October 20, 2013

 Journeying To The Kingdom Of God 

Luke 22: 7 - 30

Luke

Now the Festival of Unleavened Bread arrived, when the Passover lambs were sacrificed.  Jesus sent Peter and John ahead and said, "Go and prepare the Passover meal, so we can eat it together." 

"Where do you want us to go?"  they asked him?

He replied, "As soon as you enter Jerusalem, a man carrying a pitcher of water will meet you.  Follow him.  At the house he enters, say to the owner, 'The Teacher asks, Where is the guest room where I can eat the Passover meal with my disciples?'  He will take you upstairs to a large room that is already set up.  That is the place.  Go ahead and prepare our supper there."  They went off to the city and found everything just as Jesus had said, and they prepared the Passover supper there.

Then at the proper time Jesus and the twelve apostles sat down together at the table.  Jesus said, "I have looked forward to this hour with deep longing, anxious to eat this Passover meal with you before my suffering begins.  For I tell you now that I won't eat it again until it comes to fulfillment in the Kingdom of God.'

Then he took a cup of wine, and when he had given thanks for it, he said, "Take this and share it among yourselves.  For I will not drink wine again until the Kingdom of God has come."

Then he took a loaf of bread; and when he had thanked God for it, he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, "This is my body, given for you.  Do this in remembrance of me."  After supper he took another cup of wine and said, "This wine is the token of God's new covenant to save you - an agreement sealed with the blood I will pour out for you."

"But here at this table, sitting among us as a friend, is the man who will betray me.  For I, the Son of Man, must die since it is part of God's plan.  But how terrible it will be for my betrayer!"  Then the disciples began to ask each other which of them would ever do such a thing.

And they began to argue among themselves as to who would be the greatest in the coming Kingdom.  Jesus told them, "In this world the kings and great men order their people around, and yet they are called 'friends of the people'.  But among you, those who are the greatest should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be like a servant.  Normally the master sits at the table and is served by his servants.  But not here!  For I am your servant.  You have remained true to me in my time of trial.  And just as my Father has granted me a Kingdom, I now grant you the right to eat and drink at my table in that Kingdom.  And you will sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.       

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 Thoughts.....

Please forgive me being late in getting started.  There is a lot to share today.  Let's get started.   

First of all, you can read todays Scriptures on the surface.  For many, it will be a reminder about 'the Lord's Supper' or taking Communion.  But it's more....so much more.

We're going deeper.  I'll type a paragraph, underline some words or phrases that are part of the total focus, and then give you some thoughts that came to me as I was reading each paragraph.  I'm thinking todays lesson will be an eye opener for some.  Holy Spirit certainly enlightened me.

'Now the Festival of Unleavened Bread arrived, when the Passover lambs were sacrificed.  Jesus sent Peter and John ahead and said, "Go and prepare the Passover meal, so we can eat it together."'  Luke 22:7-8  

Jesus was the Lamb of God.  He was sacrificed for us.  He passed over from life unto death unto eternal life.

Jesus said, "Go."  "Prepare."  The Passover meal was a precursor to and symbolic meal for HIM passing over into heaven....eternal life.  We are to sup together with him in heaven.  Yet another parable of his?       

"Where do you want us to go?" they asked him.

He replied, "As soon as you enter Jerusalem, a man carrying a pitcher of water will meet you.  Follow him.  At the house he enters, say to the owner, 'The Teacher asks, Where is the guest room where I can eat the Passover meal with my disciples?'  He will take you upstairs to a large room that is already set up.  That is the place.  Go ahead and prepare our supper there."  They went off to the city and found everything just as Jesus had said, and they prepared the Passover supper there.   Luke 22:9-13

Enter....go through the 'door' to learn about God.  Ask him into your life....your heart.  Open the Bible....read.  Learn about him....that he is, who he is, how wonderful he is.  The Bible is documented history of the life of those who believed in and followed God, Jesus, Holy Spirit.

The water signifies baptism.  

Meet with the baptizer.  You take the first steps, the baptizer the remaining.

Follow the baptizer, he knows the way.

The house he enters is the house of God.

Will you go and sup with Jesus?

Have you a room where you can eat the Passover meal with your guest....Jesus?

If so, Jesus will go and prepare a place for you.  In heaven there are many mansions.  There is a place for you.  Will you be able to say,  'That is the place.'  Go....ahead....prepare now for you supper there.

