard, but stay poor. And yes in some cases there are poor people who are lazy. But this text is not talking about how to become rich through hard work.
What we do know is that the text says that Jesus is talking about the Kingdom of Heaven, talking about what is also called the Kingdom of God, talking about God's power that is breaking into the world through Jesus. He tells three stories in Matthew Chapter 25. The story of the young women with the oil. The story of the talents. And the story of the final judgement where some are called sheep and others goats.
And today we are right in the middle with a story that some might think is very harsh.
The five talent man who doubles the wealth is told, "Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord."
The two talent man who doubles the wealth is told, "Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord."
And to the one talent man, who buries his talent, the master says, "Lord, I knew you that you are a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter.
I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the earth. Behold, you have your own." But his lord answered him, "You wicked and slothful servant. You knew that I reap where I didn`t sow, and gather where I didn`t scatter. You ought therefore to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received back my own with interest. Take away therefore the talent from him, and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has will be given, and he will have abundance, but from him who has not, even that which he has will be taken away. Throw out the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness; there will be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth."
What terrible judgement for the man who buries his masters money. The money is taken from him and given to the one who has the most. This doesn't sound like a loving God does it? Where is the forgiveness? Where is kindness? How can God's presence in the world be connected with such terrible consequences? Indeed, being cast out of the light, out of the house of the master, cast out of the Kingdom of Heaven, into what sounds like a place of despair and anger, doesn't sound like a Jesus who is willing to die for enemies, and forgive those who killed him. This doesn't sound like Jesus who forgives those who abandoned him when he was arrested but later forgives them.
Is Jesus kind? Yes! Does Jesus love us? Yes! Does Jesus have compassion for those who fail in life? Yes! Does Jesus love people who hate him? Yes! Does Jesus want anyone to be in a place where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth ... into hell? No! In the Gospel of John, it says, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God didn`t send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through him"
This is the Jesus we know, however did you hear it? This isn't the Jesus that the man with one talent knows. Did you hear why he buries his talent? "Lord, I knew you that you are a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter. I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the earth. Behold, you have your own."
Listen to the one talent servant ... he thinks Jesus is a hard man. A vengeful man. A cruel man. The servant thinks that if he fails Jesus will punish him. He's afraid of Jesus, afraid of God, and afraid to serve lest he fail and be in a worse situation. He can imagine that life could be more that his, and his fear enslaves him.
He's part of the household of God, and yet, because of his fear he has never gotten to know who Jesus really is. He has never took the time share in the mission of Jesus, so that he could discover that the reason why Jesus can reap where he has not sown.
The worthless servant is the one who has not followed Jesus and learned along the journey who Jesus is; one full of kindness, compassion, mercy, and most of all forgiveness. The worthless servant has been welcomed into the household, but clearly hasn't committed himself to learned to live as part of the household of God. As a slave of fear, he can not live in a house ruled by love.
Remember what Jesus most common commandment is? Don't be afraid. Don't live a life ruled by fear. Don't be a Church ruled by fear. Don't think following Jesus is always being afraid of messing up. Of always being on guard lest God punish you. That is not the God we know in Jesus.
As I thought about this sermon, part of me wanted to change the parable to include another servant. The servant who was given ½ a talent but made a bad trade and had to face Jesus with no talents. I image this one, with a face hung low, saying to the Lord, "I tried but I failed." And I imagined the Lord saying, "I forgive you, here's another ½ talent, try again." After thinking this, I realized that Jesus would live this parable later in the story. You see, Jesus gives this parable of warning, right before he is to be killed, right before his disciples abandon him, right before they fail him.
At the cross, they come to know where their love fails, discover that God's love is more powerful even than death. They know that with God all things are possible. They are willing to trust and live as Jesus calls them to live. They are the ones who are willing to let God show them a whole new way.
