September 9, 2012

    So What Does This Mean....For Me?     

Luke 9: 18 - 22

Luke

One day as Jesus was alone, praying, he came over to his disciples and asked them, "Who do people say I am?" 

"Well," they replied, "some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say you are one of the other ancient prophets risen from the dead."

Then he asked them, "Who do you say I am?"

Peter replied, "You are the Messiah sent from God!"

Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about this.  "For I, the Son of Man, must suffer many terrible things," he said.  "I will be rejected by the leaders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law.  I will be killed, but three days later I will be raised from the dead." 

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Thoughts.....

Good morning!  Errr...good afternoon!  I'm getting a later start than usual today.  Please forgive me for the delays.

The first part of the first sentence has a calmness about it....do you feel that when you read, "One day, as Jesus was alone, praying....".  Jesus....alone....praying.  "Oh, that you would bless me indeed."  I feel such a sense of gratitude, to know that Jesus was praying.  Even though I surely was not born yet in the natural sense, I know his prayers included me.  He was not just the King, Messiah, come FOR the Jews, he was King, Messiah, come for the Gentiles, too.  Not just for the current times in which he lived, but for ALL time....all people....forever. 

Jesus....alone....praying.  What do you suppose he prayed about?  Certainly his everyday trials.  But knowing his future....it must have grieved him deeply.  Surely he prayed for strength.  For wisdom, to know his....our....Father's will.  He probably prayed for Holy Spirit to tell him how to best present what he had to say....and asked him to fill him to overflowing, so he would have all the fruits and the gifts available to him to present his....our....Father and himself to the world.   

I believe he prayed for all.  The psalmist tells us "You care for people and animals alike, O Lord" Psalm 36:6b  That they would be cured of all their symptoms from illnesses.....thorns, blindness, that the lame would walk and many others.  That they would be released from bondage to Satan and his assigns....bad attitudes, criminal intent, ALS, Muscular Dystrophy, Alzheimer's, MS, Cancer, thievery, tearing down others, and so much more.  That those who were dead would be raised from their graves.  And they were.  Spiritually and physically.  For those hungry, out of work, in crises, without shelter.

I believe he prayed for me that day as surely as I know he is my Lord and Savior.  And I believe he prayed for you, too.

And he gave you, and I, a foundational example of how to live life.  Pray....alone.  For surely to pray means to live.  Being alone means you will be better focused, be able to unload your heart, from the depth of your soul to God.  In prayer, you are, after all, having a conversation with THE God, creator of the universe; Jesus, your Savior; Holy Spirit, your teacher, comforter, Spirit of Truth.  Surely that requires, compels, commands a 'one on one' filled with respect, honor, and rapt attention.  Being alone allows you to hear what is said.....not by you....by them.  

Jesus knew God knew who he was.  Do you wonder why he asked, "Who do people say I am?"  Could he have felt the pain of being alienated, attacked, isolated, disregarded, disrespected?  Of being called names?  Of being attacked for not having been believed?  OH YA.  Not surprising that he wondered what people thought. 

Has anyone ever said to you, "Who are you?"  Certainly many have said it over years to others about you....'who is that person?'  Questioningly or with 'attitude' perhaps.....who does she/he think she/he is?

But Jesus wanted to know to see if he was getting the message across....getting through to the people the enormity of who he was....is...can be for us today.  Peter, as one of his disciples knew.  Others were confused.  You would think those in Jesus' closest circle would know who he was and what knowing this could mean to them and to the world.  Sometimes our friends, relatives, even spouses don't know who we are after years of knowing us.  That we are honest, caring, giving folks.  They may not know our likes and dislikes.  They may even call us by names we portray:  disabled, angry, sad, ill, dying.  Perhaps we need to portray a more positive image:  able, happy, healthy, alive.  The larger the circle that surrounds may get further clouded.  Jesus had a huge task before him to teach others not only who he was, but how to make them fishers of men.    

