Header Graphic
Thoughts Archived > Everyday Normal


2 Jun 2013

                                   

 

June 2, 2013

Everyday Normal

Luke 17: 20 - 37

 

Luke

One day the Pharisees asked Jesus, "When will the Kingdom of God come?"

Jesus replied, "The Kingdom of God isn't ushered in with visible signs.  You won't be able to say, 'Here it is!' or 'It's over there!'  For the Kingdom of God is among you."

Later he talked again about this with his disciples.  "The time is coming when you will long to share in the days of the Son of Man, but you won't be able to." he said.  "Reports will reach you that the Son of Man has returned and that he is in this place or that. Don't believe such reports or go out to look for him.  For when the Son of Man returns, you will know it beyond all doubt.  It will be as evident as the lightning that flashes across the sky.  But first the Son of Man must suffer terribly and be rejected by this generation.

"When the Son of Man returns, the world will be like the people were in Noah's day.  In those days before the flood, the people enjoyed banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat and the flood came to destroy them all.

"And the world will be as in the days of Lot.  People went about their daily business - eating and drinking, buying and selling, farming and building - until the morning Lot left Sodom.  Then fire and burning sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all.  Yes, it will be 'business as usual' right up to the hour when the Son of Man returns.  On that day a person outside the house must not go into the house to pack.  A person in the field must not return to town.  Remember what happened to Lot's wife!  Whoever clings to this life will lose it, and whoever loses this life will save it.  That night two people will be asleep in one bed; one will be taken away, and the other will be left.  Two women will be grinding flour together at the mill; one will be taken, the other left."

"Lord, where will this happen?" the disciples asked.

Jesus replied, "Just as the gathering of vultures shows there is a carcass nearby, so these signs indicate that the end is near." 

  

 ***

 

Thoughts.....

 

Everyday normal, or as Jesus said, 'business as usual'....right up to the hour when the Son of Man returns.

There is more than one main thought here:  The coming of the Kingdom of God, the Son of Man's return, the end being near.  Are they the same?  Let's start at the beginning 'as usual'. 

One day the Pharisees asked Jesus, "When will the Kingdom of God come?"  Jesus replied, " the Kingdom of God isn't ushered in with visible signs.  You won't be able to say, 'Here it is! or 'It's over there!'  For the Kingdom of God is within you."  Note, in the reference notes, it is indicated that the words in the text that you read above 'among you' can also refer to 'within you'.  Does that change how you understand what Jesus is trying to say? 

Even Luke may have been confused, for he goes on to say that Jesus talked 'again about this' with his disciples.  And yet, Jesus clearly went on to discuss his return.  He says, "The time is coming when you will long to share in the days of the Son of Man, but you won't be able to," he said.  Reports will reach you that the Son of Man has returned and that he is in this place or that.  Don' t believe such reports or go out to look for him.  For when the son of Man returns, you will know it beyond all doubt.  It will be as evident as the lightning that flashes across the sky.  But first the Son of Man must suffer terribly and be rejected by this generation."  Let's look at this further.

I call this paragraph 'the mock' only because he gives us a startling prophetic portrayal of what will occur.  When he says, 'you will long to share in the days of the Son of Man' [Jesus, himself], he is referring to that moment in time that they were sharing with him right then.  They won't be able to share with him later because he will be gone....into death, hell, heaven.

Then he goes on to say that 'reports will reach you that the Son of Man [he, Jesus] has returned and that he is in this place or that.  Don't believe such reports or go out to look for him."  Surely if folks had heard that he appeared to Paul on the road to Damascus, they would not find him.  Jesus came only as a brilliant light and a voice.  Story in Acts 9.  He was there and then he wasn't.  He didn't come walking up like a normal person.  He just 'appeared' as a brilliant light and voice.  He was gone in less time than it took to speak.  Another time, after Jesus had died, he returned.  Two of his followers were walking along on the road to Emmaus and "'suddenly' Jesus himself came along and joined them and began walking beside them.  Find this story after his resurrection in Luke 24.