Jesus said, "Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!" Repent means, "Change directions." You've been welcomed into the Kingdom of Heaven right now, but will you allow God to change your lives from being ruled by fear to being ruled by love." You have been baptised and claimed as a beloved child of God, but will you follow Jesus as a disciple? Hear the Good News that the master of the universe, the crucified one, has called you to live a life of self-giving love, and turn away from a selfish life. And in doing so find freedom and joy in the service to the world.
But how do we do we allow God to change our lives? We do this by being the Church. In baptism we are claimed by God as beloved children of God. God gives us the gift of grace. What does "grace" mean? It means "kindness" ... "divine kindness". And in order to grow in that kindness we need to give it to others. Give kindness by telling people about Jesus. Give the kindness of Jesus to each other in Christian fellowship. Give kindness to friends. Give kindness to family. And especially give kindness to the stranger.
That is what the man with one talent was given. He was given skills to be shared in the loving of others, but chose not to and therefore could not be part of God's kingdom which is ruled by self-giving love. As Christians we say that salvation comes by grace through faith. We discover the Good News that God loves us just as who we are right now, that is grace. But we need to trust our future to God. We need to risk living a new life in response to God's love. We need Jesus to show us a whole new way of life.
There are Christians who have worked hard in the Church all their lives who don't know this. They think being a Christian means following a harsh Jesus who makes them feel guilty so they have to work hard to earn a place at the table. No, no, no, we are welcome at the table already, just as we are, and it is at the table of Jesus that we are invited to live a life of freedom from guilt. We are called to live a life motivated by love, rather than fear. We are call to be people for whom the kindness of God overflows in our lives.
That is why the one talent was taken from the one who was unwilling to trust that God's household is one of love. Sharing love with others is central to the coming of God's Kingdom, and he could not imagine that he could live differently. For those who don't practice kindness soon find in the end that it disappears, but to those who share it, they find that Jesus gives them an abundance of opportunities for loving others.
Now, one last point lest this sound like a naive encouragement to "just be a kind person." We are called into a whole new way of living, one not ruled by fear, but we often don't get it right. Often we make mistakes thinking that we're doing a loving thing, but later we discover that it was an evil thing. Remember what the United Church did to the aboriginal people. We thought that by forcing them to learn English that it would be a good thing. Later we found out that we destroyed cultures, and lives. And for that we have expressed our sorry.
Or we thought we were doing the right thing to another in the Church, but later discovered we were wrong. Or perhaps discovered that we neglected someone. These are times when we ask for forgiveness.
It can be difficult to know how to love, but then Jesus does not leave us alone. We gather here each week. God sends people to help us to grow in loving. Jesus gives gifts to writers, song writers, care givers, preachers, teachers, and spiritual friends who will encourage us to overcome fear, challenge us to face falsehood, and remind us that Jesus considers us beloved friends.
And therefore be compassionate and forgiving with those who make mistakes. Find ways to reconcile and forgive. And when you run into people like the one talented man, do not let them pour water on the fire of your spirit. Don't be surprised that there are people in the Church who are ruled by fear not grace. I met a man once who stopped being a Christian because as a boy some people in church were cruel to him. But Jesus is never cruel. When you encounter the heartless, tell them the Good News of Jesus Christ and show them kindness. They might just take a leap of faith and find that through Jesus, they have been given not just a new heart, but a whole new joyous life.
Sermon Matthew 25:13-31
There is a saying in English, "Use it or lose it." Use your muscles or they become weak and you fall down. Use your brain or later in life you will become senile. "Use it or lose it." It seems like simple wisdom.
The English saying certainly comes from today's scripture passage. A master was going away and he entrusts his money to his servants. To one he gives five thousand dollars, to another two thousand, and to another one thousand. Actually he gives them five, two, and one talents. A "talent" is a block of silver worth about $1000. As you know the word "talent" in English comes from this scripture passage.
We say, "Lin Yin, is a talented musician." We say, "Wei Hsi is a talented music director." We look at our children and say, "Oh, my son is a talented artist. My daughter is a talented math student." But, even though the English language uses the word talent to describe being gifted with a special skill, today's text isn't talking about all sorts of skills.