Could he have felt some inner sense of poor self-esteem and be questioning from that standpoint?  Possibly.  He was human.  Doesn't everyone experience that from time to time....a little niggling of doubt?  Am I real?  Does my life matter?  Have I purpose?  Am I fulfilling that purpose?  What IS my calling in life?  Why aren't the pieces coming together?  Will I ever.....Why is it that.....Surely there must be an answer.  There is an answer.  His name is Jesus Christ.  He is the only way to the Father and Holy Spirit.  Without him, your answers will fall short.  Your life may have meaning of sorts, but not for the fullness of purpose.  All fall short of the glory of God.  But Jesus, through his life, death, and resurrection gave us a way to be forgiven of our sins and be offered eternal life.   

Peter got it right.  Jesus is the Messiah sent from God.  Whether Jew calling him Masiah, or Greek calling him Christos, or English calling him Messiah, Christ, it means the same.....Jesus IS Lord and Savior for all.

Have you asked him into your life?  If you wonder why you would want to do this, I encourage you to read the info prior to todays lesson above on this page.  Read the scripture references explaining who are God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit.  Feel free to go into 'Scriptures....Archived' in 'The Family Room' page of this website to learn more.  Or just pick up a Bible, turn to the New Testament and start reading.  Don't be confused....the first four books are the same story told from three different guys who saw and heard the same things but remember them differently.  The fourth, Mark, transcribed for another....as the story goes.  The rest of the books are essentially letters to other churches and communities.  Because the way was so vast, the disciples shared messages just like we do today....okay....sans the techno stuff....in every way they could to get the word out.  But it's all meant for all of us today.  God is the same yesterday, today, tomorrow.  

If you have accepted Jesus into your life as Savior, but perhaps have lost hold on the 'Lord of your life' part, there is no better time than right now to stop and pray that he will forgive you and help you come more strongly back into the fold. 

If you are doing the 'job' as child of God correctly....hallelujah!  The Kingdom of God is near you now!

Let's move on to what else Jesus had to say.  Jesus warned those disciples in his closest circle of 12 not to tell anyone about what Peter had said about him being the Messiah.  Old Testament scriptures, as we call them today, were studied daily and therein contain prophecy about the Messiah.  His life is outlined in various references.  During his life thus far, in fulfillment of prophecy, he'd been attacked, an attempt was made to kill him, he was ostracized, and so much more, as he attempted to share who he was.  Is it any wonder he stated "For I, the Son of Man, must suffer many terrible things"?  He'd been going through these things in other towns.  Perhaps....for just a moment of peace....he wanted his identity kept quiet, so he didn't have to be negated, battered, or flee for his life, and could just carry out his ministry.     

Jesus went on to say "I will be rejected by the leaders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law.  I will be killed, but three days later I will be raised from the dead."  So far, at this point of his journey, the first three things had already happened with more of the same to come. The later....still to come.  Perhaps he was attempting to stave off his execution by attempting to keep silent his title as he moved among the many, so to keep himself safe.  Right then, he was calling himself the 'Son of Man'.  His resurrection would confirm him Messiah.  But in attempting to stave off his execution, he left the world hanging.  It would be through his resurrection that others would be offered salvation....eternal life. 

Although you and I may have suffered through name calling, being the last picked on the kick ball team, ostracized at the water cooler, negated for our differences, attacked for our beliefs, or who we are perceived to be by a label and more, nothing compares to the suffering Jesus went through daily and when he was eventually hung on a cross and died.  For you. 

