March 3, 2013

  The Tree Of Life....The Bread Of Heaven  

Luke 13: 18 - 13: 21

Luke

Then Jesus said, "What is the Kingdom of God like?  How can I illustrate it?  It is like a tiny mustard seed planted in a garden; it grows and becomes a tree, and the birds come and find shelter among branches."

He also asked, "What else is the Kingdom of God like?  It is like yeast used by a woman making bread.  Even though she used a large amount of flour, the yeast permeated every part of the dough."  

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Thoughts.....

Just as I was typing this, it dawned on me that the Lord addressed this concern of what the Kingdom of God is like to both male and female from a traditional perspective.  The first paragraph was from an outdoor perspective....men traditionally have been the ones in charge of the things outside, the wilderness, the yard work, the landscaping, vegetation, etc.  And women traditionally have been in charge of the things inside to include all the baking, hence the reference to making bread. 

We know there were men and women who followed him, became disciples, started churches, worked the mission fields, did as he did, and more.  And how appropriate for him to phrase his intent in such a way as to not offend the 'old school' who believed women were to be seen and not heard, placed in the rear, set back.  The door to salvation was open to all and all were equal in God's eyes and his.  Jesus was all about teaching equal opportunity.  He was also all about helping folks understand the in and the out or the internal and the external message he presented. 

Picture the tiny mustard seed planted as an embryo in a womb....Mary's womb....the garden.  It grows and becomes a tree.  Picture that tree as a human whose name is Jesus.  Trees are where birds find shelter among the branches.  Picture Jesus with his arms outstretched saying 'come'....offering you, a bird as one of many, shelter in one of many of his branches....his embrace.  Picture him on a tree....the cross....with his arms outstretched again, offering himself for you....to give you eternal shelter.  Could those branches....his embrace....in which you will find shelter be churches or groups who worship God, Jesus, Holy Spirit?  Yes,  A person who is a Christian?  Yes.

Ok, now let's look at the story of yeast.  For those who do not know, it takes a very tiny amount of yeast to a very large amount of flour to make bread rise.  And warm water.  When someone is introduced to God, Jesus and Holy Spirit, they usually only get a teeny tiny bit of the overall message before they choose to accept Jesus as their Savior and choose to make him Lord of their life.  But once they do accept God, Jesus and Holy Spirit, they are, if you will, permeated with the essence and totality of the Trinity.  There is no doubt that when they enter into your life, your heart, your mind, they come into your life as a huge presence....much like flour is added to the yeast for the ingredients to become bread....to become whole  Much like in a marriage ceremony when folks are ordained from two to become one, when someone becomes a Christian, they accept Jesus and become one with him.  Like love permeates your soul, inducing marriage, Love...another name for Jesus....will permeate you soul, too.

Also, much like bread needs water to rise, someone accepting Jesus rises to a new life through the coming up out of the water in baptism.  Like bread needs fire to rise to it's maximum potential, we, too, need the fire from the baptism of the Holy Spirit to reach maturity.  It can most assuredly be said, that Holy Spirit emphatically will permeate your very soul. 

Jesus knew, too, that many people means many thoughts, ideas, many life experiences, many walks of life.  I am quite convinced that he chose 12 apostles, and directed many others, then and now, to obey, preach, and reach others for the Kingdom of God, and to start churches to fulfill the needs of the vast groups of people seeking him, so all the vast needs would be met and they would not falter, fall or fall away.  Unfortunately, humans have abused the power, hurt people by their doctrinal mandates, closed doors, closed doors of hearts, pushed people away from churches, due to blatant abuse and hypocrisy, and hear me loud and clear now.....SATAN....THE Satan that kills steals and destroys, is causing all this due to those Christians, in the ministry or in everyday life, not willing to see him for who he is and stand up to him.  I do not understand how people cannot or will not see what they are doing in the supposed name of God, that is most assuredly NOT in his name, and has nothing to do with God, except that Satan is the one who confuses and is THE deceiver.  He knows Scriptures just like Jesus.  And he will use Scripture at every attempt to make you think God is talking to you when he most assuredly is not.  Destruction is NOT God's middle name....destruction belongs to Satan. 

But there are Christians and Christian churches out there, such as this one, who have welcoming arms, are stalwart as trees, and have the fire of the baptism of the Holy Spirit to guide and direct, and obey....HIM....not Satan.  A place where you can be fed the Word of God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, be filled, and rise mightily. 

In Genesis chapters 1 and 2, we learn that God created us.  In Isaiah 45:5-8 this is further confirmed, and many other places throughout the Old and New Testament.  It reads , 'I am the LORD; there is no other God.  [Note that when the name Lord is capitalized throughout Scripture thus:  LORD, it means God.  When it has only the first letter capitalized: Lord, it means Jesus.]  I have prepared you, even though you do not know me, so all the world from east to west will know there is no other God.  [This means we are to be living examples of him in the world, so others will get to know who he is and want to give their life to him.]  I am the LORD, and there is no other.  I am the one who creates the light and makes the darkness.  I am the one who sends good times and bad times.  I, the LORD am the one who does these things.  [Satan also sends bad times.]  Open up, O heavens and pour out your righteousness.  Let the earth open wide so salvation and righteousness can sprout up together.  I, the LORD created them.'  Feel free to read further in your Bible.  Salvation refers to Jesus and righteousness to Holy Spirit.  In Acts 4:12 we learn, 'There is salvation in no one else!  [Note exclamation point.]   There is no other name in all of heaven for people to call on to save them.'