"For when the Son of Man returns, you will know it beyond all doubt.  It will be as evident as the lightning that flashes across the sky."  To what do you think this could refer?  Hint:  Maybe John 20:24-29?   

"But first the Son of Man must suffer terribly and be rejected by this generation."  Certainly we understand this now in our generation.  He was falsely accused, whipped, spit on, beaten, had a crown of thorns dug into his scalp, carried a cross.....not the kind that goes around the neck or on a wall....the kind to which humans were nailed.  The one he carried....he was nailed to that cross, and he was left hanging, mocked, and ultimately died on....that cross.  He was most certainly rejected by the generation then....and continues to be rejected today by this generation.  Are you rejecting him?  Or have you accepted him as your Savior?  Have you made him Lord of your life?

Luke goes on to tell us Jesus said, "When the Son of Man returns, the world will be like the people were in Noah's day.  In those days before the flood, the people enjoyed banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat and the flood came to destroy them all."  See also Matthew 24:37-39.  See also local news reports.

And the world will be as it was in the days of Lot.  People went about their daily business - eating and drinking, buying and selling, farming and building - until the morning Lot left Sodom.  Then fire and burning sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all.  Have you read been reading the news at all? 

"Yes, it will be 'business as usual' right up to the hour when the Son of Man returns."  Everyday normal. 

"On that day a person outside the house must not go into the house to pack.  A person in the field must not return to town.  Remember what happened to Lot's wife!"  [She turned into a pillar of salt because she looked back.]  "Whoever clings to this life will lose it, and whoever loses this life will save it."  Jesus is referring to not looking back, not turning back after giving your life to him and clinging to him, not the things of the world, or even people in it.  The phrase, 'Fear the Lord', gives us new meaning in light of what we are reading/learning today.  Not just with a deep love, but with all we have within us, a deep respect and reverence for him.  We shouldn't 'run scared', but trust and obey.  If we are one with him in the true sense, we should not fear with a trembling fear, but with a respectful fear....knowing that to look back, go back, let go, can mean loss of eternal life.   

"That night two people will be asleep in one bed; one will be taken away, and the other left.  Two women will be grinding flour together at the mill, one will be taken, the other left."  Is your spouse saved?  Has he or she accepted Jesus as their Savior?  Have you?  Has your co-worker tried to tell you about the Lord and you haven't wanted to listen?  Are you listening now?  Have you told your co-worker about Jesus?  Your end times will most assuredly come before THE end times.  Where will you be? 

The disciples ask, 'Lord, where will this happen?"  Interesting that they asked WHERE this would happen and not when

Jesus, answered the 'where and when' of the end.  He replied, "Just as the gathering of vultures shows there is a carcass nearby, so these signs indicate that the end is near."  He wanted them to focus on the when and the where.  We know 'where' is 'everywhere'.  The end can be where Satan is....everywhere.  The end can be when you choose Satan over Jesus.  Satan and his assigns are much like vultures as they hover and try to steal, kill and destroy the people of the world, and those who belong to God.  But if you focus on the Lord, stay strong, love him with all your heart, mind, and strength, rebuke Satan, his assigns, and the ways of the world, you may escape an end no one would want.....hell.    

Let me share with you some more of my thoughts from my notes in the margin as I read this.  When he talks about the time coming when they will long to share in the days of the Son of Man, I likened it to having lost a great friend with whom you love to chat.  When Jesus said they will know beyond all doubt that he has returned, I remembered the story of him eating and drinking with the disciples, and Thomas touching the nail wounds in his hands and the sword wound in his side.  They recognized him and could touch him....he must have arisen and returned from heaven to have this occur.  Mary couldn't touch him because he had not arisen and he wasn't recognizable to Mary.  Learn more as I write about this below.

