November 20

Acts 2:42-47

"They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved."

I think these verses do an excellent job of describing exactly what the Church should be. The Church doesn't need a building, talented musicians, brillant teachers in order to exist. All we need is to be devoted to Jesus' teachings and to each other... and that's it. Everything else will happen as it should as long as we pray together, support each other, grow in our faith together.

I have seen a great example of this kind of selfless love and fellowship at Lakeside Christian Church in Escanaba, MI (Travis' parents church). Lakeside is not a big church, probably on average about 40 people per Sunday. One of their members recently lost his job and then a short time later was diagnosed with cancer. This small congregation rallied behind their brother in ways that have astounded me. They have given generously to help him and his family not fall behind on their bills. They have also organized community events to raise money for his medical expenses. They have given countless meals, phone calls, cards, and prayers on his behalf. They have sacrificed for his sake so that he would not be in need. They are living proof that God can do great things, even with a small number people. This man's name is Chuck Thompson. He is someone who means a great deal to me, Travis and our parents. It would mean a lot to all of us if we at Grace Church could lift him up in prayer. Thank you.

Monday November 19th

Do you recognize Jesus?  It sounds like a silly question but it is a good one.  You can spend time reading the bible, praying, singing worship songs but when you go out into the world do you recognize Jesus in your daily life?  The disciples, the women who went to the tomb, the devoted followers of Christ who spent many days, weeks, months, and even years with Jesus didn't.  After his death and resurrection several of them had trouble recognizing him.   Mary and the women at the tomb thought he was nothing more then the gardener.  The men on the road to Emmaus thought him a stranger until their eyes were open.  Even Peter and others by the Sea of Tiberias did not recognize him at first.  Why not?  I don't know the exact answer but I do believe that we can learn something from this.  Perhaps Christ wanted them to learn to look for him in people and places that they were not used to looking, in people with whom or places were they hadn't spent time before this point.   Maybe he was trying to make a point.  Were these Christ followers only willing to take steps of faith if the faces around them were familiar?  If the road they had to travel was recognizable?  If the situation was easy to discern?  Christ was calling them (especially Peter) to follow him wherever he would lead and that often meant going into the unknown and the unpleasant.   They had to learning to recognize him leading them in ways they hadn't seen or thought of before.

Mother Teresa is a very good example of following Jesus when he isn't easily recognizable and the following is a story of how she would recognize Jesus in her everyday life:

Many of Mother Teresa's admirers would ask her, "How can you keep serving the poor, the sick, and the dying with such vigor? What's the secret? How do you do it?"

Her answer was surprising and profound. "Whenever I meet someone in need," she said, "it's really Jesus in his most distressing disguise."

Jesus in the child abandoned by the road.
Jesus in the beggar hoping for a meal.
Jesus in the leper whose limbs have turned to dust.

"It's him I help—him alone."

When pushed further, she referenced Matthew 25 where Jesus confirms her response:

"Then the righteous will answer him and say, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?'

And the king will say to them in reply, 'Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.'"

 

I challenge you this week to look for Jesus in disguise.  To strive to see him in ways you haven't before and serve him in ways that are new, and possibly challenging.  Then next week ask yourself the same question I started this post with:

 

Do you recognize Jesus?  Then see how your answer differs from this week to next week.

On a final note if you are interested, Brandon Heath's newest album: Blue Mountain (The whole album is great), has a song on it called Jesus in Disguise.  The song was inspired by the above quote from Mother Teresa.  I have included the link if you would like to listen to it.  Maybe it can be a reminder to you to have your eyes opened, liked those on the road to Emmaus, and to see Jesus in ways you haven't before.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VEyouQhBtY

Nov 17

During the Easter season, especially on Good Friday we focus on His suffering and death on the cross. Jesus' final hours on the cross lasted about six hours. Let's walk through these events as they are laid out in Scripture, including the events just before and immediately following the Crucifixion.

Note: The actual times of these events are not recorded in Scripture. The timeline represents an approximate series of events for perspective purpose only.

Timeline of Jesus' Final Hours

Preceding Events

·       The Last Supper: (Matthew 26:20-30; Mark 14:17-26; Luke 22:14-38; John 13:21-30)

·       In the Garden
(Matthew 26:36-46; Mark 14:32-42; Luke 22:39-45)

·       Jesus is Betrayed and Arrested 
(Matthew 26:47-56; Mark 14:43-52; Luke 22:47-53; John 18:1-11)

·       The Religious Leaders Condemn Jesus 
(Matthew 27:1-2; Mark 15:1; Luke 22:66-71)

 

6 a.m.

·       Jesus Stands Trial Before Pilot
(Matthew 27:11-14; Mark 15:2-5; Luke 23:1-5; John 18:28-37)

·       Jesus Sent to Herod 
(Luke 23:6-12)

7 a.m.