Putting on the body armor of God's righteousness referenced in Ephesians 6:14c is about receiving the fullness of the Holy Spirit.  It's about right living which can only come about with the Holy Spirit in our lives as written in Galatians 5: 16-26 and Romans 8.  And it can only be done if we have indeed received the Holy Spirit who then lives within us and teaches us all things because what he teaches is the truth and not a lie as written in 1 John 2:26-27.

So, what should you do?  In Acts 2:38-42 we are told:  "Each of you must turn from your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.  Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit [different than the baptism of the Holy Spirit].  This promise is to you and to your children and even to the Gentiles - all who have been called by the Lord our God."  Then Peter continued preaching for a long time strongly urging all his listeners, "Save yourselves from this generation that has gone astray!"  [Note exclamation point.]  Look around you folks.  Peter's generation wasn't the only one that has gone astray.  The world is a mess.

In Colossians 3 in the New Testament, you can read to learn how to live your new life.  Struggling with sin?  See Romans 7:14-25.  Want to know more about life in the Spirit?  See Romans 8:1-17.  And the Future Glory offered you is explained in Romans 8:18-30.  Fearing you have lost or will lose God's love?  See Romans 8:31-39.  Wherever you are on your walk, remember this:  'For Christ has accomplished the whole purpose of the law.  All who believe in him are made right with God.'  Romans 10:4

Will you believe in and worship the Tree of Life...Jesus?  Will you ask Jesus to baptize you with Holy Spirit?  Will you allow them to permeate every part of your being?  Will you become a stalwart tree for Jesus to whom others may come to find shelter?  Establish a place to learn more about God, Jesus, Holy Spirit?

Maybe you hear God's voice asking you to answer his call.  Maybe he is calling you to raise you to a new level of relationship with him.  Maybe he is calling you to step up and step forth to preach the Gospel....we are ALL called to do this.  Maybe he is calling you to lead, shepherd others, water to grow trees in place....harvest....to help them be raised to new heights of love, of understanding....for his glory.  Maybe God is calling you home.  IF he is, please remember, your end time may come before THE end times.  Go to him with your heart cleansed and purified....pour out your sins to him and ask him to forgive you.  Ask Jesus to come into your life.  And ask him to baptize you with his Holy Spirit that you may be permeated, able to live a new life of righteousness....for his name's sake.  Yea, tho' you walk through a valley of darkness, you will no longer fear evil, for your rod and your staff will be with you.  Goodness and mercy will follow you all the days of your life and you will live in the house of the LORD forever.  From Psalm 23     

'O LORD, you have examined my heart and know everything about me.  You know when I sit down or stand up.  You know my every thought when far away.  You chart the path ahead of me and tell me where to stop and rest.  Every moment you know where I am.  You know what I am going to say even before I say it, LORD.  You both precede and follow me.  You place your hand of blessing on my head.  Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to know!  I can never escape from your spirit!  I can never get away from your presence!  If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the place of the dead, you are there.  If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me and your strength will support me.  I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night - but even in darkness I cannot hide from you.  To you the night shines as bright as day.  Darkness and light are both alike to you.  You made all the delicate inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's womb.  Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!  Your workmanship is marvelous - and how well I know it.  [Love your neighbor as yourself.]  You watched me as I was being born in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.  Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.  How precious are your thoughts about me, O God!  They are innumerable!  I can't even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand!  And when I wake up in the morning, you are still with me!  .....  Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts.  Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.'  From Psalm 139

The LORD will work out his plans for your life - for his faithful love endures forever.  He won't abandon you, for he made you.  From Psalm 138:8

Psalm 126 reads, 'When the LORD restored his exiles to Jerusalem, it was like a dream!  We were filled with laughter, and we sang for joy.  And the other nations said, "What amazing things the LORD has done for them"  Yes, the LORD has done amazing things for us!  What joy!  Restore our fortunes, LORD, as streams renew the desert.  Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy.  They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest.' 

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Let Us Pray

O LORD, hear my prayers.  I am wonderfully made by you....help me to not go astray.  Lead me on the path of righteousness for both of our sakes.  Forgive me for my sins, few or many.  Teach me, guide me, direct me.  Fill me with your knowledge and wisdom.  Help me to hear you better, Lord, and create a greater desire in me to follow you more nearly as I love you more dearly....day by day....as the song goes.  Holy Spirit, please come into my life and set my spirit more on fire for you, Jesus, and God.  LORD God, Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on me and grant me peace.  Make of my life not timber, but a stalwart tree reaching out to all, welcoming, to bring others to you.  Help me show others the benefits of receiving your yeast....Holy Spirit.  Help me plant, water, watch growth, and harvest others into your arms on the last days with shouts of joy.  What amazing things you have done for me, LORD, please do not stop now.  Please restore my fortunes, LORD, as streams renew the desert.  I have planted with tears, let me harvest with shouts of joy.  Please continue to bless me, as I try to bless you.  Because I believe I am trying to please you, does not in fact mean I am.  But I pray the fact that I am indeed trying does please you, Lord.  LORD God, Tree of Life....Bread of Heaven, Body Armor of God's Righteousness, thank you.  I love you.  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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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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I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

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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.  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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