"Now Hear This" #10

THE ONLY RIGHT FOUNDATION

Throughout this foundational sermon, Jesus exalts the Father as always ready and able to help the entire human family. Living in a fallen world ruled by the prince of darkness, we all are compelled to make decisions that can have eternal consequences as well as disastrous outcomes in the here and now. Our habits, assumptions, beliefs we embrace, the people we learn to admire and emulate, even belief about our origin and ultimate fate can lead us down a very dark path.

That is why Jesus repeatedly warned His hearers about following the teaching and example of those He called "hypocrites". Hear His poignant warning .. Matthew 7:21-23

• "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord', shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in the day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practices lawlessness."

 Jesus says don't be fooled by those teachers and leaders among you who profess to be doing the work of God in this world but what they say and what they do just doesn't match up. Some can create the appearance of doing great wonders in the name of the Lord, but if their actions fail to measure up to what God sent Him to tell the whole world, Jesus will tell them 'I never knew you'.

Regardless of who you listen to, admire and want to follow, be sure that you do exactly what John wrote to Christians near the end of his life as an Apostle of Jesus at 1 John 4:1 ...

• "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have done out into the world."

Every one of us has the ability and permission from Jesus to embrace and follow only His teaching given to us by the Holy Spirit in His word. If what is being said and done just doesn't line up with what Jesus taught us, both personally and through His inspired Apostles, it must be rejected.

So, what is the foundation upon which you have or are building your life?  Hear Jesus again ...

• "THEREFORE, whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock; and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. 
• "But, everyone who hears these saying of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand; and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall."

The foundation upon which you are building your life is sure to be tested by the elements the ruler of this world will use to attack it. It's beauty, it's location, it's cost will ultimately mean nothing if you have built it on any foundation other than the teaching of Jesus Christ.

His "THEREFORE" is the absolute summation of all that He had said to them and us in this huge introduction to God as our Father. Check your foundation because you really don't want to neglect that and find out in the day of Jesus' judgement that you built on the sand, it will fall!

"Now Hear This" #9

DO NOT JUDGE

Jesus' teaching collided with many centuries of an inflated Jewish self image and how that played out in their everyday life. You see it throughout the gospels and the letters of the Apostles. Being the "children of Abraham" and how that was defined by their leaders and teachers, set them apart as the favored of Yahweh. And, to an extent that was true because they were His chosen people. However the prophets God sent to their ancient ancestors painted a very different picture. By the time God sent His Son Jesus into their world, the Jews were just as much in need of the forgiveness Jesus brought with Him as the Gentile world.

In His Sermon on the Mount, and throughout His ministry, Jesus taught the people to see others through the eyes of the Father, not the judgmental teaching of the Jewish leaders and teachers. Today, we also need this teaching from God as much as they did then. Hear Jesus .... Mathew 7:1-5

• "Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you." 

That my friends, is one powerful statement from the heart of our Father. In the context of Jesus' statement, the word means to render a verdict, to condemn someone else. We're all guilty to some extent, regardless of how much scripture we can quote or how much logic we can appeal to. It's one thing to disagree with someone's beliefs or actions and even discuss your views with them, but to render a verdict of condemnation is way above our human pay grade, so to speak.

Jesus uses hyperbole, an exaggeration for emphasis, to drive His point home.

• "And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye. Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me remove the speck from your eye'; and look there is a plank in your own eye." 

In my own life and experience, I have 'judged' on faulty or incomplete information and then realized my mistake later. In fact I guess that is where I am right now. Looking back on some situations, I now realize that I could have spoken or acted in a more positive way than at that time.

Now, to be sure, some measure of judgment/consideration must occur at times or we fall prey to the crafty attempts of our common enemy to control how we think and act. Truth is always true and we must be guided by that standard from our Father. However, condemnation is never a right way to communicate the will of God, unless we use His words from His Spirit.

Jesus further says ....

• "HYPOCRITE! First, remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye."

Jesus seems to be reverting to His previous comments about those "scribes and Pharisees" and their practice of praying and fasting. Obviously, the general population had adopted the habit of ignoring their own hypocritical ways by following the example of their leaders. He doesn't say that there is never a time for a measure of judgment, but that judgment must begin with self evaluation and personal correction.

I have been humbled by these words of one who learned from Jesus, James 3:1-2

• "My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. 

I look back on many years of standing in pulpits all over the country and am humbled by James' statement regarding my teaching. Is he really discouraging us from preaching and teaching the word of God? Absolutely not. He is cautioning those of us who become teachers or preachers of that word to realize we will be judged by Jesus with a much stricter standard than others. So we must be very honest with ourselves about our attitude, words and conduct. Learning to LISTEN is more important than being quick to speak and pass judgment. And, that is true for all of us not just teachers.

So here's my bottom line, RESIGN FROM THE JUDGE'S BENCH. I finally did this several years ago and did so verbally to my Father. What that has done for me is make me much more aware of when I am thinking and then doing the very thing Jesus said for me to not do. I am very thankful to leave the ultimate judging in the Hands that are alone qualified to do so. HALLELUJAH!

"Now Hear This" #8

DO NOT WORRY

Worriers will always find something to keep them uptight and their blood pressure elevated. The trigger can be something serious or something innocuous but that anxiety will always be there even if it isn't immediately evident. Jesus came to teach all of us to relax in the will of our Father and always have the intent to do His will.

As Jesus went about teaching the good news, He met two sisters and their brother. One of the sisters, Martha, invited Him to their home in Bethany, a few miles from Jerusalem. Luke 10:39-42

• "And she had a sister named Mary, who also sat at Jesus feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, 'Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore, tell her to help me'. And Jesus answered and said to her, 'Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.'"   

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus brings up the subject of worry and anxiety over the trials and uncertainties that are a part of daily human life. You may see yourself or someone in your family or a friend at your workplace, or even in your church. Hear Jesus' teaching on this wide range of things and listen intently to His heavenly advice. Matthew 6:19-34

• "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth ...... but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven......For where you treasure is, there will your heart be also." 
• "The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness."
• "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon/money."  

