relationships (Matthew 14:1-14) Knowing the One Who Helps

(Matthew 14:1-14)

1 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the news about Jesus, 2 and said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist; he himself has been raised from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.”

3 For when Herod had John arrested, he bound him and put him in prison because of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip. 4 For John had been saying to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.” 5 Although Herod wanted to put him to death, he feared the crowd, because they regarded John as a prophet.

6 But when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod, 7 so much that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. 8 And after being prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter.” 9 And although he was grieved, the king commanded it to be given because of his oaths and his dinner guests. 10 He sent word and had John beheaded in the prison. 11 And his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother. 12 John’s disciples came and took away the body and buried it; and they went and reported to Jesus.

13 Now when Jesus heard about John, He withdrew from there in a boat to a secluded place by Himself; and when the people heard about this, they followed Him on foot from the cities. 14 When He came ashore, He saw a large crowd, and felt compassion for them and healed their sick.

TODAY'S TAKEAWAY

Where there is sin, there is pride, hatred, fear and more sin!  For example, instead of repenting and doing the right thing, Herod and Herodias wanted John the Baptist in prison, and to be killed, in attempts to cover up the sin of being together.  But, seriously, how does that solve anything?  Yet, we do see this happening!  This is how our sinful nature thinks.

On a big scale, we see this in communist and authoritarian countries, and terrorist regimes and organizations.  Over the years, we hear about all the Christians who are tortured and killed or stuck in prisons.  Why? Just because they hate Christians, and they want their voices and beliefs to be silenced, and to put fear into everyone else so that they will also hate and avoid Christianity.  

On a "small" scale, we see this even in ourselves.  In a recent sermon, our pastor suggested that we consider everything in our lives with this thought:  in everything we say, do, see and hear - is it luring me away from the Lord, or is it bringing me closer to the Lord?  Are these things causing me to lust, hate or fear, or are they helping me to be content, to love, and to find God's peace, joy and certain hope?

As believers, the more we know about God, and the better we know Him, we will have greater trust, courage and confidence in Him!  And, even though things here on earth can be very dangerous, difficult and unfair, we can be encouraged in just knowing that the Lord cares and is with us as our strength and help!  And we should then see things very differently, in understanding that life here on earth is just a very tiny, temporary part of it all, because life is eternal, and we know where we are going after we pass away.   

We can look to John the Baptist and his disciples as examples to follow.  John spread God's word, even though it meant his imprisonment and untimely death.  And his disciples still came to claim John's body, even though Herod would have resented them for doing so.  It was also Jewish law that forbade public mourning for those who were executed (justly or not).

Now we see Jesus' perfect example.  Although He would never have made a spectacle of Himself by mourning and wailing in the streets, He still quietly slipped away to be alone.  And even though He always knew what would happen to John, we can see that the Lord cares deeply for His children, as well as for unbelievers and the state of the world!  

Because the Lord God is sovereign, He sees everything - all of the sin and all of the hurting!  And He desires that all come to know Him personally, to find spiritual healing, peace and joy, and eternal life... with Him in heaven, where there will be no more pain or suffering!  This is exactly why the Lord Jesus came in flesh - to suffer and die for all sins - so that we don't have to!  He conquered sin and has victory over death, so that we can have victory and everlasting life in Him!

relationships (Matthew 13:53-58) The Things We Should Remember

(Matthew 13:53-58)

53 When Jesus had finished these parables, He departed from there. 54 And He came to His hometown and began teaching them in their synagogue, with the result that they were astonished, and said, “Where did this man acquire this wisdom and these miraculous powers? 55 Is this not the carpenter’s son? Is His mother not called Mary, and His brothers, James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? 56 And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man acquire all these things?” 57 And they took offense at Him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not dishonored except in his hometown and in his own household.” 58 And He did not do many miracles there because of their unbelief.

TODAY'S TAKEAWAY

Jesus' hometown, Nazareth, was not that big, having somewhere between 500 and 2,000 people, and most of them would have been Jewish.  Growing up in a "pioneer settlement" town that size, everybody seemed to know me.  Now, this isn't necessarily a bad thing, as long as there is a culture of respect and sound morality.

