A Sunday Message Take-Away

Genesis 6:5 - Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of MAN was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

History is repeating itself. We need to understand and believe this. God showed us, He warns us, the signs are out there. I went to a church in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan two Sundays ago with some girlfriends in Christ. This preacher was not subtle in his sermon, which I like. 

Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of MAN was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. So the LORD said, “I will DESTROY man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.”

The EARTH also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. So God looked upon the earth, and indeed it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth. And God said to Noah, “The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will DESTROY them with the earth.”

(‭‭Genesis‬ ‭6:5-7, 11-13‬)

An ark was made. All who entered were saved by the great flood. Those people were eight in number...a remnant of believers. This small family left behind family and friends for their belief in their God. It will happen again. 

Like the whole account of Noah’s ark and the great flood, Jesus said He is the Door. The ark had only one door. There is only one way to the Father to obtain salvation. Jesus saves. Works do not, government does not, nothing else does. One way: “I am THE way, THE truth, THE life.” In Noah’s day only that handful survived and were saved. It’s a picture of what will happen again.  laugh it off, don’t pooh-pooh the idea. Don’t be one of the end-time scoffers. It should not be 

Anything that goes against the Word of God is rebellion. One biblical definition of "rebel” is that one refuses to come under the authority of someone who is above them. Or, man rebelling against a human king or God. I'm thankful, however, that when we repent of this rebellion and turn to God, whether it is the first time or another, He will forgive. If not...

Psalm 107:10-13 -Those who sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, bound in affliction and irons--b

ecause they rebelled against the words of God, and despised the counsel of the Most High, t

herefore He brought down their heart with labor; they fell down, and there was none to help. 

Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and He saved them out of their distresses. 

He Told Me

John 4:39 - And many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, “He told me all that I ever did.”

The story of the Samaritan woman is well-known. Jesus and His disciples were on their way to Galilee and had to go through Samaria. Jews at that time were not to associate with Samaritans. But God... Jesus rested at a well while the disciples went for food. It was noon and the Samaritan woman came to the well for water (she was an outcast in the community because of her lifestyle and went at an hour no other would go.) 

She met Jesus. He began to talk with her. He asked her for water. She questioned why He would speak with her when He was a Jew. Now you can’t tell me Jesus didn’t know in advance this meeting would take place! I believe it was His purpose to be at that well, that He would be alone with her, that He knew she would show up so He could reveal Himself to this sinful woman. 

He told her He had a gift from God, living water, not anything like the water she had come to collect. She was curious and asked if she might have some. Then He told her exactly what her lifestyle was without condemnation. She was amazed that He knew such things. He revealed to her that He was the Messiah the Jews were waiting for, the One who would save. 

She ran back to tell others in the town. Imagine, an outcast so excited about who she had met she couldn’t contain herself as and here she was telling them some seemingly outlandish thing. The words she said were “He told me all that I ever did.” 

Don’t doubt that Jesus doesn’t know everything you ever did either! He knew all I ever did but He pursued me. He met me at just the right time and revealed Himself. He may not have told me then and there all I had ever done, but in time I realized through His Word that many things I considered just what everyone else does so it couldn’t be that wrong, were indeed wrong. 

This is where some get hung up. They have created their own beliefs of what God would be okay with; or they just can’t believe He would be so stern as to not allow certain lifestyles or words spoken or types of entertainment or acts/attitudes. He knows and He reveals the truth. It is up to us to believe Him, to choose what’s right over what’s wrong. 

Praise God, like the Samaritan woman, He doesn’t walk past us in our sinful natures but gives us a chance to choose to believe, like she and many other Samaritans did.  And many more believed because of His word. (John 4:41) But it’s our choice. You don’t need to believe me. I pray that He will reveal Himself just to you, that He would tell you all that you ever did, so you can believe. 

John 4:42 - Then they said to the woman, “Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.”

On the Surface

Mark 10:32 - Now they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was going before them; and they were amazed. And as they followed they were afraid. Then He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them the things that would happen to Him...

