Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Countdown to Easter Celebration - Day 7
Matthew 21:12-17, Mark, 11:15-19, Luke 19:45-48
After Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem via donkey, Jesus enters into the temple, where people were gathering for Passover. It was custom to purchase an animal to sacrifice. In order to purchase these animals, anyone not "local" would need to exchange their currencies for the local currency. It was not out of the ordinary to see moneychangers and those selling animals in the outer courts of the temple. When Jesus becomes angry and begins to toss tables and chairs, He claims "it is written, My house shall be called a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves!"
Thieves rob people. Were the moneychangers and animal sellers robbing people? Maybe they were charging outrageous rates because they could, because they knew people would need to purchase their sacrifice. In the name of religion, they may have been robbing people. We do know that the profits made in the temple were governed by the Sadducee.... and we recognize the Sadducee as wealthy thieves.
Does this have to do with the fig tree that Jesus cursed around the same time He cleansed the temple? The fig tree looked innocent enough, but when Jesus wanted to eat of its fruit, He saw it had none. It only had leaves. The Amplified bible tells us that Fig trees bear fruit and leaves at the same time. Most other fruit bearing trees bear leaves then fruit. So we know this fig tree should have fruit since it had leaves. Because it bears no fruit, but looks like it should, was it a fake?
We see people who fake Christianity all the time. They talk the talk, but don't walk the walk. They sit in church on Sundays, make statements about how faithful they are, how blessed they are....but we know the decisions they make outside of the church walls. We know we cannot call on them to help in times of need. We avoid them because they are hard to get along with or maybe their constant negativity drains us.
If we have leaves, we must bear fruit. If we pray for blessings, we must be God's arms blessing others. If we pray for healing, we must be the feet visiting the sick. If we pray for forgiveness, we must be willing to forgive. If you pray in Jesus name, does your conduct match that name?
Jesus wasn't angry in the temple, He was passionate. He was passionate about His Father's house. Today, the Father's house is inside you. Are you as passionate about that house as Jesus was?
Monday, April 2, 2012
Countdown to Easter Celebration - Day 9 & 10
Mary, Martha, and Lazarus lived in Bethany, a town just miles outside of Jerusalem. Bethany was a town about to see the wondrous Glory of God at work in a man named Lazarus.
Mary and Martha cared for their brother Lazarus greatly, and when he became ill they sent for the One they knew could help him, Jesus. Their message was simple: "Lord, behold, he who You love is sick" They didn't beg and plead, they didn't go into detail about symptoms, they simply stated the one fact, they simply stated a need...and believed God to meet that need His way. They didn't tell Jesus how much Lazarus had loved Him or done for Him, they knew Jesus loved Lazarus, unconditionally.
Two days after hearing the news, Jesus tells the disciples they will make their way to Lazarus, passing through places that desired to stone Jesus. What did Jesus know about the two days He waited? Did He wait so that He could perform a greater miracle than the healing everyone had already seen? Do we base God's love on the time it takes for Him to "pull through for us" ....
Martha, runs to meet Jesus as soon as she hears He is coming. Lazarus had died 4 days ago. Martha says to Jesus " Lord if You had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You." Jesus responds to Martha by telling her that her brother will rise again. Martha knows understands the last day prophecies, she knows Lazarus will rise again in the resurrection of the last day. Martha seems conflicted with doubt and belief. She believes Jesus has the ear of God, but doesn't believe that her brother can be alive again until the last day.
Jesus responds with His famous words " I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die..." Time is not an issue for Jesus. He was life, standing there in front of Martha. Even as this life on earth may pass, Christ offers eternal life.
Martha secretly tells her sister, Mary, that Jesus has arrived. Jews had come to mourn the death of Lazarus, the same Jews that wished to stone Jesus. When Mary finds Jesus, she too makes the same claim as Mary, and falls to His feet. Those that followed Mary were weeping too. Jesus was troubled. Jesus wept. Jesus felt what we feel...he cared and He mourned as we do. He knows the sorrow we feel....if He had not experienced this as a man, He could not by our sympathetic Saviour.
Jesus moves toward the tomb that held Lazarus, and Martha, still struggling with her doubt informs Him that surely the body stinks now after 4 days. Jesus reminds her that she needs to only believe to see the Glory of God. Jesus moves forward with his intentions. He lifts up a prayer of thanksgiving that the Father has heard Him, a prayer said out loud, so that those around heard His communication with God. Then Jesus calls Lazarus forth.
We know the rest of the story. Lazarus is resurrected. Death is turned to life.
Thank you Jesus for calling forth life, for breathing life into us. Thank you for offering us a new life after death, eternally. Thank you for not blessing me based on my love for You but because you love me. You know my needs today Lord, I trust you to meet them, Your way, in Your timing. I will wait.