When I was a young aspiring preacher, I had the great privilege to work with a church in Tennessee while I went to David Lipscomb after serving in the US Navy. I was hired to be the worship leader and youth minister while attending college in Nashville After we had been there several months one of the oldest elders in that church invited me to visit with him at his place of business. We talked about what plans I had for the youth program and some other things but after awhile I knew he was ready for me to be on my way. But, before he let me go, he told me about his business and brought his bank book to show me how much money he had. Although I was still pretty new to ministry, I was experienced in many of the ways of the world. I was a bit uneasy wondering why he wanted me to know how rich he was. So, I asked him what he was going to do with all that money. I knew his children were successful in their own careers and certainly didn't need it. He never spoke to me again.

Jesus was right,  you can't serve God and money. Is it wrong to have a bank account, or life insurance or a retirement plan? I don't think Jesus would condemn anyone who is prudent enough to plan for their future, but how much do you really need? If all one sees in life is how to make more and more and more money and own more and more things, what's the point? Earthly treasure is always a risky proposition. Where is your heart? That is the ultimate issue Jesus wants to know from all of us.

• "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on."
• "Why do you worry about clothing?"
• "Therefore do not worry saying, 'What shall we eat? or What shall we drink?"
• "After all these things the Gentiles seek."
• "But, seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore, do no worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."

Jesus uses the birds who are fed by the hand of God and they neither sow nor reap, as proof our Father is always there for us. He uses the lilies of the field and their beauty that surpasses even that of King Solomon in all his glory as proof that our Father will always have our backs.

SO HERE IS THE REAL BOTTOM LINE

There is no sin in working to make money to take care of yourself and/or your family, to provide food and clothing and a home etc. There is no sin in having money in savings or wearing whatever clothing you choose or purchasing the foods you like to eat. The real issue is always, where is your heart. Don't allow the evil one to fill your heart with darkness, seek the light of God, His righteousness because that is where His kingdom is.

Learn to live in your "forever" future and refuse to bow the Satanic temptation to be a competitor for the biggest, the best or the most in this present world. DO NOT WORRY your Father always has your back. 

"Now Hear This" #7

During my half century of full time ministry I have asked this question of a multitude of good folks who seriously follow the teaching of Jesus --

"When you pray, what is the mental vision you have of who you are talking to?"

My purpose has always been to stimulate some thought about making prayer very personal rather than just reciting some words into the air. Most have confessed that they had not really given that much if any thought. Some told me they just see a blank wall, or a dark curtain or nothing at all. Okay so how about when you all someone on your phone. Don't you have some type of mental visual picture of the person you have called? If you are not acquainted with that person, it's a different type of conversation than with someone you know, and much more personal.

Jesus came to reveal God to the human family as "FATHER" as we have discussed in a previous post. In fact the earliest Christian attempts to create a visual piece of art to portray God are simply two outstretched enormous hands reaching down from the heavens. Since no one has actually seen God at any time, we might speculate what might or might not be appropriate or even necessary for our prayer life. I suspect when Jesus prayed to the Father, His prayers were very personal because He had not only seen the Father but had been with Him from eternity past. So, when He prayed, He was actually talking to someone, not just reciting words into the air.

WHEN YOU PRAY Matthew 6:5-13

• "When you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of streets, that they may be seen of men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But, when you pray enter into your room, and when you have shut the door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly."
• "When you pray do not use vain repetitions as the heathen. For they think they will be heard for their many words."
• "In this manner (way) therefore, pray
• "Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done, One earth as it is in heaven, Give us this day our daily bread, And forgive our debts, As we forgive our debtors, And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one, For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen" 

 So, here's a question all of us should seriously consider, "Is my prayer life a real, personal, sincere conversation with my Father or only words I have learned to recite into the air?" I am convinced all of us who follow Jesus and His word, pray. Praise God if you have learned to make it a very personal conversation, although it may seem to be only a one way street with no one in mind of who you are actually talking to.


WE HAVE A QUALIFIED HELPER Romans 8:26-27

• "The Spirit also helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts, knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God."

Praise our Father for that divine helper who both sees and converses with Him on our behalf using just the right communication that we cannot even know or understand.

 In 2006, I was writing a book about hearing the voice of God above the noise of daily life. I was driving from Alabama back to Texas one day and Moses at the burning bush became a visual that really impacted me emotionally. I had been writing about that incident a few days before so it was so fresh in my spirit. I just cried repeatedly during that all day trip. So, that has become the visual image that I focus on when I pray to my Father. I see that bush burning and like Moses I bow before Him in absolute submission and praise. I also verbally thank the Spirit for helping me. God be praised!

"Now Hear This" #6

Jesus introduces a word familiar to His hearers with an explosive new application. The word "HYPOCRITE" was a word the common people were acquainted with, but they had never heard it used in the context of their political and religious leaders, at least not openly in a public way.

In the common language of the day a "hypocrite" was an actor, one who assumed the posture and character of a person on stage wearing a mask that portrayed the character they were pretending to be. Jesus used the word as identifying their religious leaders and politicians. In other words, they were phonies.

Hear some of what He had to say in His Sermon on the Mount -

THEIR PHONY CHARITY

• "Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the HYPOCRITES do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. I say to you, they have their reward." Matthew 6:1-2

THEIR PHONY PRAYERS

• "And when you pray, you shall not be like the HYPOCRITES. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of streets that they may be seen by men......But when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut the door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do......Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him." Matthew 6:5-6
  

THEIR PHONY FASTING

• "Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the HYPOCRITES, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to be men fasting, but your Father who is in the secret place, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly." Matthew 6:16-17 

Surely all of us have played the HYPOCRITE, wearing our mask of deception at times. It can become like a game we play in order to solidify our supposed superiority over others. The opposite of hypocrisy is humility. And none of us are born with either. We learn it gradually from our family, our friends, our associates and our leaders. So be really honest with yourself and carefully make a right decision about what you admire in others who can influence you to mimic them;

Please don't continue to fool yourself into actually believing the oft used old adage, "well that's just the way I am". Only the love of Jesus Christ and the indwelling of the Spirit of God can lead us into a better, more honest and comfortable state of mind. Beware of all spiritual and political leaders who you can easily see are HYPOCRITES. They do and say what they do and say because they want to manipulate others who blindly follow them down a dead end street.

In our next session, we will consider Jesus statement "in this manner, therefore pray." 

"Now Hear This" #5

Jesus obviously knew early on that He, His message and His people would be rejected by the Jewish leaders. However, He had to be encouraged by the immediate reception he received from the rank and file people. Largely because of the miracles He performed prior to preaching the Sermon on the Mount, everywhere He went vast crowds quickly gathered because Jesus was doing exactly what the Old Testament prophets had predicted the Messiah would do and teach.