Today's text isn't even about money, although some have tried to say it is. We know of sermon's where clergy, often with wealthy congregations will say, "See, the one with the 5 talents worked hard, and therefore God blessed him. And the wicked lazy servant, those are the poor people who don't work hard with what God gives them so its their fault they suffer." This text has cruelly been used to justify wealth and condemn the poor as lazy, even though we know that among the wealthy there are people who have become rich by working very hard and other wealthy people who have become rich by working very little. Just as we know that there are poor people who work very hard, but stay poor. And yes in some cases there are poor people who are lazy. But this text is not talking about how to become rich through hard work.
What we do know is that the text says that Jesus is talking about the Kingdom of Heaven, talking about what is also called the Kingdom of God, talking about God's power that is breaking into the world through Jesus. He tells three stories in Matthew Chapter 25. The story of the young women with the oil. The story of the talents. And the story of the final judgement where some are called sheep and others goats.
And today we are right in the middle with a story that some might think is very harsh.
The five talent man who doubles the wealth is told, "Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord."
The two talent man who doubles the wealth is told, "Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord."
And to the one talent man, who buries his talent, the master says, "Lord, I knew you that you are a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter.
I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the earth. Behold, you have your own." But his lord answered him, "You wicked and slothful servant. You knew that I reap where I didn`t sow, and gather where I didn`t scatter. You ought therefore to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received back my own with interest. Take away therefore the talent from him, and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has will be given, and he will have abundance, but from him who has not, even that which he has will be taken away. Throw out the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness; there will be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth."
What terrible judgement for the man who buries his masters money. The money is taken from him and given to the one who has the most. This doesn't sound like a loving God does it? Where is the forgiveness? Where is kindness? How can God's presence in the world be connected with such terrible consequences? Indeed, being cast out of the light, out of the house of the master, cast out of the Kingdom of Heaven, into what sounds like a place of despair and anger, doesn't sound like a Jesus who is willing to die for enemies, and forgive those who killed him. This doesn't sound like Jesus who forgives those who abandoned him when he was arrested but later forgives them.
Is Jesus kind? Yes! Does Jesus love us? Yes! Does Jesus have compassion for those who fail in life? Yes! Does Jesus love people who hate him? Yes! Does Jesus want anyone to be in a place where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth ... into hell? No! In the Gospel of John, it says, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God didn`t send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through him"
This is the Jesus we know, however did you hear it? This isn't the Jesus that the man with one talent knows. Did you hear why he buries his talent? "Lord, I knew you that you are a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter. I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the earth. Behold, you have your own."
Listen to the one talent servant ... he thinks Jesus is a hard man. A vengeful man. A cruel man. The servant thinks that if he fails Jesus will punish him. He's afraid of Jesus, afraid of God, and afraid to serve lest he fail and be in a worse situation. He can imagine that life could be more that his, and his fear enslaves him.
He's part of the household of God, and yet, because of his fear he has never gotten to know who Jesus really is. He has never took the time share in the mission of Jesus, so that he could discover that the reason why Jesus can reap where he has not sown.
The worthless servant is the one who has not followed Jesus and learned along the journey who Jesus is; one full of kindness, compassion, mercy, and most of all forgiveness. The worthless servant has been welcomed into the household, but clearly hasn't committed himself to learned to live as part of the household of God. As a slave of fear, he can not live in a house ruled by love.
Remember what Jesus most common commandment is? Don't be afraid. Don't live a life ruled by fear. Don't be a Church ruled by fear. Don't think following Jesus is always being afraid of messing up. Of always being on guard lest God punish you. That is not the God we know in Jesus.
