September 22, 2013

Pointing The Way....Exhorting In Truth

Luke 20: 41 - 47

Luke

Then Jesus presented them with a question.  "Why is it," he asked, "that the Messiah is said to be the son of David?  For David himself wrote in the book of Psalms: 'The LORD said to my Lord, Sit in honor at my right hand until I humble your enemies, making them a footstool under your feet.'  Since David called him Lord, how can he be his son at the same time?"

Then, with the crowds listening, he turned to his disciples and said, "Beware of these teachers of religious law!  For they love to parade in flowing robes and to have everyone bow to them as they walk in the marketplaces.  And how they love the seats of honor in the synagogues and at banquets.  But they shamelessly cheat widows out of their property, and then, to cover up the kind of people they really are, they make long prayers in public.  Because of this, their punishment will be the greater."

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Thoughts.....

'Double Mint.'  Years ago there was a commercial advertising 'Double Mint' chewing gum stating 'two mints in one'.  Todays lesson can be considered to be 'two mints in one'.  When I think of 'mint', besides it being something sweet to eat, I think of a mint where something of value is withheld.  In this case, we have two sage thoughts of value....advice....that need to be withheld, both of which are sweet, if we indeed withhold them.  They are sweet truths, if withheld in the mint....the Temple of God within us....which can lead us closer to the prize of the high calling of God.   

In the first paragraph this morning, Jesus again points the way to the truth of WHO he is.  In Matthew 12:38-40, Jesus healed a demon-possessed man, who was both blind and unable to talk.  There was wonder at that point whether Jesus could be the Messiah, the Son of David.  At that time, the Pharisees disbelieved that could be possible, believing he was getting his power from the prince of demons, Satan.  But Jesus refutes their theory, indicating Satan wouldn't destroy himself and what he owns.  Then he told them, but if he, Jesus, is casting out demons by the Spirit of God, then the Kingdom of God had arrived among them.  The Messiah has arrived!  The Lord IS!  He addresses the Pharisees again Matthew 22:41-46, confirmed also here in Luke, as well as in Mark 12:35-37. 

In Acts 2, 32-36 we read "This prophecy was speaking of Jesus, whom God raised from the dead, and we are all witnesses of this.  Now he sits on the throne of highest honor in heaven, at God's right hand."  Peter goes on to state, "So let it be clearly known by everyone in Israel that God has made this Jesus whom you crucified to be both Lord and Messiah!"

Jesus started of by saying, "Why is it....?"  He concludes this sentence with "....that the Messiah is to be the son of David?"  This is a trick question from Jesus.  The Pharisees had been trying to trick Jesus and now he turned the table on them.  David prophesied 'The LORD said to my Lord'....remember....when LORD is in all capitals it refers to GOD.  David's Lord, his Messiah, and that of everyone, would come to be known as Jesus.  So you could read this sentence, 'God said to Jesus', Sit in honor at my right hand until I humble your enemies, making them a footstool under your feet.' 

The quote I have been focusing on in todays Scripture is from Psalm 110.  Let's read that now....

The LORD said to my Lord, "Sit in honor at my right hand until I humble your enemies, making them a footstool under your feet."

The Lord will extend your powerful dominion from Jerusalem; you will rule over your enemies. 

In that day of battle, your people will serve you willingly. 

Arrayed in holy garments, your vigor will be renewed each day like the morning dew. 

The LORD has taken an oath and will not break his vow:  "You are a priest forever in the line of Melchizedek."

The Lord stands at your right hand to protect you.  He will strike down many kings in the day of his anger.

He will punish the nations and fill them with their dead; he will shatter head over the whole earth.

But he himself will be refreshed from brooks along the way.  He will be victorious.//

Genealogically speaking, Jesus was a descendant of David, a 'son of' therefore. 

Note in Hebrews 5:1-10 the correlation of high priest versus High Priest in the line of Melchizedek as we read the following: 

Now a high priest is a man chosen to represent other human beings in their dealings with God.  He presents their gifts to God and offers their sacrifices for sins.  And because he is human, he is able to deal gently with the people, though they are ignorant and wayward.  For he is subject to the same weaknesses they have.  That is why he has to offer sacrifices, both for their sins and for his own sins.  And no one can become a high priest simply because he wants such an honor.  He has to be called by God for this work, just as Aaron was.

Note:  This was the OLD way....the way in the OLD Testament.  Now we have a NEW way....the way in the NEW Testament....and he IS....THE Way, THE Truth, and THE Light of Life.....his name is Jesus.  We learn this as we continue reading in Hebrews 5:5-10.