There will be some legitimate reasons to move away from various dangerous areas and situations, but let me just say to anyone who currently lives in a small town and thinks that the answer to a happier life is to move to a city, it is most likely not.  If someone cannot manage the relationships around them, and then move somewhere else to escape an awkward or frustrating scenario, that person will most likely only "find" and/or create a similar situation, because wherever you are - there you are - you and all your awkward "quirks" and issues!!!  Without working on yourself (with God's help), all one has done is changed the location.

After high school, I actually lived in two very different cities, with completely different cultures,  both around 2 million people.  And I have to say, I was just as lonely as I was in my hometown, even after finding a few friends.  Since then, as I have now lived in many other types of towns and cities, I have realized my patterns, as well as some issues I personally needed to work on.  

Here are some of the things I have learned over the years.  The most important thing in my life is my relationship with the Lord!  And with that comes the importance to quickly find a church with sound doctrines, and get involved.  Simply attending church is not enough.  God created us to serve and asks that we use our gifts to serve Him and others.  As well, He as asks us that we do not neglect the meeting of the saints.  And knowing how people work, God knows that people are "shy", and put up walls, and all that nonsense, but when we worship, eat and work together, this is what will help break down walls!!!  In this we will find instant community with others who have everything in common.

Now to the issue of Jesus not being accepted and honored in His hometown...  People do struggle with a few other things, like gossiping and slandering, and believing in the gossip and the slander.  Now, if they actually witness our imperfections and we don't try to reconcile these things, people tend to also struggle with grace and forgiveness.  Even if one moves away from an area, and comes back 50 years later, they will remember how you WERE, and not necessary see or think how you might be now.  Right?  When we think back to childhood and that neighborhood bully, we typically imagine that the person they grew up to be is still a bully.  I mean, they might be, but they might have actually changed.  We don't know!

So, here's something important that believers need to work on!  When someone with an infamous past becomes a Christian, we should not look at them and think, or say, "Huh, well, we'll just see how long this lasts!"  With God's love, grace and patience, we should be praying for others, mentoring them, and encouraging them...  God is changing all of us from the inside out, and as we allow, He continues to work for us, in us and through us!  God is able to mature Christians with horrible pasts to become amazing testimonies - like, um, this one guy named Saul, who was in charge of persecuting and killing Christians, who upon "meeting Jesus" was renamed Paul, and wrote most of the New Testament.  And we see in scripture how many believers struggled to trust him at first.

Of course, Jesus didn't have past indiscretions or any sins at all.  He was and is holy and perfect!  Jesus is God!  Jesus is the way, the truth and the life.  And no one can become a believer unless and until they open their spiritual ears and eyes to see, recognize, understand and believe in this... to believe IN Him.  And I still find it shockingly amazing how quickly we can see and/or experience a miracle, but then so quickly forget about it, or explain it away.  So then when we are faced with something, our bad memories will result in less faith, and therefore, we "limit" what God is able to do in our lives.  This is just one reason why we should be praying and in God's word everyday, and going to church, and getting involved!  We absolutely need constant reminders that the Lord God is sovereign...

(Mark 9:23) ...Jesus said to him, “‘If You can?’ All things are possible for the one who believes.”

(Genesis 18:14a)   Is anything too difficult for the Lord?...

(Mark 19:26)  ...Jesus said to them, “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

(Jeremiah 32:17) ‘Oh, Lord God! Behold, You Yourself have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm!  Nothing is too difficult for You'

relationships (Matthew 13:47-52) Something to be Shared

(Matthew 13:47-58)

47 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered fish of every kind; 48 and when it was filled, they pulled it up on the beach; and they sat down and gathered the good fish into containers, but the bad they threw away. 49 So it will be at the end of the age: the angels will come forth and remove the wicked from among the righteous, 50 and they will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

51 “Have you understood all these things?” They said to Him, “Yes.” 52 And Jesus said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has become a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a head of a household, who brings out of his treasure new things and old.”