Following this Sermon, Jesus became the primary target of the religious leaders primarily because of this statement early on in His teaching -- 

• "I say to you that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 5:20 

The scribes and Pharisees were viewed as the ultimate of righteousness. They were the lawyers and teachers who interpreted the Law given to Moses on Mt Sinai many centuries before. That word righteousness however means doing what God says is right. Jesus had just told them He had not come to destroy the Law or the Prophets but to bring it to it's completion, not it's destruction. What then follows are six specific reinterpretations of the Law of Moses which went way beyond what the leaders and teachers of the people had been saying for many centuries.

So in order to avoid becoming tedious I want us to look at each of those six in a summary format.

Jesus introduced each with this commanding statement:

• "You have heard it was said .......... but I say to you...." and I don't see this statement as directed at the commandments God gave to Moses at Exodus 20, but as the interpretation of them that became commonly taught to the people.

1. MURDER is a result of anger against another 5:21-26
The Law had forbidden murder but the traditional teaching had failed to address the real issue, uncontrolled anger. We all face situations in daily life that cause anger at someone or some kind of situation. And if that anger is not brought under control it will cause tragic consequences. Jesus said if one resorts to calling another a "fool" that attitude puts that person in danger of "hell fire". In fact, He said you shouldn't even approach your altar of prayer to God in that state of mind, but go and make peace with your adversary then come and offer your sacrifice of prayer.

2. ADULTERY is simply two married people engaging in a sexual relationship with someone other than their marriage partner. But Jesus redefined it in a new way. His assessment seems to address men in particular however the same can be applied to either sex although men are probably more prone to it than women. Jesus says that the real issue is "lust" that continues to look and feed that sinful desire to the point that one can commit adultery in the heart. So his remedy to prevent that eventual outcome is nothing short of unthinkable. If your heart cannot control your eye or your hand, cut it off in order to prevent the eternal outcome which He calls "cast into hell". Did He really mean what He said?

3. DIVORCE is the break-up of a marriage. Marriage is a divine institution of God founded upon a pledge to love each other for life. Obviously somewhere along the way God's intent for marriage became unworkable to some and Moses gave instruction to give the wife in whom he found some type of uncleanness a "certificate of divorce". But Jesus said that "sexual immorality" is the only reason for which a man can divorce his wife before God. The intent of His statement is obviously to reinstate God's original intent when He instituted marriage. One man, one woman for life. Sadly even today that purpose of God for the betterment of the human race has largely been lost. I am truly not smart enough to answer all the questions that can arise around this issue. So I simply leave it up to each person or couple to make up their own mind about what God would have them do. Satan can easily worm his way into any relationship and create chaos.

4. SWEARING obviously has been a common human habit for a very long time. The intent probably is to verify or certify that what one is saying is true and approved of God. In Jesus' day people used God as the one who approved of whatever oath they were speaking. No different for many people today. "I swear to God" is a pretty common phrase some folks use to lend credence to some promise or affirmation. But, it's just a careless habit that is learned early on and Jesus condemns it outright. His counsel is "don't swear at all" using God or anything else to certify what is said. There is no real need for that. Just let your "no be no and your yes be yes". Anything beyond that is sinful.because it was inspired by "the evil one himself".

5. GO THE SECOND MILE rather than merely react in kind when responding to an unjust or insulting occurrence. Jesus brings up what was obviously quite common in his day, namely "any eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth". When someone strikes you, offends you, hit them right back. His obvious intent is pretty clear in the statement, "whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two." Learn to be a giver without expecting to receive some kind of reward. I have known quite a few people who actually do this and all of them without exception, are always faithful to Jesus as Lord.

6. LOVE YOUR ENEMIES is often more than most of us can remember or agree with much less seek some way to actually do it. The love/hate relationship is common in many marriages, business opportunities, neighborhood relationships, racial encounters and on and on it goes. "Pray for those spitefully use you and persecute you" can be a real game changer for all of us. If we develop a love only for those who love us, we are falling way short of God's vision of our eternal destiny. I have always been really challenged by Jesus' closing statement in this charge to "be perfect even as your heavenly father is perfect". WHOA, that is one huge thought to ponder. Does my Father really expect ME to be as perfect as He is? I'll just leave that right there and let you ponder it for yourself.

Personal relationships are an essential element of every day life for all of us. And how we handle the opportunities and challenges that those encounters produce can have eternal consequences. Jesus will ultimately be our Judge. I encourage all of you to give some real consideration to how you're doing with that challenge. If Jesus has challenged you in a new way with His words, do something about it.

"Now Hear This" #4

Sorry guys I've been a little distracted lately BUT now I'm ready to "saddle up" again. I appreciate your patience and desire to hear Jesus. And NO I haven't been sick nor my family. We're all good!

For a lot of years I was kinda puzzled why the ancient Jews never saw nor spoke of God as Father. In fact, there are only a mere handful of times that you can even find God referred to as Father in the Old Testament. Mostly they seem to have thought of Him like the pagans viewed their gods as one to be feared and somehow avoided. Even after they entered the Promised Land after their Egyptian slavery they seem to have simply embraced their pagan neighbors view of their own gods, as always angry with them.

When Jesus embarked on His personal ministry, one of the primary goals He seems to have before Him was to change how His countrymen viewed God. Their rituals and commitments were mostly intended to appease or avoid, if possible, His anger at them, rather than submitting to His love. They just had never seen Him as their Father. But, Jesus gradually changed all that.

• "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. John bore witness of Him and cried out, 'He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.' And of His fullnes we have all received, and grace for grace. for the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one had seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him." John 1:14-18 NKJV

Jesus came to make God known to the world as FATHER. His Sermon on the Mount repeatedly uses that word to give God that very special identity. The Greek word translated as "father" carries a threefold connotation that establishes a concrete definition of what a 'father" is:

1. A father is always PRESENT caring, watching, guiding, correcting, encouraging
2. A father is always a PROTECTOR because the world is filled with danger
3. A father is always a PROVIDER because he always wants the best for his offspring

As we continue to hear some of Jesus' words in this life changing teaching, I just felt it helpful to establish early on, the grand importance of how we see God and how we relate to Him in a personal way. And, how Jesus will teach us why that new awareness of God translates into how we in turn relate to others in our daily world.

