February 17, 2013

   Be Right....Repent Otherwise....Be Ready!  

Luke 12: 57 - 13: 9

Luke

"Why can't you decide for yourselves what is right?  If you are on the way to court and you meet your accuser, try to settle the matter before it reaches the judge, or you may be sentenced and handed over to an officer and thrown in jail.  And if that happens, you won't be free again until you have paid the last penny."

About this time Jesus was informed that Pilate had murdered some people from Galilee as they were sacrificing at the Temple in Jerusalem.  "Do you think those Galileans were worse sinners than other people from Galilee?" he asked.  "Is that why they suffered?  Not at all!  And you will also perish unless you turn from your evil ways and turn to God.  And what about the eighteen men who died when the Tower of Siloam fell on them?  Were they the worst sinners in Jerusalem?  No, and I tell you again that unless you repent, you will also perish."

Then Jesus used this illustration:  "A man planted a fig tree in his garden and came again and again to see if there was any fruit on it, but he was always disappointed.  Finally, he said to his gardener, 'I've waited three years, and there hasn't been a single fig!  Cut it down.  It's taking up space we can use for something else.'

"The gardener answered, 'Give it one more chance.  Leave it another year, and I'll give it special attention and plenty of fertilizer.  If we get figs next year, fine.  If not, you can cut it down.'  

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Thoughts.....

Do you recall, if you have been with us a time you might, how often I've said 'your end time may come before THE end times'?  This is essentially part of todays message.  Be right, repent otherwise, and be ready!  Then, chance, after chance, after chance....you can be cut from the Kingdom of God.  Let's go through todays scriptures line by line. 

I ended last weeks lesson with verse 57:  "Why can't you decide for yourselves what is right?"  And this is the first time I have duplicated a scripture to start a lesson.  It applied to both lines of thought.  When scriptures were found, they were not written in chapter and verse, they were just run on notes.  You may find, as I have, that different compilers use different thought breaks when translating the Bible.  As long as the thought is connected, in context, it is not a problem.  I have also alerted you that 'text out of context is pretext', which essentially means it doesn't exist unless it is in context.  Like a cake is not a cake until you've added all the ingredients AND it is baked.  You can't bake something that hasn't been formed with ingredients.  It can't exist. 

So, the Lord is telling us we need to decide what is right for ourselves.  We shouldn't have to depend on a set of laws as given in the Old Testament, every land and court of law, to tell us what is right.  We should know in our hearts if .... big IF, we believe in God and follow him. 

First off, we should not do wrong.  But then if someone does do wrong, they should go to the person they have wronged and settle with them.  Whether that is an immediate settlement or an agreement for settlement, or just a request for forgiveness, does not matter, as long as both parties are satisfied.  Otherwise, the alternative is that the person who does wrong 'may be sentenced, handed over to an officer and thrown in jail.  And if that happens, you [they] won't be free again until you [they] have paid the last penny." according to Jesus.  This seems pretty clear.  But it goes deeper than everyday occurrences.  Let's look at how God views us in regards to this.

Knowing that we are not perfect, and every day we attempt to do right, are we in fact doing so from the perspective of God's eyes?  Do we turn to God daily and ask forgiveness for those things we have done, or left undone?  Have we loved him with our whole heart, and our neighbor as ourself?  Do we attempt to make things right....daily....when we realize we have not reached the mark for the prize of the high calling of God?  When you realized you had not vacuumed, did you let it go and go read a book instead?  I'm GUILTY!  With not one wit of bowing down to the Lord to ask forgiveness or get off my duff and go vacuum, did I continue to pick up the book and read, knowing full well my Lord and my God might enter my living room at that moment and take me home.  NOT because I hadn't done what I was supposed to do, but because it would have been time.  Would I then want to look my Lord and my God in the eye, yet again, at that moment, and say, "oops!"?  How about you?  What would you do?  Will I do better?  Maybe, maybe not.  Will I use an excuse...."Well, God, Jesus, you KNOW I am only human, truly what CAN you expect from me a mere mortal?  You made me, you need to give me desire to do so."?  Honestly, I might.  But I sure shouldn't, and I surely could get into deep trouble doing so.  So could you.

