November 17, 2013

 Denied And Mocked 

Luke 22: 54 - 65

Luke

So they arrested him and led him to the high priest's residence, and Peter was following far behind.  The guards lit a fire in the courtyard and sat around it, and Peter joined them there.  A servant girl noticed him in the firelight and began staring at him.  Finally she said, "This man was one of Jesus' followers!"

Peter denied it.  "Woman,' he said, "I don't even know the man!"

After a while someone else looked at him and said, "You must be one of them!"

"No, man, I'm not!" Peter replied.

About an hour later someone else insisted, "This must be one of Jesus' disciples because he is a Galilean, too."

But Peter said, "Man, I don't know what you are talking about."  And as soon as he said these words, the rooster crowed.  At that moment the Lord turned and looked at Peter.  Then Peter remembered that the Lord had said, "Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny me three times."  And Peter left the courtyard, crying bitterly.

Now the guards in charge of Jesus began mocking and beating him.  They blindfolded him; then they hit him and asked, "Who hit you that time, you prophet?"  And they threw all sorts of terrible insults at him.      

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 Thoughts....

Good morning from Tucson, Arizona in the United States of America.  It is 8:54 a.m. and 56 degrees with the sun shining.  Yesterdays sun set with brilliance in full blaze of glory, while the moon arose on the horizon in a subtle and enchanting glow.  I pray it is as bright and temperate where you are. 

I must, before I go on, seek prayers for our brothers and sisters in the Philippines.  The headlines tell us they are facing a disaster of epic proportion.  All Christian organizations who have outreach in place are on the ground helping where they can.  Pray for them as well.  Our hearts go out to all.  "May God restore your lives, and, may you be strengthened by his embrace at this time.  Holy Spirit reach those in need, please.  Thank you.  Amen."    

Todays lesson will be brief.  Simply stated, have you denied or mocked Jesus?  Think about your actions this last week.  Have you denied him by your speech?  By what you have done?  Or left undone?  Have you fully believed in him and what he can do for you?  Have you asked him how you are to live your life and then gone forward with his blessing?  Have you made another's life uncomfortable?  Or easier with Christ?  Have you loved him with your whole heart?

Have you mocked Jesus this week?  Have you assumed you could do things your way without him?  Have you sought his counsel and then stepped the way you wanted to go anyway?  Have you disbelieved that good things could occur....because you didn't fully believe in him and what he could do for you?  Have you mocked him by your speech, your actions or in actions?

I denied Jesus this week.  And I mocked him.  I thought he put a specific job in front of me to take, then felt he didn't want me to take it.  I stepped out and took it anyway.  Then I inconvenienced someone by asking them to exchange a shift with me, so I could perform the other job, which would lesson their pay, but increase mine.  And I need to eliminate a day with the current employer and give it to another to do the other job.  It would leave the employer in a discomforted situation.  Interesting....and painful....how Satan can use Christians, confound our steps, our actions, our works, words, deeds and creeds.  Even we who believe we are walking the walk and talking the talk. 

I didn't trust Jesus fully to supply all my needs as HE chooses.  I didn't trust him to direct my steps.  In doing so, I denied him and mocked him.  Shame on me.  But praise God for making a way for us to be forgiven of our sins.  Jesus IS the way, the truth and the light.  His way is the only way to live.  His truth is the only truth on how to live.  His light is the only light that leads us to God in heaven.  His way leads us to salvation, forgiveness of sins.  His truth helps us understand if we sin and how, that we can ask forgiveness of God, be forgiven, and be healed.  His light is the only light in life that leads us into the arms of God at life's end and helps us receive the brilliant light of love from God, Himself, and Holy Spirit.  Praise God from whom ALL blessings flow. 

Are you stepping out without Jesus today?  You are denying him.  Have you asked him for direction and then thrown caution to the wind?  You have mocked him.     

Have you chosen to not go to an organized church because of all the hypocrisy there?  You must be perfect.  As perfect as Jesus?  No?  Then you better find a church to join.  If you have fallen....or fallen away....you need more of the Lord, who you will learn more about, through hearing the word.  You will learn how he served others when you step up to help others.  If you are nearing perfection, by all means, be sure to go to help others....learn about arrogance if nothing else. 

Satan has been pulling the righteous out of the churches.  He has been using fine Christians and helped them to mock what God set forth....places, and a lifetime, to worship and obey him.  Don't think you can read your Bible, presume you are better than others, and put your nose down at others while judging them.  And then stay in your own little world not sharing how great thou (not you) ....GOD.....art.  How is THAT being Christian?  It's time to come off the self-established pedestal and let God reign again in your life.       

Has God set you apart for a time to preach pristine?  Then amen.  But be sure you are not hiding and using the aforementioned as an excuse.  If all you do is hide and read, or hide and read and preach, then you are not setting an example in the world for God's people to follow.  You must serve the people, too, not just God.  Go into the streets, the highways, byways, in homes, and about.  Go into the work places, the libraries, parks, and stores.  There is where God is needed the most.  And he needs you in churches to serve and spark revivals, to help others worship and praise THE Majestic and Glorious God of Heaven and of earth; Jesus, Lord and Savior of the Universe; and Holy Spirit, Comforter and Teacher to all. 

Do not deny God, Jesus, Holy Spirit any day, any time.  Do not mock God, Jesus, Holy Spirit either.  Rectify your actions, words, and, reconcile yourself to God, Jesus, Holy Spirit through forgiveness of sin and by their saving grace.  Forgive anyone who has hurt or upset you and move on....going forward on the path the Lord set forth for you to follow.  And make sure it IS his path. 

Honor God, Jesus, Holy Spirit by all you do in thought, word and deed.  And all good things will be yours....especially the prize of the high calling of God:  Heaven in an instant, eternity in his arms. 

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 Let Us Pray

God, Jesus, Holy Spirit please come into my life, please forgive me of my sins, please make me whole.  Please lead me on YOUR path of righteousness for YOU first and foremost.  THEN if I honor you, follow you, obey you, I will know I have done my best, will not be cut off as a dead branch by you as outlined in John 15, and can be in heaven with you one day for eternity.  Thank you for showing me how I denied you and mocked you.  Thanks for showing others how they have done the same....how Satan has snuck in yet again to cause us to betray you.  May I and others learn the necessary lessons to know Satan's tactics, so to be better at keeping him at bay.  Better yet, drowning him in a bay to extinguish his fire completely.  Lead us to where you would have us go to have fellowship in a church, Lord, if we can.  Thank you for making me your voice in the wilderness for those who can only church via the web.  I praise you and thank you for the privilege of being in the world with you providing information on who you are, that you are and how wonderful you are, as well as how to walk the path of righteousness for your sake.  May your light emblazon the path for all of us, Lord.  Heal the world, Lord.  Light the way.  Raise others to lead the journey.  Bring the called to the path.  Help us all become better than we were yesterday.  Keep us from denying you, mocking you, abusing you, bullying you, attacking you and more.  Bring us to a point on that mountain of life where we can see your glory and live in your love.  For ourselves, others, and most especially you.  Thank you, God, Jesus, Holy Spirit.  May I, and others, raise our voices and our arms to praise you, and thank you, and love you.  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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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.  

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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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