• "You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt loses it's flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men." Matthew 5:13

 Salt is good for two primary things: preserving certain types of foods and flavoring. Jesus' words seem to be a word of caution and also of encouragement. He obviously wants us to fully understand that one of our primary functions in the kingdom of God is to be the "salt" that influences our own society to see just WHO our God really is by the way we act. Flavorless salt is of no use for anything but to be thrown out on to the pathways where others walk. We must be 'active' every day in every possible way as an influence in our world that will lead to a pleasant taste in other's mouths leading to their eternal preservation in the Father's kingdom.

Paul understood the impact of this figure of speech.

• "Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one. Colossians 4:5

 In addition, Jesus said, 

• "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:14-16

Now take a few seconds to go back and read that again, slowly.

Both of these statements are in the present tense, which means now/right now. This is the Father's simple vision of how He sees our involvement in His plan from before He even made the world. Jesus doesn't say, "you can maybe at some point", no He says YOU ARE.

I really like and am motivated by this from Paul's heart at Ephesians 5:8-13

• "You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no felowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. But all things are exposed and made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light." 

So, now as you go forward each day, keep your heart focused on God as your Father and be the SALT  that flavors someone else's world and the LIGHT that illuminates the Father's love and grace to us all. Pay very strict attention to what comes out of your mouth and how your face and tone of voice can speak volumes of good or bad. Please don't hide your the light Jesus has given you. Let is shine shine shine.

God be with you in these very discouraging, dangerous and challenging days we are  all walking through. Show your faith and your love and give others a sense of hope. What you carry around in your heart is fearless and priceless. GIVE IT AWAY!

"Now Hear This" #3

Since Jesus had already begun his teaching ministry and his fame had begun to rapidly spread throughout the region, he took advantage of the multitude of people who had begun to follow he and his disciples and sat down to lay a very new foundation of what God's will for them was and still is. His Sermon on the Mount does not really contain the elements of the gospels requirements, but it lays out a dramatic contrast to the the Law that had been given to their ancestors by Moses. He said -

• "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets, I did not come to destroy, but to fulfill." Matthew 5:17

During this sermon he repeatedly states, "you have heard that it was said........but I say to you" which obviously is intended to draw them away from what they had been taught all their lives. He even uses the scribes and Pharisees as an example to contrast what they were accustomed to hearing that was no longer acceptable to God. By using the word "fulfill" he emphasizes that the Law they were so culturally accustomed to was now brought to it's completion by God through him and his teaching.

He introduces this teaching with the word "Blessed". He uses this word 9 times to kind of lay out a new way of thinking and living in the Father's kingdom. That word means "fully satisfied". In fact each of those 9 statements could be prefaced with "because of me". So, as we read these statements we should have that phrase "because of me" in mind. Lets look then at Matthew 5:3-10 NKJV

• "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

This phrase is applicable to all of us at some time in our lives. It doesn't really mean one who is humble, but rather one who is helpless. Jesus says the Father wants to reach out to that faithful person who is struggling to see a way through some depressing, overwhelming circumstance.

• "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted."

This could apply to all situations of mourning/crying. However the word for mourn here probably is pointing to grief or sorrow over sin, all sin. The word "comforted" surely is the end result of being forgiven by God and a new way of seeing a new reality for self and others.

• "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth."

The 'meek' here are those who humbly submit to the Father's will. Meekness in this context is not  some mild mannered introvert who hesitates to speak up for themselves. No, this person recognizes the love and power of God and trusts that love no matter what. Jesus says, they will finally win.

• "Blessed are  those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they shall be filled."

To me this seems to honor the person who is satisfied with the Father to hear and follow His word again and again and again and again. Being hungry and thirsty is a never ending part of life. So is being hungry and thirsty for the word and blessings of God the Father. Never ending.

• "Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy."

Mercy is a powerful and positive attitude that we all must learn to adopt. It is a learned reaction to our own and others failures. If you haven't yet done so, please resign from the judge's bench. Only God can judge because only He is qualified. Jesus will say this often during his ministry.

• "Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God."

 This statement points to the heart of God as our model for our motives and actions. Purity of heart is a continuous commitment to reflect the heart of God in any and every circumstance.The word "see" here is a progressive recognition of God working in my heart and life. It can mean "experience".

• "Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called sons of God."

In my spirit this points to a way of life that we can only learn from God. Being a peacemaker isn't always easy because Satan wants to control how we think, which is how he controls what we say and do. Sometimes you just have to look him in the eye and say, "NO!" just like Jesus did. We must allow God's love, mercy and grace to become a controlling aspect of our life.

• "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

Jesus knew what lay ahead for his disciples, and even for him. That persecution continues all over the world today. Even in those areas where it is ugliest, the kingdom is alive and growing. Persecution of Christians was belched forth out of the pit of hell itself . Jesus knew it would. Read Revelations 12 and know the devil will not win this war that began in heaven itself.

Thank you dear reader, for hanging with me here. Looking forward to seeing you again.

"Now Hear This" #2

Since we will be looking into some Bible text written by Matthew, I think we can benefit from knowing something about him, who he really was and who he became because of Jesus.

• He was a Palestinian Jew whose hometown was Capernaum, the town Jesus ultimately went to after his temptation by the devil in the nearby wilderness
• He was employed by the Roman government to collect taxes from the Jews of that area and was no doubt hated and rejected by his Jewish countrymen
• Jesus called him to "Follow Me" while Matthew (also called Levi) was at work at his booth

"Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting as his tax booth. "Follow me", Jesus said to him, and Levi got up and followed him. Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house and a large collection of tax collectors and others were eating with them." Luke 5:27-29

• He became one of Jesus' Apostles and participated in the ministry of Jesus to spread the good news of the kingdom 
• He was present during all of Jesus' ministry and after the resurrection
• He was named as being present on the Day of Pentecost when the gospel was first preached by the apostles as God's completed promise to the entire world
• Matthew's name means "Gift of God" in Hebrew
• The central theme of his gospel account is that Jesus is the long awaited Saviour and King of God's new kingdom 

I also want to preface these studies of the Sermon on the Mount by hearing some very impactful words Jesus spoke to all of us who will ever breathe in this world. So I urge you to Now Hear This:

"Jesus answered, 'I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know Him and have seen him''. "Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say 'Show us the Father'? Don't you believe that I am in the Father and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me who is doing his work." John 14:7-10

"If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me." John 14:23-24

• Go back and read those words over and over until the word "ANYONE" really explodes in your spirit. What a wonderful promise God the Father has made through His Son to all of us!

"Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. To him who overcomes I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has ears to hear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." Revelation 3:20-22

• Jesus calls out to "ANYONE" who is listening and hearing him knock on the door of their heart to open that closed door and let him in. Although this passage is specifically addressed to the lukewarm church at Laodicea, it calls out to ANYONE who will hear him.

In our next session we will begin that process at Matthew 5. Please join me again. Thank you.

"Now Hear This - Jesus Has Something To Say"

After Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist the Spirit led him into the wilderness where he was tempted by the devil to deny all that he was and the mission the Father had sent him to accomplish. He had already fasted forty days in preparation for this encounter and he was prepared to face the devil and his lies. Failing to convince Jesus to follow him, the devil finally left him and angels came to tend to his needs.

Soon after, John was imprisoned by Herod and when Jesus learned of this he returned to Galilee and ended up in Capernaum, which was to fulfill the prophecy of Isaiah 9:1-2.

"......the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned. From that time on Jesus began to preach". Matthew 4:16-17

Very soon afterward he began to call selected disciples to follow him as he went to the surrounding villages to begin his preaching ministry, just as Isaiah had predicted many hundreds of years before. He healed many sick with all manner of diseases and afflictions while he preached the good news that Isaiah had prophesied. Word spread quickly and soon multitudes were following him and his disciples throughout that mountainous region.


"Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him and he began to teach them."  

What follows at Matthew 5-6-7 is the iconic Sermon On The Mount.

We today definitely need "a great light" since we have become surrounded by darkness and live again in the "darkness.....of the shadow of death."

Although Jesus intent is not to give the people (or us) some comforting words to help us deal with the current pandemic, but to share with those multitudes the words the Father had sent him to preach to the people who were oppressed by the rulers/politicians of that time, however his words can truly heal our spirits too. Our collective life today has become VERY different from what it was even a month or two ago. So, I want to share some thoughts with you from Jesus which can hopefully impart a sense of something far greater than COVID 19. Although I am not in any way a medically trained professional, nor an expert in psychology, Jesus is both. I firmly believe his words can help us too.

So here is what I am proposing: lets walk together through these simple, powerful, beautiful, convicting words from God the Father as He speaks through His Son whom He sent for this very purpose, to give us some light in our darkness.

Please pray with me and for me as we launch into this together and you might even want to read Matthew 5 to begin. I would also encourage you begin to think of someone you know who might benefit from this journey through these Words of Jesus, the good news. HALLELUJAH!

On My 78th Birthday

Wow that really seems like a strange Title for this blog entry but it's reality. I actually feel better than I did 30+ years ago. No stress, no health issues, family doing great, spiritually confident but, obviously any or all of those things can change on a dime.

Like everyone, I have made some huge mistakes in my life but my Chief Priest and Brother has always been beside me with grace and the love of my Father. Plus The Comforter has never stopped teaching and guiding me.

Also I have been encouraged and blessed beyond anything I could ever deserve by my wife of 55 years, The Rose, and our family of 13. That's why I dedicated my first book, Yes Lord I'm Listening, to all of them. Thank you my Father for their love, their faith and their constant encouragement.

In addition, on this 78th birthday I have received more phone calls, text messages, hugs, personal greetings and computer greetings than I can even begin to count. THANK YOU each one who has taken the time to reach out to me. So many wonderful words of love from so many whose presence in my life from all over the country have given me a priceless gift and jogged my memories from more than 50 years of ministry in the kingdom of God. May He always bless each of you in comforting and challenging ways.

John said this to all of us:

"Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us." 1 John 4:11-12 NIV

Thank you to ALL my family, friends, sisters and brothers for remembering me on this wonderful birthday. I love each of with the love of the Spirit. HALLELUJAH!

"Faith, Hope and Love"

"Conservative belief spurs church growth" was the headline that captured my attention in yesterday's Dallas Morning News as I sat browsing the paper during my regular Saturday morning breakfast after my 2 hour workout at our local health club. After reading the article twice, I was struck with the stark reality that for a rapidly escalating population in the English-speaking world, actual belief in the Jesus I read about in my Bible, is fast becoming a dim reality, a holdover relic from a distant past.
The author of that article, David M. Haskell an associate professor of religion, culture, and digital media and journalism, along with a group of colleagues, "surveyed more than 2,200 congregants" of the mainline Protestant churches in the English-speaking world, half from growing and half from declining churches and their clergy. They learned that churches with a "liberal theology, with it's metaphorical reading of scripture, leads to decline" while those whose emphasis is a more "literal take on the Bible" clearly demonstrate a relation to church growth. The two examples of that type of literal theology the article cites are "the belief that Jesus rose physically from the grave and that God answers prayer".

Several months ago a gentleman I met and occasionally have conversations with at the health club told me he is an atheist. I asked him one simple question, "WHY?" He thought about it for about a minute and said, "I just can't believe in a god who would create us and then destroy us." So, I asked him where he had learned that, who had taught him that about God. His reply is still kind of percolating in his mind I guess. We still greet each other occasionally but he doesn't seem to want to continue our conversation. However, at some point, something will happen and he will open the door to want to know why I believe what I believe. 

Paul wrote these words at the close of a simple but poignant statement about the love of God:
"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." 1 Cor 13:13 NIV

After all the wars and hate and political turmoil and fear and destruction and human arrogance and dire prediction of any real future for human society, THESE THREE REMAIN. All three are part of the same thing, the love of God our Father. But, all three are a choice each of us must make for our own life and others around us. Love is the greatest because it is the result of faith (absolute belief in the love of God and what He has done FOR us) and hope (absolute expectation of a future that is far better than anything we have ever experienced). If you have never done so, may I humbly suggest that you take a moment to Google "The Apostle's Creed" and read it carefully several times. Then ask your heart, "can I without reservation, sign my name to this statement of faith?"

Here is the bottom line from the referenced article above:
"With a nod to the season, mainline clergy and congregants with a conservative outlook are more apt to be singing 'Silent Night' this Christmas and in future years; theological liberals risk a different kind of silent night."