Have you ever been in a situation where God has taken the long road to create a desire in you to do something......oh 'the long and winding road'?  I'm guessing you have.  I know I have.  How many years did the Israelites circle????!!!!  If you are stuck in life....maybe you should consider what you are saying 'no' about to God.  I'm listening as I'm preaching.....and hearing loud and clear!  "If you can get it through you, you can get it to you."  Jesus is telling you, and I, that we need to be upstanding, standing right, doing right, or making things right....starting with him and God, our Father.  We won't be free again otherwise.  Live with the Holy Spirit who will produce this kind of fruit in us:  love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  Let us follow the Holy Spirit's leading in every part of our lives.  Those who belong to Christ [SHOULD] have nailed their passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there.  Galatians 5:22-25.  Have you asked Jesus to baptize you with his Holy Spirit?  You might want to ask him today.

Jesus goes on to talk about how the Galileans, who murdered people as they were sacrificing at Temple in Jerusalem, were not worse sinners than other people from Galilee.  Asking if that was why they suffered.  Answering himself he said, "Not at all!"  And yet he warned that "'you will also perish unless you turn from your evil ways and turn to God."  He goes on to talk about 18 men who died when the Tower of Siloam fell on them.  He asked if the crowd thought they were the worst sinners in Jerusalem?  Again, answering himself, he said, "No, and I tell you again that unless you repent, you will also perish."

Note two things.  One, he spoke of people from 2 different areas.  This was to let everyone know that God does not discriminate....he respects all equally...providing you are due respect.  Two, he reiterated his thought.  He said twice, that, those who do not repent will perish.  Say 'will'.  What does it mean to repent?  To ask God's forgiveness AND go and sin no more.  The second half of that is the hardest for everyone....even me.  It's not that I don't like to vacuum.  I do actually.  It's the thought of the exertion that makes me lazy, because the actual vacuuming invigorates me, as it quickens my blood flow, and I go on to do even more.  All fall short of the glory of God....all are sinners....all need to repent....AND....go and sin nor more.  I'll pray for you.....will you pray for me?  I hope so.  I'll pray right now:  "Lord, for everyone in the whole wide world, may they have the desire to do your will....repent otherwise....AND go and sin no more.  In Jesus name I pray.  Amen." 

This reminds me of a story.  Years ago I took up smoking.  Someone told me they would pray for me to be healed of it.  They prayed that the disease, desire and symptoms of cigarette smoking would go away.  It did.  I didn't even realize it until later the next day, when I hadn't had a cigarette since the previous day, when normally I would have had one upon awakening.  It freaked me out.  I immediately lit up a cigarette and smoked a few more years.  Someone else must have been praying for me later on, too, because on Ground Hog day, of I think 1985, I had a cigarette and it made me SO sick, I stopped at that moment.  About maybe a month later (?) I decided I would have a cigarette.  I lived alone.  I went into the bathroom, lit up a cigarette and thought I was going to die from it.  I turned all shades of purple, got extremely dizzy and very sick to my stomach.  I couldn't get to the third puff.  Funny that I hid in the bathroom.....opened the window even.  WHO was going to care, or know, or see me?  Oh ya.....God.  Surely I couldn't have thought he wouldn't see.  But when we sin, are we really thinking about God or trying to NOT think about God?!  I was very devout in my faith.  Just lost in yet another attack from Satan.  The point is that if we are sinning, we are under attack from Satan, or choosing to ignore God to sin anyway.  And we shouldn't.  Another point is that prayer works.  Use it.  Against Satan and in speaking to God.  Seek to desire to do God's will....repent otherwise....AND go and sin no more.  I'll try....I'll DO it....I'm hoping you will, too.

You may not be able to make all things right with those you have wronged.  But asking forgiveness can go a long way.  Certainly with God.  But please do recall that repenting is not complete until you have chosen not to repeat the sin.  We are still forgiven, but we still have to make better choices.  So how many chances does God give us to get it right?  How many years did the Israelites have?  Well, we may not have as many.  Remember, 'YOUR end time may come before THE end times'.  Reality....history....shows us chances are pretty high that it will.  Jesus addresses this question in the next part of todays lesson.