TODAY'S TAKEAWAY

The first four verses here are not talking about the rapture, where all believers of all time will be caught up to heaven right before the Tribulation begins (1 Thess. 4-5).  As children of God, we are saved from the wrath tom come.  And because we are sealed with the indwelling Holy Spirit, when "He who restrains" is removed from the earth, it only stands to reason that we are removed from the earth as well.

But, these verse above are talking about Jesus' second coming, which happens at the end of the Tribulation.  Because only unbelievers will be remaining here on the earth at the beginning, there will those who become believers... especially the Jews, who will see and recognize their signs (which align exactly with the judgments).  

With either event, it is obviously to our benefit that we are believers.  And because the Lord is all-knowing, and knows exactly who and when someone is going to become a believer, and who is not, these events will happen at the very right time.

When Jesus came the first time, if the Jews, as a nation, had accepted Him as their personal Lord and Savior, as well as their rightful King, they would have gone into the kingdom of heaven (aka kingdom of God, aka Millennial kingdom).  But instead, they rejected and crucified Jesus, just as the Old Testament verses prophesied.  And like Daniel 9 prophesies, there is seven years remaining in God's determined Jewish Age.  Once the Jewish Age is complete, this is when Jesus will sit on their throne and fulfill all covenants, and reign in righteousness and justice to bring both spiritual and physical peace to the world.

In verses 51-52, Jesus asks His listeners if they understood what He said.  To fully understand, is to know how the Old Testament and the New Testament work together in truth, to bring about the forgiveness of sins, which is salvation through the Lord Jesus.  I just finished going through the Old Testament with this topic of relationships, and it was so amazing to see how almost every single chapter of every single book speaks about the personal relationship that we can have with the Lord.  And being saved, and having a personal relationship with God is priceless!  Truly the greatest treasure one could ever have!  And this treasure should not be stored in a trunk and hidden from others, but it should be shared!

relationships (Matthew 13:44-58) Most Important One

(Matthew 13:44-58)

44 “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells everything that he has, and buys that field.

45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, 46 and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold everything that he had and bought it.

TODAY'S TAKEAWAY

Christianity is the most precious treasure one can have... for this world, as well as for eternity.  Most importantly, it is all about having a close, personal relationship with the Lord God, who came in flesh and gave His life as a ransom for us, to set us free from the slavery of sin, and reconcile us to Himself.  In this we are born again, receiving His indwelling Holy Spirit, who changes us from the inside out, and in this, He is our heavenly Father.  Adopting us into His family, we become fellow heirs in His kingdom, and He will never disown us!  We can never lose our salvation!  He is always with us, to help us, guide us, equip us... and fill us with His spiritual peace, certain hope, and inexplicable joy!

Here is the thing!  As the verses above tell us, we must "give up everything"... meaning, we are to humble our hearts and repent of our sins.  The Lord gave everything of Himself, so that we could have everything!  Therefore, we should really want to give up "our everything" which is actually really absolutely nothing.  Even our best is - well - this verse gives it to us straight (from the New English Translation version)...

(Isaiah 64:6)  We are all like one who is unclean, all our so-called righteous acts are like a menstrual rag in your sight.  We all wither like a leaf;  our sins carry us away like the wind.

So when we repent of our sins, in salvation, we understand that the Lord God is and should be first in our lives.  He should not only be placed ahead of everything and everyone else, He should be our pillar of strength, and firm foundation, so that we integrate Him and His will into every aspect and relationship in our lives.  I mean, why would we not?!  He is the most valuable relationship and treasure that one could ever have!!!

relationships (Matthew 13:24-58) No Need to Fear or Worry

(Matthew 13:24-43)

24 Jesus presented another parable to them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25 But while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and left. 26 And when the wheat sprouted and produced grain, then the weeds also became evident. 27 And the slaves of the landowner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?’ 28 And he said to them, ‘An enemy has done this!’ The slaves said to him, ‘Do you want us, then, to go and gather them up?’ 29 But he said, ‘No; while you are gathering up the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. 30 Allow both to grow together until the harvest; and at the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather up the weeds and bind them in bundles to burn them; but gather the wheat into my barn.”’”

31 He presented another parable to them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a person took and sowed in his field; 32 and this is smaller than all the other seeds, but when it is fully grown, it is larger than the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the sky come and nest in its branches.”