Will you go where Jesus tells you? 

Jesus said, if you seek, you will find.  Be reminded:  Prepare now for the Passover supper there....with him.

They found everything just as Jesus had said.  Will you find everything just as Jesus had said?  

He still speaks.  Are you listening?

'Then at the proper time Jesus and the twelve apostles sat down together at the table.  Jesus said, "I have looked forward to this hour with deep longing, anxious to eat this Passover meal with you before my suffering begins.  For I tell you now that I won't eat it again until it comes to fulfillment in the Kingdom of God."'  Luke 22:14-16  

There needs to be a proper time of sitting down together with Jesus....daily. 

Jesus longs to eat the Passover meal with us in Heaven.   Become one with us....we with him.

He is anxious for us, that we may arrive and be with him.

He wants to eat with us before his suffering begins for us.  Your sins cause him pain again, and again, and again.  We are shown who he is, and given time to accept and receive him.  If you do, or do not, accept and receive him, every sin causes him pain and suffering.

Suffering will come for us either way.  But we have him to turn to to get us through.  Recall:  Nothing is too hard, if....IF....we keep our eyes fixed on the Jesus. 

There will be fulfillment in the Kingdom of God. 

Jesus was 'the Passover meal' sacrificed for us....the Sacrificial Lamb.  'Therefore let us keep the feast.  Alleluia!'

The Passover 'came to fulfillment' when Jesus passed over from death unto eternal life. 

His return to the upper room, when he ate again with the disciples, proved it.  See Luke 24:13-48.

Per Jesus in Luke 17:20-37, the Kingdom of God is within us....it is him, among us....it is him.  Recall also that he said earlier in Luke, that if he was healing (he was), then the Kingdom of God had arrived! 

The Kingdom of God 'was complete' after he went to heaven.  

'Then he took a cup of wine, and when he had given thanks for it, he said, "Take this and share it among yourselves.  For I will not drink wine again until the Kingdom of God has come."'  Luke 22: 17-18

This first cup is the cup of shed blood....consider it cleansing out....the old blood....the old wine.  Make room for the new.

Give thanks.

Share the old wine....the Old Testament.

Then he took a loaf of bread; and when he had thanked God for it, he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, "This is my body, given for you.  Do this in remembrance of me."  After supper he took another cup of wine and said, "This wine is the token of God's new covenant to save you - an agreement sealed with the blood I will pour out for you."  Luke 22: 19-20

Jesus is the Bread of Life.

Thank God for him.

Although not a bone of Jesus was broken, his heart was, time and again. 

He has and continues to be willing to give ALL of himself to everyone.

Receive him.

Become one with him.

Remember the sacrifice he made for you....he gave his life for you....nailed to a cross and died for you, that you be given the opportunity to receive eternal life.

Remember the depth of his love, his longing to be one with you, his anxiety for you....that you might, or might not, choose the Kingdom of God. 

It's not about him....it's all about you....he did it all for his/your/my/our Father, God....and....you. 

The second cup of wine signifies God's new covenant to save you....a token to show God and Jesus made an agreement sealed with his blood....that he poured out for you.  

Accept God's new covenant....be saved by Jesus shed blood!

Receive the new wine....the New Testament....new covenant....new agreement!

'But here at this table, sitting among us as a friend, is the man who will betray me.  For I, the Son of Man, must die since it is part of God's plan.  But how terrible it will be for my betrayer!"  Then the disciples began to ask each other which of them would ever do such a thing.'  Luke 22:21-23

Be Jesus' friend.

Man or woman, will you betray him?  Do not betray him.

Warning:  To betray Jesus will be terrible.

To betray Jesus means you will not enter Heaven, even if you have initially entered the Kingdom of God.  See John 15. 

'And they began to argue among themselves as to who would be the greatest in the coming Kingdom.  Jesus told them, "In this world the kings and great men order their people around, and yet they are called 'friends of the people.'  But among you, those who are the greatest should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be like a servant.  Normally the master sits at the table and is served by his servants.  But not here!  For I am your servant.  You have remained true to me in my time of trial. And just as my Father has granted me a Kingdom, I now grant you the right to eat and drink at my table in that Kingdom.  And you will sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.'  Luke 22:24-30

Arguing is not a fruit of the Spirit.  Do not argue with anyone. 

Will you argue as to who is the greatest in the Kingdom?  At your place of work?  In your home? 