Suffering, death, resurrection....forgiveness of sins, eternal life....that's what his life, his actions, his sacrifice meant.... for you.  Because he was raised to a new life, so can you be raised.  Not just spiritually in a literal sense, but bodily.  And not just that....then, but in this life.  By believing in THE Savior, aligning ourselves with him, we reach a new height.  We raise the bar on better choices, stronger, more positive convictions.  We become better people, and, surround ourselves with those who seek not to destroy, but to build.  We seek out those who are worse off and lend them a helping hand....Jesus' with ours.  We don't just tell them who he is, we live his life by example, showing others that he is alive in us today.  We move forward with a view of a new tomorrow on the horizon of our life....with hope, prayers, promise.  Because he lives, we, too, can live....not just forever....but today.  We rise to the rainbows of life instead of the dust.  We claim what is ours....the blessings God wants us to have.  Believing in God is the first blessing.  Accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior is the second blessing.  Third is asking Jesus to baptize us with and receiving Holy Spirit, so we might learn the truths intrinsic to the essence of life itself when lived with the Trinity.  The rest of the blessings.....gravy.  Ok...so chocolate.  

Let me leave you with some final some final thoughts and something I've shared before.

Power To Become   

If we take people as they are...we make them worse, but when we take them as if they were what they ought to be, we help them become what they are capable of becoming.

The word...Become...is a great word in any language.  Within us is the capacity to become a better person and to help others become what they ought to be.  This would be a sad world if there were no possibility of improvement...of our becoming better.

There is no limit to what we may become.  The secret of our being is not only to live but to have something to live for, something towards which to strive, something to become.  Anonymous

Folks, do you think that this was what God, Jesus, Holy Spirit had in mind?  I do.  For me to live is to have Jesus in my life as my Lord and Savior.  Because of God I live....and I live for God.  I strive for Holy Spirit to help me become a better person, a better child of God, better at sharing foundational truths of life....He lives and he can live in you.  Something to become....someday....a child of God in Heaven.  It's what it all means for me....and can mean for you.

The gravy....the chocolate....just little....or big....blessings along life's way are because I've accepted Jesus as Savior and made him LORD of my life.  Won't you make him LORD of your life today?  Trust him.  I know you will be glad you did. 

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Let Us Pray

Oh, Lord Jesus, my Savior, Christ, my Messiah, I am sorry you suffered so much for me.  But thank you.  Thank you 'for putting your hand into my heaped up heart' and dimly seeing me there.  And drawing me out into your arms of love.  Thank you for showing me that I am not alone on my journey, and I am not the only one to have suffered.  Suffering for you makes all of it worthwhile.  Although I must say I haven't liked much of it, as you probably did not.  But you did it for me.  And so I do it for you and others.  That they may learn that though life is not easy, they are not alone....your suffering, mine, it's not in vain.  You know, I've always said that I've suffered, so that I can truly know and understand the suffering of my comrade.  And as you send those people who have been hurt, are suffering, experiencing pain, sorrow, trauma, life, I know, that I know, that I know, my lesson is well learned to better help them along life's way.  For this, I should say thank you.  Humbly, with some trepidation lest you pile it on, I say thank you.  Do please understand I've already learned a lot, and though I don't want you to stop teaching me, could you teach me more of the postive stuff now?  Gee whilikers, not to diminish or negate in any way a wonderful organization and those having lain down their lives for whom I give thanks, but I'm my own 'wounded warrior project' about now.  The blessings of your life, love, and support, have been life, sustained me, and uplifted me along the way.  The many gifts, both spiritually and materially, have been grand.  I'm ready to receive more of the good stuff.  Picture my happy face, Lord!!!  I'm ready to step on to the next phase of the journey....upward.  As Ricky Nelson sang, 'I've learned my lesson well'.  Well, I hope you think so.  And though I don't need to go to a garden party, nor do I expect life will be a party....I don't 'do' parties anyway....I would like more reasons for joy...forgive my greed.  I have YOUR joy 'down in my heart', as the song goes.  And that's wonderful.  But I look forward to the day that the visions you've given me will come to fruition, that our big dreams will come true.  Help me to insure the foundations are sound by continuing to journey with you and for you.  Father God, Jesus, Holy Spirit.....I get what it all means.... what you've done for me, what you are doing for me now, and what you will continue to do for me.  And I thank you sincerely with praise and thanksgiving.  I am very grateful you gave me life.  I am grateful I have the life I have.  (I remember "IN everything give thanks".)  I am grateful for the vision to have something for which to strive.  I love you for the hopes, the promises.  I love you that I can pray to you....you do hear me....and I can hear you.  The tears are from my heart....cleansing me of the sorrows, sharing with you the joy within for you being in my life.  Thank you.  Continue to help me help others 'become'....first a child for you, God....or a better child for you God.  We're all in this thing together called life.  Let us reach you....and teach about you.... together.  Thank you.  I love you.  Amen.        