"Christmas Country Ham 2014"

All of my growing up years in rural west Ky were with filled adventures and challenges that were common to life in the country. Hog killing was some of both and lots of hard work. My Pa Sutherland always wanted to kill hogs on Thanksgiving Day if the weather was right. Most years we would butcher at least six hogs sometimes more. When I turned 14, Pa presented me with a special butcher knife he had made and informed me that he and I would be the official butchers for hog killing from then on. I was so excited because one of Pa's neighbors had always helped with that chore. But he had aged to the point Pa was not comfortable with his skills. So, I got the job until I left home to go to college and later the US Navy. Pa taught me how to cut the meat and cure it for the winter.

Country ham has been a Christmas morning staple for our family until we moved to Texas in 1977 because finding real cured COUNTRY ham in Texas is a rarity. And of course none of it came even close to Pa Sutherland's carefully cured ham. I loved just sitting in his smoke house as a kid and watching him pack the hams, bacon sides and ribs in his big salt box. He was very protective of his meat and rarely agreed to part with it except to his family.

The Rose and I have some really special friends/family who live just across the Ky/Tn state line near Paris, Tn. We passed through Ky on our way home from NC just after Thanksgiving and met our friends for dinner in Murray, Ky. As we were leaving Scott Owens said, "Hold on a second I have something for you." He went to his car and came back carrying a whole Tennessee country ham. My eyes lit up and I said, "Oh wow. I haven't had one of these in a long time. My Dad always sent me one for Christmas when we moved to Texas." Actually the delivery guy always wanted to know what that was when he brought it to my home because of the aroma it radiated.

Yeah, I love country ham and this year we have just now enjoyed a really special Christmas Country Ham breakfast thanks to the Owens family of Buchanan, Tn. We waited until this morning to cut it but I'm sure we will enjoy it for many breakfasts to come.

Country ham is an acquired taste because it is very salty compared to sugar cured ham, but once you get that second taste there is nothing like it in the whole world. This morning I had to explain the real history of country ham to my grandson, who is the age I was when Pa Sutherland tapped me for a very special challenge. Hog killing will always be a ritual that I will never duplicate but will always appreciate. It usually lasted well into the night with the very last job - cooking out the pork fat in a huge iron kettle over a wood fire in the back yard to make "cracklins".

Today my family is scattered and we were weren't able to all be together this Christmas but that country ham breakfast with our son Michael, his wife Annette and his son Gabe, coupled with that beautiful Tennessee Country Ham has put my heart right again and taken me back to my Old Kentucky Home for some very special memories.

God has blessed the Rose and I over our 50 years together. We stay connected daily with all of our family of 14 thanks to computers, the internet and social media - and Country Ham! I am a very blessed husband, father and grandfather. I'm also grateful that my doctor told me last week when I went for my annual check-up that he will see me again in a year. Now that I'm knocking on the door of 74, I take nothing for granted in life. Even small blessings like breakfast with family this morning and memories that keep me connected to who I am. HALLELUJAH!

"Tidings of Comfort and Joy"

Many good people struggle with sadness during this holiday season. If you are among those please give yourself some grace and realize that you can't help how you "feel". I've never been one given to depression and dark thoughts but have walked with many through some dark days and learned to not judge them for how they feel because that is their reality. I may not understand it nor identify with it but my responsibility is to be a voice of hope. Case in point -

Jesus was challenged by a group of Sadducees (Jewish lawyers) who posed a question to him that they probably thought would paint him into a corner. Their question turned on a point of their interpretation of the Law regarding a widow who married seven brothers in succession as each previous one died. They wanted to know which of the seven would be her husband at the resurrection of the dead. In his characteristic way, Jesus ignored their legalistic question and left us a word of absolute hope:

     "The people of this age marry and are given in marriage. But those who are considered
     worthy of taking part in that age and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry
     nor be given in marriage, and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They
     are God's children, since they are children of the resurrection. But in the account of the
     bush, even Moses showed that the dead rise, for he calls the Lord, 'the God of Abraham,
     and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.' He is not the God of the dead, but of the
     living, for to him all are alive." Luke 20:27-38 NIV

Grieving isn't a bad thing, it's a healthy way of absorbing and ultimately dissipating sadness over the death of a loved one. Those Sadducees were too educated and intelligent to believe that dead folks can come back to life. I so appreciate Jesus' final comment in the above account and have shared it with thousands of grieving believers over the years - "He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive."

Please don't allow the enemy to rob you of the comfort and joy of the holiday season - celebrate the Son of God for the gift he has given to all who believe. We are "children of the resurrection" because through Jesus we are part of God's eternal family. AND to him "all are alive"! And that isn't just for this Christmas season alone but for every hour of every day of every year. HALLELUJAH!

"On Veteran's Day 2014"

On this day all freedom loving Americans pause to honor our military men and women for their bravery and heroism in service to our country. Having served four years in the US Navy, I consider myself to be one of those freedom loving Americans, but have never thought of myself as any kind of hero. To me those men and women who are in the thick of the battle right now and those who have returned from battle with life-long physical and mental wounds are the heroes. And they more than deserve all the ways a grateful nation can honor their service and sacrifice.

After spending the first year of my enlistment aboard ship, the Navy sent me to an electronics training center near Washington, D.C. Those eight months were a wonderful education for this country boy from rural west Kentucky. I was fortunate to spend many weekends wandering around the monuments and museums of our nation's capitol and feel the power of that great city and all that has gone on there since the Civil War. As much as I truly was awed by the Capitol Rotunda, the Library of Congress, the Smithsonian Institute etc. nothing was more inspiring to me than Arlington National Cemetery. Since I was a young teen I have been interested in visiting old cemeteries just to ponder what I learned about people I never knew. In fact, I have visited most of the Civil War battlefields and cemeteries to try and get a sense of the enormity of that senseless struggle where thousands of men lined up facing each other at close range and shot their own countrymen.

The war continues except today there is no mandatory draft or involuntary conscription into service but all kinds of brave men and women actually willingly put their lives on the line to preserve what has been won at great cost. The last time I stood in the midst of those many thousands of reminders at Arlington National Cemetery I felt a sense of the presence that permeates much of Washington, D.C. Our nation's capitol is much, much more than the politicians who fight each other to win another election and the huge army of political lobbyists who go to great lengths to achieve often selfish goals for some special interest group. That's all part of the risk and process of democracy. And, it's never been very pretty, not even as our Constitution was being hammered out by a small group of men who fought over what they felt was right and good for the national future. But it all worked out!