That is why Christ did not exalt himself to become High Priest [notice capital letters now in the title].  NO, he was chosen by God, who said to him, "You are my Son.  Today I have become your Father."  And in another passage God said to him, "You are a priest forever [SAY FOREVER] in the line of Melchizedek."

While Jesus was here on earth, he offered prayers and pleadings, with a loud cry and tears, to the one [SAY THE ONE] who could deliver him out of death.  And God heard his prayers because of his reverence for God.  So even though Jesus was God's Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered.  In this way, God qualified him as a perfect High Priest, and he became the source [SAY THE SOURCE] of eternal salvation for all those who obey him [SAY OBEY HIM].  And God designated him to be a High Priest in the line of Melchizedek.

This allowed us to KNOW that the stone [JESUS] that was rejected has now become the cornerstone. "There is salvation in no one else!  There is no other name in all of heaven for people to call on to save them."  Psalm 118:22 and Acts 4:11-12 

Todays lesson could also be about obedience.  Read again Hebrews 5:8.  'So even though Jesus was God's Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered.'  May we all learn to be obedient to God through our suffering, lest we continue to suffer.

The second 'mint', if you will, pertains to the second paragraph.  Let's review that again.

'Then, with the crowds listening, he turned to his disciples and said, "Beware of these teachers of religious law!  For they love to parade in flowing robes and to have everyone bow to them as they walk in the marketplaces.  And how they love the seats of honor in the synagogues and at banquets.  But they shamelessly cheat widows out of their property, and then, to cover up the kind of people they really are, they make long prayers in public. Because of this, their punishment will be the greater." 

I have to chuckle sometimes.  You've probably heard that God gives us what we need, if we keep our eyes fixed on him.  I recently sent a note of exhortation to someone who took advantage of me.  I felt led by God to exhort this sister in Christ.  We are told in Scripture to exhort and judge....yes I said judge....our Christian brothers and sisters, but not those of the world.  In fact, we are told if we are not heard, that we are to take someone else with us.  If our Christian brother or sister still does not listen, we are to take them to the authority of the church.  Then if they don't listen, they are to be removed from the church.  This isn't the local church, this is the whole church of the Living God throughout the world....the Kingdom church....from which they are to be tossed from.  God gave us his authority to do so.  Well, here in todays Scripture, I see an exact description of that sister in Christ who has cheated me.  That is why I now chuckle....with gratitude.  God has confirmed, through todays Scripture reference, that he knows what is going on and will handle it.  Alleluia! 

Todays reference also pertains to authority figures in the church.  You may or may not have read my blog on another page in this site about the Pastor who abused his flock.  Or the one about the legal authorities abusing Christians.  Abuse is rampant in the church and in the world.  Whether it is someone in authority over the church, or in the church, or, someone who SAYS they are Christians and attempt to 'lord' all over others, and those who take advantage of folks, it is like a wild fire raging in these days and times.  It's always been apparently, but I have a sense, it is worse now, if for no other reason than the percentage odds go up with the increase of population. 

I've spoken on this before....the folks who go to church all dressed up 'la-ti-dah-ing' about as if they are 'someone' or 'something' special.  The ONLY someone important in ANY church is GOD, JESUS, HOLY SPIRIT.  The only something is the ground which is Holy.  Not even the building is important.  WE are the Temples of the LIVING GOD.  And in that, ladies and gentlemen, we are all to be equal.

Let's review or learn about what the Lord taught about sin and exhortation in as we read from Matthew 18:15-18 and in 1 Corinthians 5:1-13....and please read the whole chapter.  

Jesus said in Matthew 18:15-18, "If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the fault.  If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back.  But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses.  If that person still refuses to listen, take your case to the church.  If the church decides you are right, but the other person won't accept it, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector.  I tell you this:  Whatever you prohibit on earth is prohibited in heaven, and whatever you allow on earth is allowed in heaven."  This last line means you either prohibit this sin from heaven or you loose this sin unto heaven.  Think about that.  It correlates to what we are about to learn in 1 Corinthians 5:6.

Paul, speaking by the power of the Holy Spirit, tells us in 1 Corinthians 5:1-13, 'I can hardly believe the report about the sexual immorality [hang on, he doesn't JUST speak about this particular sin....however if this shoe fits you......] going on among you, something so evil that even the pagans don't do it.  I am told that you have a man in your church who is living in sin with his father's wife.  And you are so proud of yourselves!  Why aren't you mourning in sorry and shame?  And why haven't you removed this man from your fellowship?