I recall the story of Jesus appearing to the seven disciples while they were fishing in John 21.  John's experience was that it was the third time he appeared....but there were more....after he died.  Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene after he arose from hell.  She didn't recognize him, because hell so disfigured him.  She wasn't allowed to cling to him because he had not ascended to heaven and God yet.  Find this in John 20.  But he had arisen and returned by the time the two followers had joined the group in Emmaus.  Luke 24.  Not only did Jesus 'appear' to the two on the road, but he went home with them to stay the night.  AND as they sat down to eat, they recognized him when he broke the bread and asked a blessing on it.  At that moment he 'aphantos'....disappeared!  Yet again.  Mark gives us a brief glimpse into Jesus' 'after life', also, in the longer ending in chapter 16.

As the two guys were telling the others about their experience, Jesus 'appeared'....again....and this time he asked to eat and drink.  See further on in Luke 24.  Jesus, the Messiah, the Lord and Savior of the world, who was hung on a cross, died, went to hell, arose returning from hell, went to heaven, returned, was asking if the group had anything to eat.  They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he ate it as they watched.

How many times does he need to return before everyone gets the Kingdom of God HAS arrived?!  The fact that he lived ushered him IN.  Will you choose to accept him into your heart?  Jesus SAID, verse 21, of chapter 17, of todays message, and I quote, "the Kingdom of God IS among you." 

Back to Luke 24:44-45, Jesus went on to tell them "everything written about me by Moses and the prophets and in the Psalms must all come true."  'Then he opened their minds to understanding these many Scriptures.'    

And then he said, "Yes, it was written long ago that the Messiah must suffer and die and rise again from the dead on the third day [rising again from the dead....we'll talk about this another day....but could it mean rising from those who are dead in their hearts....those who have not accepted Jesus who walk the earth daily?  Like those he left behind who chose not to accept him before he went to heaven....the time written in Luke?].  With my authority, take this message of repentance to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem.  'There is forgiveness of sins for all who turn to me'.  You are witnesses of all these things."  I need to make a comment here about who the 'you' were.  They were ALL the DISCIPLES hanging out with Jesus.  Not just the Apostles.  The Catholic, Episcopal, Lutheran, Methodist, Baptist churches, and others like them, would have you believe that you must be in Apostolic Succession to be able to spread the Gospel, and confer absolution for forgiveness of sins.  That is NOT what Jesus said.  He told ALL who were present to take the message of repentance to the world, AND, there is forgiveness of sins for all who turn to HIM, not the guy preaching in the pulpit. 

And then he left them....again....as he was blessing them and was taken up to heaven.   

So, will the Son of Man return AGAIN?  Yup.  And it will be business as usual....everyday normal.  Some will be taken 'up', some will not.  Many are called, but few are chosen.  You may SAY you know Jesus, but do you REALLY know Jesus?  Just saying you believe in him is not enough.  Going to church on Sunday....not enough.  Obeying God, Jesus, Holy Spirit....could be enough.  Making Jesus LORD of your life, obeying the Trinity, worshiping, praising, bowing before.....probably enough, but to be sure...."preach the Gospel in all ways, and if necessary, use words".  St Francis of Assisi.  

The Kingdom of God IS among you....Jesus wants to be within you....reach out to him today!  But watch out....your end is near even if THE end is not near....will you be carrying on with 'business as usual'....everyday normal?  Or will you be living with and for your Savior, Jesus Christ?  Will you share the Gospel with those you meet....and love?  Where will you be when he comes....again?  What will you be doing?  Who will you be doing it for?  You....or him?  Pray for the vultures to stay away.  Pray that the Son of Man will invite you to his table....of mercy....so that you may rejoice at being in his midst!  'Press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God!"  Philippians 3:14

[Read more in Matthew 24, but pay attention to verse 34.  The Kingdom of God HAS arrived!  Alleluia!  To clarify: verse 36 refers to the spiritual realm over which he now presides.]      