Here is where my faith lies - "Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him." Ps 115:3

Regardless of who sits in the Oval Office or in the Congress, the one constant presence is what pleases our real Father who is still and always committed to seeing HIS will done for the good of the human family.

So my prayer is this - God be with our military men and women who fight to keep freedom a possibility for all Americans and the entire human family. Be with our nations leaders and policy makers to see beyond personal ideals and realize that ultimately YOU control it all and the day will come when they must answer to YOU. HALLELUJAH!

"Nearing The End ?"

From his depressing second imprisonment in Rome, Paul wrote these words to Timothy -

"Mark this: there will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God - having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them." 2 Timothy 3:1-5 NIV

Who are these "people" he is describing? Take a moment to re-read what he wrote, carefully!

Are they Jews? If you look at the last statement, the Jews certainly professed faith in God and his written revelation in their Holy Scriptures. But their rejection of Jesus as the promised Messiah in the face of prophetic and miraculous evidence, would identify them as the "people" Paul describes.

Are they Greeks/Romans? Even though modern American society owes much to the Greco/Roman world for a lot of the ideas and principles that became true democracy, you don't have to do much critical research to see how aptly Paul described those ancient societies. Although their philosophers and teachers talked much about deity that discussion was always tied to some non-existent entity that had been invented by those philosophers to attempt to explain what they couldn't explain.

Actually we could probably profile every nation of people that existed then and find apt parallels to Paul's description of "people". Maybe we could even go further and simply affirm that all of the human family, even believers in God and especially many professed followers in Jesus, fit Paul's description from then to now!

Disagree if you wish but to me Paul uses that word "people" to generally describe human society at large. There is no way we can get inside his head here, but I get a sense that he is also warning Timothy about false followers of Jesus who mouth the right words at the right times but their actions proved  false to the core.

Today every newspaper and TV newscast is filled the ugliness of human ignorance about God and his truth, but it's been that way a very long time. If Paul could foresee all that he describes about human behavior and every ugly thing he details confronts us today, what should we conclude?

THE END IS NEAR!

Well maybe not. I doubt there has been a millennium or decade since Jesus ascended back into heaven that some people somewhere weren't looking at the same circumstances of human society and predicted the end. We're still here and still in the same moral quicksand that was evident in first century Rome. People are people in every generation and geography. That's why we need God's grace poured out on us through the blood of his Son.

I could bore you with the Biblical evidence that even though we truly are living in "the last days" the end isn't something any human, any angel, not even Jesus himself could ever predict. That event is at the sole discretion of our Father in heaven and only he knows. (Matthew 24:36)

So pay attention and don't get caught up in the hysteria of the modern day "prophets" who keep trying to get Jesus to come on back and end all this madness. Hear Paul's encouragement to Timothy -

"But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus." 2 Timothy 3:14-15

That's good enough for Paul, for Timothy and for me too! HALLELUJAH!

"Arguing Never Works"

Every Sunday morning we begin our Bible class by reading in unison these words of Paul -

"Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will." 2 Timothy 2:23-26 NIV

Although our studies are currently centered in the book of James, quite often we never get past the words of Paul and spend the entire time talking about how this passage has spoken to various class member in the past week. Personally, I like doing that every week. This intentionally brief discussion usually lasts only about 8 to 10 minutes, but sometimes one of us will open up about a specific incident during the week that ignites a discussion that just has to happen. Maybe that is exactly what the Holy Spirit intended to happen when he inspired the weary Apostle to write these words.

Paul's words spotlight four players - (1) "the servant of the Lord" (2) "the devil"  (3) "God" (4) "those who oppose him". Obviously Timothy had encountered some stiff opposition to his ministry, maybe even to the point, like Paul, of incarceration or worse. Paul's wise words should instruct all of us who see ourselves as God's servants to view opposition through God's eyes.

Over the years I have had to step back, take some time to reflect and approach a specific situation with Paul's instructions in my heart. Learning to see God as the major player in this scene has been eye opening for me. I am a debater by nature and have quickly risen to the occasion when opposition has shown itself in my ministry.

Quarreling never achieves the will of God. Gentle instruction is sometimes really hard to get to, but it is ultimately the only way to defeat the devil. He has no defense against kindness, gentleness and a refusal to resent another's opposition. Overcoming the instinct to react defensively and prove my own superior knowledge or position or whatever, has been a pretty long journey for me. Timothy seems to have been struggling with that too, just as Paul had in his early years of ministry.

Maybe this will help -

"God's servant must not be argumentative, but a gentle listener and a teacher who keeps cool, working firmly but patiently with those who refuse to obey. You never know how or when God might sober them up with a change of heart and turning to the truth, enabling them to escape the Devil's trap, where they are caught and held captive, forced to run his errands." MSG

People all around you need the good news of God but most of them either don't know it or have some specific reason why it's just not for them. Pick out just one of those people in your life and begin to pray for the guidance of God's Spirit to give you better words than ever before. Prepare your heart for battle because that is exactly what it is but use the weapons of kindness and gentleness without even a hint of resentment. Then allow God to do the rest. He's really good at it!

"Silver Platters and Trash Cans"

As the prisoner Paul continues to encourage and instruct his son in the faith, he urges Timothy to keep teaching the brothers and sisters to hang on to their faith and live it out in a very obvious manner. At that time, doing so was not only risky but often a death sentence as in Paul's case and the tens of thousands of other Christians who were summarily executed for doing the very thing Paul is urging Timothy to do and teach. The vicious campaign by the Romans and the Jews to obliterate the words and life of Jesus from the earth was focused on the church all over the Empire. This caused many to turn away from following Jesus and the teaching of the Apostles. Hear Paul again -

"God's solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription, 'The Lord knows who are his', and 'Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.' In a large house there are articles of wood and clay; some for noble purposes and some ignoble. If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work." 2 Timothy 2:19-21 NIV

Which type of vessel/bowl am I? God knows! Am I honest enough with myself to actually know? I love the way this same thing is stated at Hebrews 2:1 -

"We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away."