33 He spoke another parable to them: “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three sata of flour until it was all leavened.”

34 All these things Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables, and He did not speak anything to them without a parable. 35 This was so that what was spoken through the prophet would be fulfilled:

     “I will open My mouth in parables;
     I will proclaim things hidden since the foundation of the world.”

36 Then He left the crowds and went into the house. And His disciples came to Him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.” 37 And He said, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man, 38 and the field is the world; and as for the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom; and the weeds are the sons of the evil one; 39 and the enemy who sowed them is the devil, and the harvest is the end of the age; and the reapers are angels. 40 So just as the weeds are gathered up and burned with fire, so shall it be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all stumbling blocks, and those who commit lawlessness, 42 and they will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine forth like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. The one who has ears, let him hear."

TODAY'S TAKEAWAY

Since God is sovereign (everywhere-present, all-powerful and all-knowing), He already knows who is going to choose to believe in Him, and who will choose to reject Him.  Also remember that the Lord God is just and fair, and therefore will give everyone a fair opportunity to see and hear Truth and make their decision, which is for all eternity.  

Of course, God desires that all come to know Him and have a personal relationship with Him, therefore, of course, He does NOT want to punish anyone.  But because He is holy, He cannot have a relationship with sin.  This is why He came in flesh to accomplish His work on the cross - to provide the way for people - to be forgiven of all sins so that we can be reconciled to Him!

Because God is love, He will never force anyone to love Him back, or obey Him.  This is a personal choice that we all have to make.  Now, if we choose to love Him, and trust in Him, we will know without a doubt that He has the best in mind for us, as well as His kingdom... so that we can spiritually mature and grow in His love, peace, strength and wisdom, and so that His kingdom can spiritually mature and grow in His love, peace, strength and wisdom.  He desires that all people will be born again and become His children and be added to His family - His kingdom!

As this is God's plan and desire, He knows exactly when all people who are going to become Christians have become Christians, and all people who have rejected Him and His salvation will never change their minds.  This is when God will send out His angels to harvest the crop, and get rid of the weeds.  This will happen at the battle of Armageddon, at very end of the Jewish Age.  The Jewish Age has seven remaining years yet to happen, and it will come like a thief in the night, so that nobody knows when this will happen except for God the Father.

All we have to know is that God is sovereign and in charge.  God will bring all of this about at the proper time.  People will make their decision, and be ready... or they will maintain their decision to do their own thing, and not be ready.  And for believers right now, just as Jesus told His disciples before He ascended to heaven (which happened at the start of the Church Age), we are not to worry or fear anything or anyone, and we are not to concern ourselves about "WHEN" either the rapture, or the second coming of Jesus will happen.  Our focus should be on the Lord, always striving to grow closer to Him, as well as striving to serve in sharing the gospel message with others!

relationships (Matthew 13:1-58) To Actually Know

(Matthew 13:1-58)

1 On that day Jesus had gone out of the house and was sitting by the sea. 2 And large crowds gathered to Him, so He got into a boat and sat down, and the whole crowd was standing on the beach.

3 And He told them many things in parables, saying, “Behold, the sower went out to sow; 4 and as he sowed, some seeds fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate them up. 5 Others fell on the rocky places, where they did not have much soil; and they sprang up immediately, because they had no depth of soil. 6 But after the sun rose, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. 7 Others fell among the thorns, and the thorns came up and choked them out. 8 But others fell on the good soil and yielded a crop, some a hundred, some sixty, and some thirty times as much. 9 The one who has ears, let him hear.”

10 And the disciples came up and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” 11 And Jesus answered them, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted. 12 For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him. 13 Therefore I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. 14 And in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says,

     ‘You shall keep on listening, but shall not understand;
     And you shall keep on looking, but shall not perceive;
15 For the heart of this people has become dull,
     With their ears they scarcely hear,
     And they have closed their eyes,
     Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
     Hear with their ears,
     Understand with their heart, and return,
     And I would heal them.’

16 But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. 17 For truly I say to you that many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.

