Blog Archives

Mark 8

11/26/2015

Mark 8:23
“Jesus took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village. Then, spitting on the man’s eyes, He laid his hands on him and asked, “Can you see anything now?”

Jesus took the man out of his environment and brought him somewhere new. We all have struggles and fleshly battles, when we think we don't have to change our environment we get stuck in a bigger battle then we need to be in. God will always give us a way out if we are focused on Him. Since we live in this temporary home we should desire to learn, grow, and see the easy way that God shows us. We can guess that the man He took out of the city had sight before because he recognizes trees, look at verse 24, “The man looked around. “Yes,” he said, “I see people, but I can’t see them very clearly. They look like trees walking around.”

This is another reminder of how our environment can keep us stuck in a spot God is trying to move us from. We need to come to Him daily with an open heart and mind so we can see what He is doing in our lives. As you continue reading in this chapter verse 25 says, “Then Jesus placed His hands on the man’s eyes again, and his eyes were opened. His sight was completely restored, and he could see everything clearly.” He could see everything clearly, look at what Jesus says to him in verse 26 which I believe is the key to our transformation and our growth. “Jesus sent him away, saying, “Don’t go back into the village on your way home.” He didn't tell him not to go home, He said don't go back into the village on your way home. What is your vice, something that keeps you spinning your wheels? Is it drinking, drugs, porn, gossip, add whatever you need to then stay away from it. Don't go back to that "Village" we need to keep seeking what God has placed in our heart and renew our minds daily so we are reminded of the good He has for us and not the things that entice our flesh.

This is a daily battle and we must realize that it takes effort on our part. Look what it says in Galatians chapter 5 verse 17, “The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.” They are 'constantly fighting' so we need to be constantly preparing ourselves by living the word out to be like Jesus. Jesus will fill us but unless we listen and hear what He says or our troubles can outweigh what He has done. We can't go back to our village we must keep moving in Him. Amen

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Mark 4

11/23/2015

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Mark 4:20
“And the seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear and accept God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”

This is one of my favorite parables that Jesus uses because He shows us the importance of our acceptance. He says, 'the good soil represents those who HEAR and ACCEPT God's word...' We all have a choice in life and as we hear the Good News and surrender our will, God transforms our thinking and change takes place.

The seed that fell on the footpath are people that hear the word but don't have any interest at that point and they stay focused on the world. The seed that fell on the rocky soil are people willing to hear and are excited about the word but life is too overwhelming for them and they don't understand that their choice to grow is important to sustain that joy. The seed that fell among the thorns are people who hear but they get worried with everything in life and they never move from where they started and life outweighs the truth. All three had the same thing in common, hearing, but just hearing didn't make any difference in their lives.

Whenever we have a partnership or desire something we want to be a part of, passion should be seen. We want to accept it and work our best to make it ours. This is why it is so important for us to HEAR and ACCEPT His word and co-labor with Him to keep it fertilized. As we seek Him we find Him and as we find Him roots grow deeper into our hearts and the fertile soil produces fruit and life. Life being, fully devoted followers of Jesus. The thing we need to remember is soil isn't cultivated once and then good for every harvest. It is worked and fertilized over and over, just like it is with our relationship with the Lord. (Don't get me wrong, you don't have to earn salvation over and over, that is a free gift and why Jesus came.) We cultivate the soil so we grow and are able to be used to reach others for Christ. When our soil is bad we don't grow and if we don't grow we die. If we keep this process of death going it is harder for us to understand the Love God has for us.

Paul says in Philippians 2:12 "Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear.” When we are not a part of our walk with the Lord our soil is corrupted by rocks and weeds and our minds struggle with our own thoughts and not the ones that lead to life. We can never be satisfied with what we know, as we seek and are willing to change we grow and it is seen in our fruit. Read Mark chapter 4 verse 20 again, “And the seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear and accept God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!” Amen

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Matthew 25

11/18/2015

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Matthew 25:1-4
““Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. The five who were foolish didn’t take enough olive oil for their lamps, but the other five were wise enough to take along extra oil.”

This is one of my favorite parables because it shows us how love and determination can lead us to be wise. We so easily get caught up with what we desire and making sure we do our thing first, when God wants us to die to self and follow Jesus. What stands out to me is the fact that the five wise bridesmaids didn't only bring enough, they brought extra. They planned for something they wanted so badly, to see the bridegroom, and it made them think beyond the norm.

Are we ready for the bridegroom to come? Do we have enough oil? Look what it says in verse 5, “When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.” There was no chance to prepare at this moment, when we are wise and we co-labor with Jesus daily we allow His love to grow in our hearts. We have every opportunity to learn from God, seek wisdom, and be ready for each day, we can't think of it as work but of a needed relationship. When we let God transform us we alway are refilling the oil and the Holy Spirit become who He really is for us, our source of comfort, guidance and truth.

John chapter 14 verses 15-17 says this, ““If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive Him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize Him. But you know Him, because He lives with you now and later will be in you.” We have Him in us helping us grow and showing us what is right for the glory of God not ourselves. As we read in Matthew chapter 25 verses 7-8 it says, ““All the bridesmaids got up and prepared their lamps. Then the five foolish ones asked the others, ‘Please give us some of your oil because our lamps are going out.’”