Drifting away is never an intentional result of faith. I've met a few people who went away from Jesus and his church by intention, they just became angry or disillusioned or whatever, and walked away. Maybe they never really were people of faith or maybe their lifestyle would not allow such a drastic shift as Jesus demands and they saw no reason to pretend. However, most of those I have met who went away from Jesus did so gradually. They drifted off a little at a time. Satan is really skilled at distracting us away from the life of faith. I cannot recall one person I ever talked with who is away from Jesus and his church who planned to be in that place from the beginning.

Maybe Peterson's interpretation will be helpful -

"In a well furnished kitchen there are not only crystal goblets and silver platters, but waste cans and compost buckets - some containers used to serve fine meals, others to take out the garbage. Become the kind of container God can use to present any and every kind of gift to his guests for their blessing." MSG

God's obvious intention for me is to use me to present his pure love, shown in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, to his human family wherever I go in life. He wants to make me into a silver platter on which to serve his feast.

I realize there are those who have interpreted Paul's statement to mean that you and I become either a silver platter (acceptable to God) or a trash can (rejected by God) by God's own purpose and design and we have no option either way. If someone chooses to believe that God creates both vessels and neither has a choice in the matter, that is their business and God will deal with it in his own way. But, to me that violates everything the gospel is designed to do. I believe we all are sinners in need of forgiveness and that is exactly what God offers to all  of us through Jesus Christ. Paul is simply using common household items as an illustration of who God is and how he accomplishes his will in us.

So, am I functioning in God's kitchen as a beautiful serving platter or a trash can to hold the garbage?
Kinda makes you think don't it!

"Guarding The Treasure"

In his final effort to urge Timothy to overcome his fear/timidity as a disciple of Christ Jesus, Paul affirms his own determination to hold fast, even in the face of a violent death. His words here have been immortalized in song, prayers and teaching in every succeeding age, since Christians have struggled to maintain vibrant and dynamic faith when faced with Satan's threats. Hear Paul -

"I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.....Guard the good deposit (treasure) that was entrusted to you - guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us." 2 Timothy 1:12-14 NIV
"You then my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others. Endure hardship with us as a good soldier of Christ Jesus." 2 Timothy 2:1-3 NIV

That word "know" means see, understand and ultimately - TRUST. Can you see yourself in these stirring words? Go back and read them again! Standing guard over a treasure (the gospel of Jesus Christ) begins at the point of truly understanding the seriousness of Jesus' mission and his inclusion of me as one of his foot soldiers in the daily fight to accomplish that mission. "I know whom I have believed" is much more than going to a church building on Sunday, a few songs and planning the next "fellowship" with my friends. There is nothing wrong or bad in any of those things unless our "church" experience becomes about us and what we want, like or expect.

Think of it like this - is your Christian life like being on a cruise ship or a warship? I've been on both and both sail on the sea but what happens on board is very different. Everything about a cruise ship is designed to cater to the comfort, expectations, needs and entertainment of the passengers. A cruise is all about food and games with options to just relax and enjoy the ride. On a warship, every minute of every day and night is organized to either go into battle or prepare for it. Believe me, it's not a pleasure cruise with food and games and relaxing entertainment.

Paul reminds his son in the faith and me, we are at war every day and night. Our enemy is totally committed to destroying us because of our faith in Jesus and our love for others who don't know what we know. You and I are included in the succession of entrusting Jesus' treasure to others who will entrust it to others who will entrust it to others on and on and on. It isn't a pleasure cruise. It requires enduring hardship because we "know" something eternally and absolutely crucial that Jesus died to give to the entire human family. But, if they don't know about it, they can't be blessed by it.

Feeling a little guilty? I surely hope not. Guilt is a poor motivation to serve Jesus because it won't last past the exit door of your church building. And I didn't mean for the title of this post to give the sense of a sentry who, like the guards at Buckingham Palace, merely march back and forth to guard the gate. Our "Guarding The Treasure" of the gospel means living it, growing into it, talking about it, being excited about it, praying for it, hungering to always know more about it. In short, guarding Jesus' treasure means being passionate about the mission. Don't go to sleep! Don't become lazy! Don't allow Satan to distract you into thinking this is a pleasure cruise that is designed to cater to YOU.

Speak to us once more brother Paul -

"Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God's word is not chained.
Here is a trustworthy saying - (so pay very close attention!)
          If we died with him
            we will also live with him;
         If we disown him,
            he will also disown us;
         If we are faithless;
           he will remain faithful,
         for he cannot disown
           himself,"  2 Timothy 2:8-13 NIV

"The Truly Proud Life In Jesus"

Learning To Follow Jesus is an adventure into a life that always makes a difference somewhere, in someone virtually every day. I've noted that not a few churches and other spiritual organizations use as their motto "Making A Difference" or some similar variation on their websites and other promo materials. But how does that actually happen? How does your church 'make a difference' in the ministry field where it is located? Some powerful words to challenge all of us -

"So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life - not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given to us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel." 2 Timothy 1:8-10 NIV

About ten years earlier Paul had written the thesis statement of his life -

"I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes; first for the Jew , then for the Gentile." Romans 1:16 NIV

If I affirm this same conviction for my life, "Not ashamed of the gospel", is there enough evidence to confirm that? Please take a moment or several minutes or an hour to seriously weigh your own faith in the balance. Does the evidence affirm your pride in the gospel?

Years ago I was confronted by a well meaning brother following a sermon I preached on this general theme who, with a red face and neck muscles bulging said, " I COME TO CHURCH DON'T I!" I put my arm around his shoulder and said, "Yes you do. For what purpose?" That seemed to confuse him. Years later, he shared the gospel every day of his life as the leader of a state supported group home for men working to re-start their lives after years of drug addiction. He decided that he could do more than sit in a church pew on Sunday morning. He took the necessary steps to become a qualified drug and alcohol counselor and was certified by the state to work in that program. He may not appreciate me doing this but you need to know - his name is James Anthamatten and he has given most his adult life to proving his pride in the gospel of Jesus Christ - and I am very proud to call him brother.

If you are someone whose pride in the gospel may not be evident (other than the fact that you 'go to church') maybe you should read Paul's encouragement to Timothy over and over until you can put your NAME there as though Paul addressed it to YOU. Through his Spirit our Father has gifted all of us to make a difference in our family, at our job, in our neighborhood and in Jesus' body the church. Use his gift to actually make a difference. Then your pride in the gospel is real.