Here is what the Apostle Paul said as recorded in the Bible in Galatians 5:19-21,  'When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, your lives will produce these evil results:  sexual immorality, impure thoughts, eagerness for lustful pleasure, idolatry, participation in demonic activities, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, divisions, the feeling that everyone is wrong except those in your own little group, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other kinds of sin."  Paul goes on to say, "Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God."   

Do not ever order anyone around.  Speak with kindness, gentleness.  Try to remember 'Will you please....?', 'Do you have time for....?', etc. 

The greatest in the Kingdom will be God and Jesus.  At your place of work, in your home?  Should be God and Jesus. 

Do you 'call' people 'friends' when they are not?  Why aren't they your friends?  Who blocks the opportunity for friendship....you....or them....or Satan?

Is your friendship, and therefore, allegiance to your spouse/partner/other half, or your birth family?  God clearly said to leave your family and cleave....to your wife/spouse/partner.  That means you honor each other in making new choices for your new family and respect those choices, letting your birth....'old'....family know what those choices are and abiding by them.....together.

Do you treat people as friends or as enemies?  Is your testimony of being a friend of Jesus true in the world?

Do not fight for a supreme position in anything in life.  ALL are created equal. 

Do not fight for a supreme position in the Kingdom of God. 

Jesus gave/gives us an example of what a leader is....it is someone who serves others.

Recall:  'the least will be first'.  

Humility, gentleness, are fruits of the Spirit, as are, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control.  The Apostle Paul also said, we will produce this kind of fruit when the Holy Spirit controls our lives.  He goes on to say, "Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there.  If we are living now by the Holy Spirit, let us follw the Holy Spirit's leading in every part of our lives.  Let us not become conceited, or irritate one another, or be jealous of one another." 

Let not any friendship become a mockery, especially your friendship with Jesus.

Take the position of being a servant, for there you will show how to lead.

Be committed and trustworthy to God, Jesus and Holy Spirit to guarantee a place in the Kingdom of God.  

I hope these 'thoughts' from Holy Spirit and me have enlightened and provided further value to your relationship with Jesus Christ.  If you have not accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, I hope you will consider doing so....for your sake....and his.  Every stripe on his body of broken and torn flesh pouring blood from being flogged; every open cut and searing sore on his head from the crown of thorns pressed into his scalp; every bead of sweat from carrying on and hanging on a cross; and all the pain from nails pounded into his body, and as he hung....there....for you and for me....for all the world to receive the enormity of his love; even the water that flowed from his side from being stabbed; hurts him all over again when we don't love him, believe in him, accept him, trust him, follow him on the path of righteousness, and honor him, God, and Holy Spirit in the Kingdom of God. 

He loves you.  He's waiting for you.  He says, 'Come'.   Come to the table of mercy and receive the gift....of eternal life.  And a life filled with love.  

Go.  And prepare.

 ***

 Let Us Pray   

Dear God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, I have not loved you with my whole heart.  I have not loved my neighbor as myself.  I am heartily sorry and I humbly repent.....please forgive me.  I hang my head in sorrow and shame.  I bow down to you, and lift my eyes to you in the heavens from where you came.  Come to me now.  I am weary and heavily burdened.  Please give me rest.  More importantly, show me how to walk this life with you and for you that I've chosen.  Send Christians who are true in their walk to surround me, that I may be supported on my walk by those who know you best.  Help me learn more about you, so that I may raise you to new heights of glory by how I live my life and how I walk the journey.  I am a temple for the ever loving, ever living glory of God....Jesus Christ.  And that temple should never be beaten on, abused, attacked, hurt, and the list goes on.   And I must never say or do anything to anyone that is hurtful, or abusive either.  I seek only to serve you, and others for you, in and with your name, giving a true testimony of who you are, that you are, and how wonderful you are.  When I fall short, you will raise me up, if I continue to keep my eyes fixed on you.  I am sincerely grateful you spoke to me as a little child to let me know you would always be with me.  I had no idea how badly I would need you throughout life to carry on.  Thank you so very much for not leaving me.  I will continue to 'press toward the mark for prize of the high calling of God.'  And pray that when you separate the chaff from the grain, I will be found worthy.  I want to go to the table of mercy one day.  Today, and everyday from this day forward, I will go....and prepare.  Thank you.  I love you.  I praise you!  Alleluia.  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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