AMEN
This story leads us to Palm Sunday. Instead of typing out another story for you to read, I thought I'd let you hear the story through these videos. Enjoy!
Mary and Martha cared for their brother Lazarus greatly, and when he became ill they sent for the One they knew could help him, Jesus. Their message was simple: "Lord, behold, he who You love is sick" They didn't beg and plead, they didn't go into detail about symptoms, they simply stated the one fact, they simply stated a need...and believed God to meet that need His way. They didn't tell Jesus how much Lazarus had loved Him or done for Him, they knew Jesus loved Lazarus, unconditionally.
Two days after hearing the news, Jesus tells the disciples they will make their way to Lazarus, passing through places that desired to stone Jesus. What did Jesus know about the two days He waited? Did He wait so that He could perform a greater miracle than the healing everyone had already seen? Do we base God's love on the time it takes for Him to "pull through for us" ....
Martha, runs to meet Jesus as soon as she hears He is coming. Lazarus had died 4 days ago. Martha says to Jesus " Lord if You had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You." Jesus responds to Martha by telling her that her brother will rise again. Martha knows understands the last day prophecies, she knows Lazarus will rise again in the resurrection of the last day. Martha seems conflicted with doubt and belief. She believes Jesus has the ear of God, but doesn't believe that her brother can be alive again until the last day.
Jesus responds with His famous words " I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die..." Time is not an issue for Jesus. He was life, standing there in front of Martha. Even as this life on earth may pass, Christ offers eternal life.
Martha secretly tells her sister, Mary, that Jesus has arrived. Jews had come to mourn the death of Lazarus, the same Jews that wished to stone Jesus. When Mary finds Jesus, she too makes the same claim as Mary, and falls to His feet. Those that followed Mary were weeping too. Jesus was troubled. Jesus wept. Jesus felt what we feel...he cared and He mourned as we do. He knows the sorrow we feel....if He had not experienced this as a man, He could not by our sympathetic Saviour.
Jesus moves toward the tomb that held Lazarus, and Martha, still struggling with her doubt informs Him that surely the body stinks now after 4 days. Jesus reminds her that she needs to only believe to see the Glory of God. Jesus moves forward with his intentions. He lifts up a prayer of thanksgiving that the Father has heard Him, a prayer said out loud, so that those around heard His communication with God. Then Jesus calls Lazarus forth.
We know the rest of the story. Lazarus is resurrected. Death is turned to life.
Thank you Jesus for calling forth life, for breathing life into us. Thank you for offering us a new life after death, eternally. Thank you for not blessing me based on my love for You but because you love me. You know my needs today Lord, I trust you to meet them, Your way, in Your timing. I will wait.
AMEN
This story leads us to Palm Sunday. Instead of typing out another story for you to read, I thought I'd let you hear the story through these videos. Enjoy!
Need a laugh? Learn the Palm Sunday story through the skit guys. Great one for youth!
Power Thoughts {WEEK 4}
READ:
Read through page 39-95 of Power Thoughts by Joyce Meyer .
As you read, Highlight the passages that jump out to you, the ones that grab your attention or tug on your heart strings. What is God revealing to you through these pages? Write down your thoughts in your book or journal.
The rest of the introductory chapters focus on what we’ve been learning…power over your mind. Continue through those chapters as you begin to focus on the first Power Thought.
The rest of the introductory chapters focus on what we’ve been learning…power over your mind. Continue through those chapters as you begin to focus on the first Power Thought.
DEFINE:
1. Strength streNG(k)TH
| Noun: |
|
Key Points:
*I do not have the power, smarts, or strength to do anything. Christ has the power and He lives inside of me, therefore Christ and I together have the power, smarts, and strength to do anything I need to do.
*God will not call me to do anything He will not empower and enable me to do.
*I have the gifts, talents, and abilities to do what God has called me to do.
*My attitude is more important than the challenge.
*
*Be available for God to work through you
*Take it 1 day at a time.
*I do not have the power, smarts, or strength to do anything. Christ has the power and He lives inside of me, therefore Christ and I together have the power, smarts, and strength to do anything I need to do.
*God will not call me to do anything He will not empower and enable me to do.
*I have the gifts, talents, and abilities to do what God has called me to do.
*My attitude is more important than the challenge.
*
*Be available for God to work through you
*Take it 1 day at a time.
God's Word:
Philippians 4:13
I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me {I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me: I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency}
PRAY: Jesus, I need your strength. Holy Spirit rise up inside of me an energy that cannot be mistaken. Set my feet on the path built upon a solid foundation in Your Word. Help me remember that I am able to do all things and face every challenge because I am not alone. AMEN
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