...the things that would lead to His death. The things that He would bring about because of His death. The life He would give to others.

In a reading one day (Oswald Chambers Daily Devotional Bible, which I occasionally read from) I was touched to the core by a statement. It is the essence of true Christianity. Belief. Total trust. Faith...the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1)

The disciples had been living in closest intimacy with Jesus, but now they begin to see that there is it dread side to His life. He has an attitude to things which is not easy to understand, and it fills them with fear. There are different kinds of fear. We know what fear is in the physical domain, and in the moral domain; but in the spiritual domain a man’s fear is not for his own skin at all, but, as it were, fear that his hero won’t get through. This was the disciples’ fear; it seemed as if all they had expected Jesus to do would end in nothing. Not one of them knew what Jesus was after, but still they followed and they were afraid. Many of us are supernaturally solemn about our religion because it is not real. As soon as a religion becomes real, it is possible to have humor in connection with that. There are occasions, nevertheless, when there is not only no humor, but when humor is unfit; there is a dread sense of detachment from our ordinary attitude to things which fill us with awe. We are all apt to interpret Jesus from our own standpoint; we get too familiar with Him, and immoral surgery of events is necessary before we can understand His standpoint. (Oswald Chambers)

My takeaway from this, I felt, was in the statement: fear that his hero won’t get through.

This is the faith alluded to in scripture. Faith of a mustard seed. So small. How much are we willing to trust Him? In what circumstances? Are we willing to allow Him to take us through a situation and not fear the outcome? Only when that time comes will we really know. Will we continue to follow Him like the disciples, not knowing what the end of our circumstance might be, the end He has for it?  Not one of them knew what Jesus was after, but still they followed, and they were afraid.

They feared His power, what He could do. We can know better than this. If we are fearful we don’t know Him.

Some say they are believers yet they fear death. They fear they are not good enough; fear whether heaven will be a real thing for them. This should not be if one truly knows the Lord, has repented of their sins and become a true Christian, not just by believing because one is not Buddhist or Jewish or whatever, they are Christian. Just because one goes to a church doesn't make them a true Christian. A true Christian knows they have undergone a change of heart and received Christ.

This change of heart is the relationship Jesus wants with us. It's not about a religion, as I've stated before. There isn't one denomination that is better than another. It's not even about that. It's knowing Jesus, not knowing about Him. Going to church doesn't make one secure in their Christianity. For some it's a ritual. I go to church because I experience God's Spirit and presence there. How many others can really say that?

The disciples followed not knowing the outcome. They didn't follow a religion or denomination. They followed a Man. Their fear and the outcome of Jesus' death and resurrection teach that He can be trusted, without our having to know how something will end because we follow Him. This hero will get through.

As with most of these blogs, I urge people to seek God/Jesus. He's the only way, truth and life. He casts out all fear. He is perfect love.

1John 4:18 - There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.

Great is the Lord

Psalm 145:3 - Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and His greatness is unsearchable.

Great are you Lord. You bring hope, you bring life…

I was taking my walk this morning. The sad thought of how angry many are in this world, how contentious and hate-filled some have become popped into my head. Then I heard a stream gurgling nearby. 

For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, and hewn themselves cisterns—broken cisterns that can hold no water. (Jeremiah‬ ‭2:13‬)

At the start of the season there was was not much water in that stream. Since we’ve had a lot of rain the past couple weeks, the stream has overflowed. And it bubbles and churns. It reminded me of the living waters Jesus gives when anyone gives their lives to Him. When He comes in to a person’s life it’s those waters that flow through us and refresh us, even overflow, and help us to get through our days. 

We need water to survive. We need Jesus, and that was the thought...how these certain people really need Jesus! 

How much He wants us to know Him to have this living water. How great is our God!! 

John‬ ‭7:38 - He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. 