 

***

 

Let Us Pray

 

Dear God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, to whom much is given, much is required.  And I've got to say, I'm one who has fallen short of your glory.  Please forgive me.  Thank you.  I am very grateful for your presence in my life and for the presents you have gifted me by Holy Spirit.  I would like to use your gifts more actively.  I pray you will open more doors and that I will be prepared to go through them.  I so look forward to that day when there is less chaos in my life and more of your peace that passes all understanding.  And yet, in the midst of the chaos, I seem to be remaining rather calm.  I do pray that is your peace and not complacency, nor denial of the criticalness of the situations.  My intermittent anxiety level tells me it is NOT denial, but a very healthy concern.  Father God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, please come into my life in a way whereby I cannot help but hear you and know your way along the journey.  I am thrilled to know your Kingdom has come within me, please help me be ever present in the lives of others, that they may know you, too.  Please open whatever doors necessary to get your preached word, through me, out to the world.  Lord, let there be peace on earth and let it....continue....with me.  May my 'everyday normal' and 'business as usual' be days that are lived for and with you.  God, please help me secure finances to survive this thing called life, and, so that I can share more of who you are, that you are, and how wonderful you are.  Just knowing you love me means everything to me.  But unfortunately, the way of the world is one in which I need to meet expenses to survive and to share the Gospel.  Please help me, and, help those in the world experiencing similar, Lord.  Balance the financial scales of life, will you?  Heal those who need healing, including me, so they and I, may venture forth  in your name.  Thank you.  I remain your servant, ever ready to answer your call to help others.  Thank you for trusting me and loving me.  I love you....I will try and show you the extent of my love more.  Amen.                           

 

*** 

 

Grateful for God's lesson today?

We now have Pay Pal!  See below! 

 Visit our NEW rooms in The Family Room! 

And watch for more!

Did you know there are over 4 years of 

'Scriptures....Archived'?

For when you need The Word any time of day or night!

 

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         

 

*** 

  

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

 

***

   

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!

 

Teach tolerance....reach in acceptance....worship as one!

 

Embrace....Respect....Encourage!

 

***

  

 

 

***

 

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."

 

***

 

There is no better time than now to let God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit know how grateful you are for them being there for you, all they have done for you and will do, and, show thankfulness for being fed the Word of God, so you can know and obey him.   

 

Through your donations,

 people will be able to continue to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ spread throughout the world,

and lives will be changed!

Not only will people hear the Gospel preached, but healings will be manifested, food and housing provided,

water will quench thirsts, and medical care provided. 

Please consider donating your best gift possible today.

 

We now offer Pay Pal as a way to donate immediately and safely.  You'll find that option as you scroll down on this page.

 

Thank you and may God richly bless you!   

 

***

 

  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   ***

 

  Checks or money orders can be made out to

Trinity Missions

or the

Church of the Holy Spirit

and sent to

Trinity Missions

2321 S. Lazy A Place

Tucson, AZ

85713

USA

 

OR

 

You can now donate securely through Pay Pal!

  

 

No gift is too small or too large to the Lord. 

 *

If you have any questions, we can be reached at:

520-883-6604

Monday - Friday

10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

USA Mountain Time

or

TrinityMissions@msn.com

Please note Trinity Missions or CoHS in your subject line.

 *

As we grow, you will have options for allocating your gifts.

In the meantime, we hope you will trust us to direct them to where the need is the greatest.

 

  ***

 

    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."

 

***

  

 

 

 

 ***  

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.

***

  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.

*** 

NOTE:  I said it long ago, but let me say it again.  If you are wanting to lead a group, start a church, or are confined in an institution, or live in a country where the Gospel is not preached, and you don't know what to say or how to say it, and yet feel led to share, teach, or preach, besides just reading straight out of the Bible, please feel free to share any or all of what I've written, as long as you include where it comes from, due to copyright laws.  Jesus gave God's love and healing freely, as well as his message.  Our responsibility is to get the Word out to those who need to hear it.  If what I've written....by the power and direction of the Holy Spirit....or what he has said through me....has helped you, it may help others that you know.  You are welcome to share it.  God calls all of us to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with the world.  Please share it with the fullness of love that God, Jesus, Holy Spirit....and I....have given it.  Amen!   

 * 

Bible Authors and Minister