Lord,LordJesJeJeJJjEJJJ     JJThe LORD is king!  Let the nations tremble!  T***

More love.... 

  Benediction....Blessing

Let us hear from Paul as he prays:  

When I think of the wisdom and scope of God's plan, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth.  I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will give you mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit.  And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him.  May your roots go down deep into the soil of God's marvelous love.  And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is.  May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it.  Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

Now glory be to God!  By his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope.  May he be given glory in the church and in Christ Jesus forever and ever through endless ages.  Amen.  Ephesians 3:14-21 NLT         

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Scroll down to read Jesus' Prayer of Thanksgiving...'The Unforced Rhythms of Grace'.

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Definition of a Christian:  Anyone who believes in God, Jesus and Holy Spirit, and accepts Jesus as Lord and Savior.  Regardless of church name or religious affiliation. 

It is not how we worship, but that we worship....the Trinity!   

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If you feel that the Church of the Holy Spirit has inspired or helped you, we'd like you to prayerfully consider tithing regularly to us, or gifting us, so that we can further the work and carry out the will of the Father as proclaimed in Matthew 28:19-20 NLT

 to

 "Go and make disciples out of all the nations

baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you.  And be sure of this:

I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

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  Our Current Cause

It is time to reach into the community and the world around you to see wherein lies the greatest need.  As you choose to focus on these areas, do so with a servant's heart.  Whether the need is for children, adults, or animals, or any cause in between that will help those in need, ask God how you can best serve his needs, what path you must take, and how long you should persevere.  Sometimes we are to be in the lives of others merely as stepping stones.  Sometimes we are to touch those lives forever.  Whatever journey you are called to take, whatever team you will be a member, know this:  God is with you always...even til the end of time.  He loves you, is grateful for you, and will help you along life's way, especially if you are helping others along theirs, persevering with a servant's heart.  

Please accept my sincerest thanks....and God's....and may God richly bless you! 

BesidesBesid   

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    One last thing....

 Jesus' Prayer of Thanksgiving

'The Unforced Rhythms of Grace'

"Abruptly Jesus broke into prayer:  "Thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth.  You've concealed your ways from sophisticates and know-it-alls, but spelled them out clearly to ordinary people.  Yes, Father, that's the way you like to work."

Jesus resumed talking to the people, but now tenderly.  "The Father has given me all these things to do and say.  This is a unique Father - Son operation, coming out of Father and Son intimacies and knowledge.  No one knows the Son the way the Father does, nor the Father the way the Son does.  But I'm not keeping it to myself; I'm ready to go over it line by line with anyone willing to listen."

"Are you tired?  Worn out?  Burned out on religion?  Come to me.  Get away with me and you'll recover your life.  I'll show you how to take a real rest.  Walk with me and work with me - watch how I do it.  Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.  I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn how to live freely and lightly.

   Matthew 11:  25-30

  The Message

And the people said,

"Amen."

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I now write most prayers in the position of ' I ' (first person) because most people are sitting at their computer alone, not in groups, and it allows those reading and praying to personalize the prayer as coming from them going to God.  Variations may appear on holidays when families may wish to use the prayer provided. 

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  Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996.  Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189.  All rights reserved.

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