·       Jesus Returned to Pilate 
(Luke 23:11)

·       Jesus is Sentenced to Death 
(Matthew 27:26; Mark 15:15; Luke 23:23-24; John 19:16)

8 a.m.

·       Jesus is Led Away to Calvary
(Matthew 27:32-34; Mark 15:21-24; Luke 23:26-31; John 19:16-17)

The Crucifixion

9 a.m. - "The Third Hour"

  Jesus Crucified

 Mark 15: 25 - It was the third hour when they crucified him.The third hour in Jewish time would have been 9 a.m.

Luke 23:34 - Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."

·       The Soldiers Cast Lots for Jesus' Clothing 
(Mark 15:24)

10 a.m.

·       Jesus is Insulted and Mocked

Matthew 27:39-40 - And the people passing by shouted abuse, shaking their heads in mockery. "So! You can destroy the Temple and build it again in three days, can you? Well then, if you are the Son of God, save yourself and come down from the cross!" 

Mark 15:31 - The leading priests and teachers of religious law also mocked Jesus. "He saved others," they scoffed, "but he can't save himself!" 

Luke 23:36-37 - The soldiers mocked him, too, by offering him a drink of sour wine. They called out to him, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!" 

Luke 23:39 - One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!" 

 

 

11 a.m.

·       Jesus and the Criminal

Luke 23:40-43 - But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong."

Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."

Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." 

·       Jesus Speaks to Mary and John

John 19:26-27 - When Jesus saw his mother standing there beside the disciple he loved, he said to her, "Woman, he is your son." And he said to this disciple, "She is your mother." And from then on this disciple took her into his home. 

Noon - "The Sixth Hour"

·       Darkness Covers the Land

Mark 15:33 - At the sixth hour darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour. 

1 p.m.

·       Jesus Cries Out to the Father

Matthew 27:46 - And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" that is, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" 

·       Jesus is Thirsty

John 19:28-29 - Jesus knew that everything was now finished, and to fulfill the Scriptures he said, "I am thirsty."A jar of sour wine was sitting there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put it on a hyssop branch, and held it up to his lips. 

2 p.m.

·       It is Finished

John 19:30a - When Jesus had tasted it, he said, "It is finished!" 

Luke 23:46 - Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." When he had said this, he breathed his last. 

 

--
Chuck Goulart
President
Anytime Appliance
203-943-0961

"Effective leadership is not about making speeches or being liked; leadership is defined by results not attributes."

Nov 17

November 17, 2012

 

What is the greatest danger we face in the U.S. today?  The answers would certainly include potential issues like terrorism, hurricanes, the fiscal cliff, the breakdown of the family, and the failures of education. But I believe the most dangerous issue facing our culture today is "relativism." I define relativism as the existence of a culture without any absolute truths.

 

This same issue faced Pilate 2000 years ago. It is very obvious from our reading today that Pilate knows Jesus is innocent. Time and time again, he tries to free Jesus because he knows the charges are trumped up by the Jewish leaders. But right smack dab in the middle of this trial a huge philosophical issue is raised, "What is Truth?"  Jesus starts the discussion by this statement in John 18:37, "you are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me." And Pilate ends the discussion with the question, "What is truth?"

 

If you had been privileged to be in the room with Pilate and Jesus at that moment, how would you have answered that question?  That answer would determine the outcome of the trial.

 

If truth is relative, if it is in the eye of the beholder, if it is the choice of the individual, then we have no moorings to guide the judge.  The great danger is that no one is safe because the law now is a pliable tool in the hands of politicians and judges. Without truth, the law becomes whatever the fastest gunslinger, the slickest politician, or the loudest talk show host says.  This is what happened in Germany in the 1930's with the holocaust. This is what is happening today.

 

The Bible says truth is "God's Reality." Truth is the way God sees the world. This is not a very popular notion these days but without God determining right and wrong we are left to the arbitrary decisions of political leaders and they will always choose what is expedient for the moment. Just look at Pilate.

 

Ask someone the Pilate question, "What is truth?" You might be surprised to see how close we are to danger.

 

It is time to think about 2013. Who could you invite to take the Bible reading journey with you?  We will be using the "One Year Bible" next year. It is free resource at oneyearbibleonline.mobi/ or you can order a copy at church.  There is no better way for people to grow in their understanding of the truth than by reading it daily for a year.