As I thought about this sermon, part of me wanted to change the parable to include another servant. The servant who was given ½ a talent but made a bad trade and had to face Jesus with no talents. I image this one, with a face hung low, saying to the Lord, "I tried but I failed." And I imagined the Lord saying, "I forgive you, here's another ½ talent, try again." After thinking this, I realized that Jesus would live this parable later in the story. You see, Jesus gives this parable of warning, right before he is to be killed, right before his disciples abandon him, right before they fail him.
At the cross, they come to know where their love fails, discover that God's love is more powerful even than death. They know that with God all things are possible. They are willing to trust and live as Jesus calls them to live. They are the ones who are willing to let God show them a whole new way.
Jesus said, "Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!" Repent means, "Change directions." You've been welcomed into the Kingdom of Heaven right now, but will you allow God to change your lives from being ruled by fear to being ruled by love." You have been baptised and claimed as a beloved child of God, but will you follow Jesus as a disciple? Hear the Good News that the master of the universe, the crucified one, has called you to live a life of self-giving love, and turn away from a selfish life. And in doing so find freedom and joy in the service to the world.
But how do we do we allow God to change our lives? We do this by being the Church. In baptism we are claimed by God as beloved children of God. God gives us the gift of grace. What does "grace" mean? It means "kindness" ... "divine kindness". And in order to grow in that kindness we need to give it to others. Give kindness by telling people about Jesus. Give the kindness of Jesus to each other in Christian fellowship. Give kindness to friends. Give kindness to family. And especially give kindness to the stranger.
That is what the man with one talent was given. He was given skills to be shared in the loving of others, but chose not to and therefore could not be part of God's kingdom which is ruled by self-giving love. As Christians we say that salvation comes by grace through faith. We discover the Good News that God loves us just as who we are right now, that is grace. But we need to trust our future to God. We need to risk living a new life in response to God's love. We need Jesus to show us a whole new way of life.
There are Christians who have worked hard in the Church all their lives who don't know this. They think being a Christian means following a harsh Jesus who makes them feel guilty so they have to work hard to earn a place at the table. No, no, no, we are welcome at the table already, just as we are, and it is at the table of Jesus that we are invited to live a life of freedom from guilt. We are called to live a life motivated by love, rather than fear. We are call to be people for whom the kindness of God overflows in our lives.
That is why the one talent was taken from the one who was unwilling to trust that God's household is one of love. Sharing love with others is central to the coming of God's Kingdom, and he could not imagine that he could live differently. For those who don't practice kindness soon find in the end that it disappears, but to those who share it, they find that Jesus gives them an abundance of opportunities for loving others.
Now, one last point lest this sound like a naive encouragement to "just be a kind person." We are called into a whole new way of living, one not ruled by fear, but we often don't get it right. Often we make mistakes thinking that we're doing a loving thing, but later we discover that it was an evil thing. Remember what the United Church did to the aboriginal people. We thought that by forcing them to learn English that it would be a good thing. Later we found out that we destroyed cultures, and lives. And for that we have expressed our sorry.
Or we thought we were doing the right thing to another in the Church, but later discovered we were wrong. Or perhaps discovered that we neglected someone. These are times when we ask for forgiveness.
It can be difficult to know how to love, but then Jesus does not leave us alone. We gather here each week. God sends people to help us to grow in loving. Jesus gives gifts to writers, song writers, care givers, preachers, teachers, and spiritual friends who will encourage us to overcome fear, challenge us to face falsehood, and remind us that Jesus considers us beloved friends.
And therefore be compassionate and forgiving with those who make mistakes. Find ways to reconcile and forgive. And when you run into people like the one talented man, do not let them pour water on the fire of your spirit. Don't be surprised that there are people in the Church who are ruled by fear not grace. I met a man once who stopped being a Christian because as a boy some people in church were cruel to him. But Jesus is never cruel. When you encounter the heartless, tell them the Good News of Jesus Christ and show them kindness. They might just take a leap of faith and find that through Jesus, they have been given not just a new heart, but a whole new joyous life.
Sermon Matthew 25:13-31
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