We can't depend on someone else to keep us ready we must desire a relationship for ourselves and keep our lamps burning. As the parable continues we see the five bridesmaids needing to go buy more oil and this is what happens in verse 10. “But while they were gone to buy oil, the bridegroom came. Then those who were ready went in with Him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked.” Let's not get comfortable or complacent, let's keep focused and be wise. I never want to be the one that hears this as the bridesmaids did in verses 11-12, “Later, when the other five bridesmaids returned, they stood outside, calling, ‘Lord! Lord! Open the door for us!’ “But He called back, ‘Believe me, I don’t know you!’”

Always be ready and seek to be wise because our lives in this world has no guarantees, but in Christ we are guaranteed eternal life. Amen

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Matthew 13

11/11/2015

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Matthew 13:12
“To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.”

I ask you to read that again right now, and let it sink in. When we listen, we should be able to reiterate what was said. So often we think we are listening when in fact we have no idea what was said. We all struggle with this in some manner; if it's with our wife or kids, friends or co-workers, we don't do it on purpose most of the times, sometimes it is because we want to hear only what we want to hear. Jesus says, 'to those who listen to my teaching...' We have the opportunity to read His teachings everyday, what is keeping you from doing it? When we do we will get an abundance of knowledge. This is how we grow and become more like Christ or Christlike (a Christian). When we "listen" we will be driven to do and when we do people see love and that love makes a difference.

Keith Hudson preach this weekend about not just being lookers but being people who see. He shared this; "You won't walk in faith if you are a looker." When we only look we let fear keeps us from being who God made us to be. This is true when we hear and do not listen. Listening takes us letting what we read "take root in our heart, be cultivated, and permitted to bear fruit." (Warren Weirsbe) We need to open our eyes to see and our ears listen so we will understand that love opens the door for people to accept Jesus, not pointing fingers and being judgmental.

Listen to what Jesus says in Matthew chapter 13 verse 23, "The seed that fell on good soil represents those who truly hear and understand God's word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted." We can't do nothing and think we will receive knowledge abundantly, we must listen, and ask God to open our ears and truly hear what He is saying so we can show His love to the world. Amen

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Genesis 50

11/4/2015

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Genesis 50:15-20 “But now that their father was dead, Joseph’s brothers became fearful. “Now Joseph will show his anger and pay us back for all the wrong we did to him,” they said. So they sent this message to Joseph: “Before your father died, he instructed us to say to you: ‘Please forgive your brothers for the great wrong they did to you—for their sin in treating you so cruelly.’ So we, the servants of the God of your father, beg you to forgive our sin.” When Joseph received the message, he broke down and wept. Then his brothers came and threw themselves down before Joseph. “Look, we are your slaves!” they said. But Joseph replied, “Don’t be afraid of me. Am I God, that I can punish you? You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.”

When our heart is focused on love we see what God can use in our circumstances. I love that Joseph, not negating what his brothers did, just saw the good God had for him. Listen, the good was not just for Joseph, he went through the mess, but it helped many others. Look at verse 20 again, "You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.” Our walk should be one of, thank you God for sending your Son and then help me be used to shine for others. See Joseph had the right heart and the right focus of what was truly important. And that wasn't his feelings, it was God's will.

What are we letting keep us tied down and not moving forward? Is it hurt from a person, a church, our friends, our children? It says in the word for us to seek the kingdom first. Matthew chapter 6 verse 33 says, “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need.” That is truth and we should listen to it because God wants to help us think bigger. Look at what Joseph says in verse 19, “But Joseph replied, “Don’t be afraid of me. Am I God, that I can punish you?”
He understood that nothing he could do to his brothers would truly be punishment, but a changed heart and the grace of God would mean the world to them.

When I read I try and truly see the word and how it looks for my life and when I see how Joseph responds to his brothers it reminds me of Luke chapter 12 verses 4-5 which says, "Dear friends, don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot do any more to you after that. But I’ll tell you whom to fear. Fear God, who has the power to kill you and then throw you into hell. Yes, he’s the one to fear.” Everyone needs to read Luke chapter 12 and see what Jesus is saying. It is not a fear to be afraid of, it a fear of reverence and honor. When Joseph is sharing with his brothers he points them to how God had turned their negative into a kingdom positive and when we fear God in a reverent way we can push through the tough times and be ready for the good that will come out of it because of God. In Luke chapter 12 verse 8 Jesus says, “I tell you the truth, everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, the Son of Man will also acknowledge in the presence of God’s angels.” He is for us and God is always helping us see the good in what is happening, do you believe it? Without having the New Testament yet Joseph new what was truth. We see this in Romans chapter 8 verse 28 “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to Him purpose for them.” Embrace His word and grow believing that what He has for us is way more incredible than what this world does. Amen

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Mark 8

Mark 4

Matthew 25

Matthew 13

Genesis 50

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