Nothing But a Vapor

Psalm 35:9 - Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths, and my age is as nothing before You; certainly every man at his best state is but vapor. Selah

None of us as adults want to be thought of as a child but God sees us only as His children. We can be called, sons, daughters, kings priests of the Most High God, but we are still just His children. This was a statement similarly said a few times one Sunday at separate, unrelated  times. It struck me, though, how it’s as if God wanted a point to be made and instilled within me. Praise Him!

The Bible tells us more than once we are no more than a vapor in time. In the grand scheme of eternal life, we occupy very, very little space. We also tend to think we are really something, important pieces in this space we occupy. And in a way some are...if one is in Christ. However, we are not to think more highly of ourselves...God says we are nothing apart from Him! So there you have it! David and Job knew their place when they said they were but worms. 

But I am a worm, and no man... (‭‭Psalm‬ ‭22:6‬a)

How much less man, who is a maggot, and a son of man, who is a worm? (Job‬ ‭25:6‬)

Do a search on these two men to explain how devoted to God they were, yet one sinned greatly and one endured huge loss. Their trust had to be in God.

This puts substance to times when we think highly of our roles, how much we can puff ourselves up to feel important. It’s why we are told humility is a good thing, not pride. Man’s nature is all about pride. God shows us the truth, though, often why some opt not to follow Him but self or the ways of man. 

...whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.

‭‭(James‬ ‭4:14‬)

Man is like a breath; his days are like a passing shadow.(Psalm‬ ‭144:4‬)

No matter how successful or good or kind one is, we are but worms in the grand scheme of things. It’s good to remain humble.

So, being a child of God...like I said, none of us as adults like being considered children. We’re big and “important” now. But where is our trust? Do we trust in selves, jobs, money, prestige, goodness? We are still worms!! God is still and always will be greater than any man. He is called the Ancient of Days. 

I watched till thrones were put in place, and the Ancient of Days was seated; His garment was white as snow, and the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was a fiery flame, its wheels a burning fire; ‭‭(Daniel‬ ‭7:9‬)

He has been around since before the beginning of time. His wisdom is far greater; His will and plans will always win out. We don’t always want to believe this, but: 

A man’s heart plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps. (Proverbs‬ ‭16:9‬)

He cannot be swayed by our decisions, though if we are humble, seek Him, and allow ourselves to be guided by Him, we will be rewarded greatly someday, but not on earth. 

If we are His and humble ourselves, seek His face, scripture tells us, He will forgive and heal (the land). (2Chronicles 7:14) Walk in His ways as His children, trust Him. We may have setbacks or failures along the way, but He will see us through. He is the Ancient of Days. He knows what we need. 

Psalm 90:2 - Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever You had formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.

A Little Leaven

Luke‬ ‭13:20-21‬ - And again He said, “To what shall I liken the kingdom of God? It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened.” 

I was reading in Luke 13 one day. The interesting scripture above appeared, like I’d never read it before. It got me thinking. Leaven...we’ve always learned, is good in baking bread but not at all good when it comes to false biblical teaching or preaching or churches inclined to do this. But here the Kingdom of God is likened to leaven! 

We are to read the Word of God, ingest it, if you will. Take it in, study, apply, share and treasure it that it would grow deep within self and others. In this Book are the words of life.
Hear, my children, the instruction of a father, and give attention to know understanding; for I give you good doctrine: do not forsake my law.
Get wisdom! Get understanding! Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth. My son, give attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. For they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh.
‭‭(Proverbs‬ ‭4:1-2,5,20,22‬)

Here’s the leaven were most apt to be taught about:
‭‭...Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Therefore purge out the old leaven... (1Corinthians‬ ‭5:6-7‬)

We are to let go of the former things, the things that are against the Word of God. Those things we always thought were good and okay because it’s what we were taught or we decided on our own were right, things opposed to God’s Word. Pretty much do some unlearning!

Knowing that Jesus grows within, keep the good wisdom and knowledge protected.  Avoid those who preach a different Gospel. God‘s Word is really the only book we need for learning wisdom and gaining instruction.

Reminds me:

Philippians‬ ‭4:8‬ - Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.