 

 

Friday, November, 16, 2012 - the Gethsemane prayer

Friday, November, 16, 2012
The Gethsemane prayer

Have you ever suffered from hematidrosis? On Wikipedia, hematidrosis
is defined as a "very rare condition in which a human sweats blood."
Wikipedia also states that hematidrosis occurs "when a person is
suffering from extreme levels of stress, for example, facing his or
her own death." I don't know about you, but I have never agonized to
the point where I have sweat blood. Sure, I have had moments of deep
distress, but never have I experienced anguish that caused blood
sweat. Jesus, on the other hand, experienced "sorrow to the point of
death," (Mark 14:34) and sweat blood while praying to the Father in
the garden of Gethsemane. Why was Jesus so distressed and troubled?

Well, one obvious answer we can gather from today's reading was that
Jesus knew His disciple, Judas Iscariot, had just betrayed Him and was
about to hand Him over to the officers of the chief priests. Then, in
the trial before the Sanhedrin, Jesus knew the chief priests would
condemn Him to death. Soon, Jesus would be crucified and He knew it;
but the work of the cross did not start on the cross; it started in
the garden of Gethsemane. It was in Gethsemane that Jesus first felt
the burden of the world's sins. God, in human flesh, sweating blood,
naturally said, "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me,"
(Luke 22:42), but strengthened by the Spirit, Jesus said, "yet not my
will, but yours be done." I'm still in awe of how God humbled himself
to human flesh for our sake. God allowed His own Son to experience as
a man, unimaginable betrayal and abandonment, deep anguish that caused
blood sweat, sorrow to the point of death, the worst flogging
possible, and death itself – all so we could have victory over sin,
life's struggles, and death in the flesh.

In Gethsemane, Jesus felt the burdened cup He had to drink for our
sins, but in His love for us, He said, "My Father, if it is not
possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your
will be done." (Matthew 26:42) I can only imagine all the people (you,
me, and literally every person that has and will ever exist) that
Jesus had on His heart, when He was sweating blood over us – a couple
of those people are as follows:

1. The repentant woman who just a few days earlier had anointed Jesus'
feet with expensive perfume, ultimately preparing his body for burial.
Jesus no doubt remembered her love for Him and how she wet his feet
with her tears, wiped them with her hair, and kissed them just before
pouring perfume on them. A woman with great sin, but also with a great
repentant heart – Jesus knew what He was dying for

2. Peter, who denied Jesus three times in today's reading to save his
own skin. Peter was probably the closest with Jesus out of all the
apostles and yet even he, denied Jesus in His worst hours. Just
earlier, Peter had told Jesus, "Lord, I am ready to go with you to
prison and to death." (John 13:37) Jesus knew Peter would fall away;
"I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny
three times that you know me;" (John 13:38) But Jesus also knew that
after His own resurrection, Peter would be strengthened, encourage the
apostles, and give his own life for the Gospel. Yes, Jesus knew why He
had to die.

But even beyond all those who have and will turn to Jesus' great
sacrificial love, I know much of Jesus' anguished blood sweat was for
those who would never choose Him. I can't imagine the pain God must
feel about those that have and will, reject His Son. Let's praise our
Savior today for the blood He sweat for us – we thank you Lord, we
praise you Lord. Let us never lose sight of the anguish and pain you
withstood for our sake. Today Lord, we glorify your name. In Jesus
Name. Amen.

God Bless,
Anthony

November 15: John 15 to 17

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2012

John 15 to 17

 

 

“Then Jesus’ disciples said, ‘Now you are speaking clearly and without figures of speech.  Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions.  This makes us believe that you came from God.’“ (John 16:29,30)

 

Today’s passage records Jesus’s final words of preparation for His sometimes confused and likely trepidatious followers.  Not yet fully aware of what might transpire surrounding Jesus’s “going away,” they had previously shown confidence that they would not fall away during Jesus’s upcoming trial.  Jesus’s words reflect on the function and ongoing work of the Body of Christ, the church, after His death and resurrection.

 

We may several things regarding God’s plan to use fallen people as a vehicle for His truth:

 

1.  The plan was risky.  People are fickle, and their enthusiasm can wane quickly.

 

2.  He might have chosen a more organized, powerful group than these specific disciples.

 

3.  Still, it is clear that God can equip His followers to fulfill the Great Commission of making disciples.  As Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 3:4–6, “such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God.  Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.  He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant — not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.”

 

 

As one might expect, Jesus’s words hold a special gravity, given the nature of the transition.  We may take away several key teachings that guide our daily walk with Christ to this day:

 

1.  Without a strong connection to Christ, we will not produce fruit.  “I am the vine; you are the branches.  If a man remains in me and in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (15:5)  We must remain connected to Christ through His Word and prayer.  It requires our choosing to be bound to Him.  Then, God will “prune” us so that we may become more fruitful. (Hebrews 12:4–13)

 

2.  There will be struggles, but...

               

                a.  The believers’ faithfulness will bring glory to God.  Jesus points out that it “is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples,” in spite of persecution (15:8).