18 “Listen then to the parable of the sower. 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is the one sown with seed beside the road. 20 The one sown with seed on the rocky places, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution occurs because of the word, immediately he falls away. 22 And the one sown with seed among the thorns, this is the one who hears the word, and the anxiety of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. 23 But the one sown with seed on the good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces, some a hundred, some sixty, and some thirty times as much.”

TODAY'S TAKEAWAY

To understand how fair the Lord is, there are few truths that bear remembering.  God desires that all come to know Him personally.  God never forces anyone to love Him back, or to obey.  It is all our choice, and because God is sovereign (omnipresent, omnipotent and omniscient), He already knows who is going to believe in Him.  AND - God is fair, and therefore gives everyone fair opportunity to make a decision regarding one's eternal destination.

If God's salvation were so easy to understand, there would be too many people who would just be going through the motions without realizing that they were not actually saved!  Christianity is not a religion!  It is not about following a bunch of do's and don'ts with hopes that one might earn their way to heaven.  It is all about having a close, personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ!  As God's word so very clearly says:

(1 John 5:13)  These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.

(John 17:3)  And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

relationships (Matthew 12:46-50) Family Unity

(Matthew 12:46-50)

46 While He was still speaking to the crowds, behold, His mother and brothers were standing outside, seeking to speak to Him. 47 [Someone said to Him, “Look, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak to You.”] 48 But Jesus replied to the one who was telling Him and said, “Who is My mother, and who are My brothers?” 49 And extending His hand toward His disciples, He said, “Behold: My mother and My brothers! 50 For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother, and sister, and mother.”

TODAY'S TAKEAWAY

From scripture, we know that Jesus' brothers only became believers after His death and resurrection.  I mean, can you just imagine growing up with a brother who was PERFECT in everything, all of the time???!!!  And I can just hear the parents saying to all the other children:   "You should listen to your brother!" and "Why can't you be more like your brother?!" so... I'm pretty sure the brothers resented Jesus, and were most likely embarrassed by Him.  And NOW, here was their Brother - going around like He's God or something - and "creating scenes" and "making enemies" with the spiritual leaders!

Of course, Jesus was and is God!!!  And the spiritual leaders decided to see Him as their enemy, instead of who He really was.  Meanwhile, the brothers didn't yet want to acknowledge that Jesus is the Lord and that they needed Him.  In this moment, they were only thinking about themselves, and trying to take control.  Well, if Jesus wouldn't listen to them, surely they would listen to Mom!  After all, God's word tells us to obey and honor our parents!  So, they most likely convinced Mary to go with them in order to convince Jesus to stop all of this nonsense and craziness.

While Mary, the mother of Jesus, was a righteous woman, she was still born a sinner in need of a Savior, and once a believer, she would have still needed the Lord's help and guidance, just the same as everyone else.  So even though she was already a believer, it seems that in this moment, she too decided to go against God's will, thinking that they knew better and could sway Jesus away from what He was doing and what He came to do.

Culturally, what Jesus said would have sounded so disrespectful.  But Jesus knows the big picture, and lets us in on it.  While we are told to love all people, and respect and honor our parents, and submit to all believers, and obey and submit to all authorities... it is only "unto the Lord".  This means that if anyone tells us to do something that is against God and His will, we should not follow those instructions, but instead, obey the Lord.  The Lord God and His will should always come first.  And this shouldn't even just be at the top of our lists of hierarchies, this should be our firm foundation.

As believers... 

(1 Corinthians 6:17) ...the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him

Because we are in a personal relationship with the Lord, forever joined to Him, this means that He goes with us wherever we go and whatever we do.  And whatever He says, it is to our benefit to listen to Him, and then ask Him to do it with us!  Also, we are to meet with and work with our fellow believers, who are also in one spirit with Him!  Jesus provides a wonderful spiritual family!  Are they perfect yet?  No!  But iron sharpens iron.  

We are to be involved, to serve, teach, equip, fellowship and encourage one another so that we are all striving together to be steadfast in our personal walk with the Lord.  And when we corporately experience unity in God's Spirit, we will all be moving in the exact same direction!  Just like when family members respect, obey and honor their parents and the family is NOT dysfunctional - imagine how functional our spiritual family can be when we all respect, obey and honor our heavenly Father!