'Then Jesus used this illustration:  "A man planted a fig tree in his garden and came again and again to see if there was any fruit on it, but he was always disappointed.  Finally, he said to his gardener, 'I've waited three years, and there hasn't been a single fig!  Cut it down.  It's taking up space we can use for something else.'

"The gardener answered, 'Give it one more chance.  Leave it another year, and I'll give it special attention and plenty of fertilizer.  If we get figs next year, fine.  If not, you can cut it down.'" 

So, picture God has planted you....he has....in his garden of life.  He keeps coming back to see if you are going to receive his fruit, and produce fruit for him. His fruit would be those things mentioned in Galatians.....love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  The fruit you should be producing for him are other folks becoming Christians, brought to him through you.  You may have done part of receiving his fruit, but have you received it all?  How can you?  Ask Holy Spirit into your life....right after you believe in God, ask his forgiveness, ask Jesus into your life, accepting him as your Savior....and make him LORD of your life.  THEN, producing fruit for him would be the part where we've been told:  "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."  In other words, bring people to the Trinity....Father, Son, Holy Spirit.  Like the song of old goes, "You can't have one, you can't have one, you can't have one without the other."  Help them see and know what you have learned.  And how will they see the Trinity through you if you are sinning?  Go and sin no more.  [Please do not use an argument that errs that this was spoken only to the 12 Apostles because, in FACT, there were more than 120 people in the room and many more accepted Holy Spirit' and his utterance.]  

So then, in your picture, Holy Spirit tells God, hey, ya know what....they are trying.  They may not be ACTUALLY trying....like as in DOING.....but let me work with them a bit more.  I'm quite sure this next year of walking around in circles, being lost and confused.....maybe broken.....will help them 'see the light', receive my special attention (good SONshine and bad/evil storm warnings as I let Satan mess with their head, etc.) and fertilizer (my love, and attention of other Christians perhaps, too).  Then I will pray they will finally 'get it' and produce fruit from within by inviting me in fully, and produce fruit of others for the Kingdom of God for you.  Then, if they STILL don't get it, you can cut them down (no longer at the pruning stage), and 'take them out'. 

What picture do you want to see?  What picture do you want GOD to see?  Maybe today is the day to turn from your sins and turn your life over to God.  Ask God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit to be fully present in your life.  Make right choices.  Repent otherwise....at least start by asking forgiveness.  And you MUST be ready.  We never know the time or the hour when he will come.  What will you say when he comes?  Will you even be given the chance to say anything?  It'll be too late to Do anything.  Hmmmmmm.  

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Let Us Pray

God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, right now, in this moment, I beg your forgiveness for not being prompt at what I know I am to do.  For making choices that take me away from what I need to be doing.  For not responding to your call.  The one that leads me on the path to righteousness.  The call that directs and guides me to you, for you....and me.  I am humbly sorry and I heartily repent.  I know I am going to do wrong because of my humanness - my imperfectness. And I know I may intentionally and unintentionally do wrong in not listening to you, not responding, not following through, not knowing, because I do not go to your Word to best learn your ways....or open my heart and mind to hear your voices.  Today, yet again, I vow to start doing better.  Forgive my sinful nature and please keep it from causing me death (Romans 7 & 8).  Help me put on the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18.)  I pray, as Paul, to keep speaking boldly for you, as I should...as all in the world should who have asked you into their lives.  May I, and all those produce fruit from within, and produce fruit for you....all press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God....making ourselves ready for you.  Thank you for forgiving me.  Thank you for giving me the opportunity to do right, so that I may be ready at the final trumpet call.  Thank you for giving me the opportunity for eternal life.  Thank you for trusting me enough to help you, bring others to you, produce fruit for the Kingdom of God.  I am sincerely grateful....help me never betray your trust in me.  In Jesus' name I pray, by and with the power of the Holy Spirit, to dear Heavenly Father God.  Amen.  I love you.  Thank you again.  Amen.        

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  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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    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.  I encourage you to pray your own prayers as well.

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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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