'Even though I am not there with you in person, I am with you in the Spirit.  concerning the one who has done this, I have already passed judgment in the anem of the Lord Jesus.  You are to call a meeting of the church, and I will be there in spirit, and the power of the Lord Jesus will be with you as you meet.  Then you must cast this man out of the church and into Satan's hands, so that his sinful nature will be destroyed and he himself will be saved when the Lord returns.  [Whole other lesson of depth....]

'How terrible that you should boast about your spirituality, and yet you let this sort of thing go on.  Don't you realize that if even one person is allowed to go on sinning, soon all will be affected?  [This was verse 5 that I referred to above.]  Remove this wicked person from among you so that you can stay pure.  Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed for us.  So let us celebrate the festival, not be eating the old bread of wickedness and evil, but by eating the new bread of purity and truth.

'When I wrote to you before, I told you not to associate with people who indulge in sexual sin.  But I wasn't talking about unbelievers who indulge in sexual sin, or who are greedy or are swindlers or idol worshipers. You would have to leave this world to avoid people like that. What I meant was that you are not to associate with anyone who claims to be a Christian yet indulges in sexual sin, or is greedy, or worships idols, or is abusive, or a drunkard, or a swindler.  Don't even eat with such people. 

'It isn't my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly is your job to judge those inside the church who are sinning in these ways.  God will judge those on the outside; but as the Scriptures say, "You must remove the evil person from among you."  [This again refers to verse 5, whereby they are to be thrown into Satan's hands....he happens to live in hell....which is way outside the Kingdom of God and far away form any church.] 

So, you see, we have authority to exhort and judge, and cast out from the Kingdom of God, those Christians who sin, but not those of the world. 

In 1 Corinthians 6:9 Paul says, "Don't you know that those who do wrong will have no share in the Kingdom of God?  Don't fool yourselves."   He says many will not have a share in the Kingdom of God.  But he goes on to remind us, that we have an option.  We can choose to live for and with God, Jesus and Holy Spirit.  Because of what Jesus has done for us, we can have our sins washed away.  We can choose to set ourselves apart for God by believing in and accepting Jesus as our Savior and making him LORD of our lives.  IF we do that, Paul says, "You will have been made right with God because of what the Lord Jesus Christ and the Spirit of our God have done for you."  Please continue reading this chapter.  

Today you have had the opportunity to chew on 'Double Mint'.....may you enjoy the blessings inherent in every mouthful of truth. 

May you fully embrace 'pointing the way' to a victorious life with Christ, and not have to be 'exhorting in truth' or be the one being exhorted. 

Choose this day whom you will serve and who you will choose to surround yourself with to enjoy your victorious life with the Trinity.      

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 Let Us Pray   

Lamb of God, please forgive me of my sins.  I am so grateful you take away the sins of the world, and mine, and have mercy on me.  I pray earnestly that you will surround me with REAL TRUE Christians, and, that I may have my 'discernment knob' (like the vertical and horizontal hold on a TV) turned up, so I am finely tuned to know who to surround myself with, and know how to best walk my walk with you, not away from you, or outside the Kingdom of God.  Please keep me pure and holy.  I am not perfect, but I do not choose to purposely steal from people or take advantage of them.  Please continue to advise me how to best handle the situation of which you are well aware.  Nor do I act 'holier than thou', flaunt my association with you, or attempt to be perceived by any actions that I am more important than anyone else.  All are equal in your Kingdom, Father God.  All are to serve you, worship, honor and obey you.  Oh, that you may find me worthy when the last trumpet sounds.  Thank you for carrying me, Father, Lord, Guide....Comforter....Teacher.  But with all due respect, I'd like to be able to carry myself more and take some of the burden off of you.  With that having been said, I pray you will open the door to the job for which I had an interview recently.  If you choose not to open that door and secure that position, I need a viable back up plan immediately, because I have gone beyond the emergent situation.  I pray this for all others in the world in similar circumstances.  I, and they, need your healing rain, Father God.  May it flow abundantly as we attempt to do all things right to live a victorious life for and with you.  Thank you for everything you've done for me in my life, and please do not leave me, nor forsake me, and I will make every effort, attempt....in fact, I give you my word....my promise, that I will most certainly not EVER leave you, nor forsake you.  I know you know that I love you, but help me show you better by my actions of obedience.  Grant your mercy, Lord.....don't let it be long in coming....as you allow the flow of your healing rain.  I bow down to you, lift my arms in praise to you, and embrace you with eternal love and gratitude.  May you receive ALL glory now and forever.  In Jesus' name I pray.   Amen.           

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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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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 and sharing what God puts on your heart, please feel free to share any or all of what I've written, if it will help you, 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!   

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