               

                b.  The believers’ love for one another will sustain the church.  “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.  If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love.  I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.  My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.  Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” (15:8–13)  Jesus then prays that the believers “be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” (17:23)

 

This type of love would sustain even the weak.  Over the long run, self-sacrificing love has its source and strength in God Himself.  The church, through caring for one another in difficult times, would bear witness to God’s loving character and would encourage one another to keep going:  “But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.  We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first.” (Hebrews 3:13,14)

 

                c.  The coming persecution will reveal the world’s hearts.  Jesus explains that, “if the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.  If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.  If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own.  As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.” (15:18,19)  We often take rejection in evangelism or the possibility thereof personally; instead, we may view people’s reactions to our faith as a rejection of God Himself.

 

                d.  The Holy Spirit will empower the church.  As Christ promised earlier, the Holy Spirit would guide the church into all truth.  (As we consider difficult situations, what we require is not more knowledge, but more of God’s wisdom.)  In Chapter 16, we hear Jesus explaining that the Holy Spirit will both 1) “convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment” and 2) “bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you.”  The church would not fly alone.  The Holy Spirit would be poured out and would empower, guide, and direct those seeking to honor Jesus.

 

 

3.  In His high priestly prayer (17:1–26), we find:

 

                a.  The vehicle of eternal life.  “Now this is eternal life:  that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” (17:3)

 

                b.  The humble example of the Suffering Servant.  “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me.  I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.” (17:25,26)

 

                c.  The source of all truth and the destination of rightfully directed glory:  God Himself.  “Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.” (17:5)

 

                d.  The glorification of the Son through death.  “Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you.   For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him.” (17:1b,2)

 

QUESTIONS

 

1.  How may you cling more to the Vine this week?

 

2.  How may you reflect on God’s eternal plan to bring recognition of complete joy, even during times of trial?

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The Upper Room Luke 22, John 13-14, Matt 26

The Upper Room

Luke 22, John 13-14, Matt 26

 

            Last night I was watching Piers Morgan on CNN and he was interviewing Anthony Bourdain who is known for his traveling and food adventures.  One of the final questions that he was asked was about what his last meal would be.  Piers asked him what would it be?  Where would it be? Who would be there? And who would prepare it?  Mentally I asked myself the same questions.  This is my answer: (and for those who know me, you all know I LOVE food, and it is one of my cherished sins at times.)  It would be in my grandma's kitchen on an October morning with the old wood stove burning, hot coffee, fresh tortillas, beans, red chile and a fried egg.  That right there my friends would be my last supper.  Getting a little misty eyed thinking about it.  

I think it's interesting the timing of this question with today's reading. We all know about the Last Supper and it's a holy ritual the Church has practiced for centuries and began hours before Jesus's death on the cross.  Paul later expanded on it in I Corinthians 11 (I encourage you to read this.)  It's an image that we know by the masterpiece of Leonardo da Vinci and other great artists who have attempted to recreate what it may have been like in that Upper Room in Jerusalem.  After reading it I answered the questions that Piers asked last night.  The meal consisted of bread and wine (there was probably more?)  The people with Jesus were his disciples – the 12 men who had traveled, lived, and been his companions the last three years, his brothers, in Jerusalem.  Looking at Jesus we see who he is: A SERVANT (he came to serve and we must serve).  LOVE.  John 13: 1 – 5 is the image of Jesus showing his love for these men.  An OBEDIENT SON.  A theme that is repeated in these chapter is loving God = obeying God.  They go hand in hand.  He was TROUBLED.  He knew what was ahead with betrayal, torture and ultimate death.  But I'm sure he was worried about the physical pain and what death would bring, but I can imagine the heart ache knowing the denial and betrayal that would come from these men.  I think of the heartache and mourning I have experienced in my life by loved people who have betrayed or forgotten me.  Those moments have been the worse.   

One thing that also really stood out to me was the warning that Jesus gave his disciples about their own sin and the threat of the world and Satan.  I have never really caught the image that Jesus tells Peter in Luke 22, "Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat.  But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail."  Think of a sift.  It is a separator…a sorter.  It removes impurities, big pieces from smaller pieces, and is used in baking, cooking, gold and diamond finding.  In this image, Satan is holding this great sift and we are all sitting in it.  He shakes and shakes it…violently and messy at times (i.e. life) and in the times we lack faith, we fall through.  Jesus prayed for Peter.  He prayed that his faith would not fail.  Also notice that Satan ASKED PERMISSION!!!!!  Just like we saw in Job.  God is in control and nothing happens with our His total Sovereign control. What a relief.  But that sift is still pretty rough at times.  It is a lesson to me about what my faith looks like.