December 1, 2013

 Peer Pressure, Lies, Truth  

Luke 23: 1 - 25

Luke

Then the entire council took Jesus over to Pilate, the Roman governor.  They began at once to state their case.  "This man has been leading our people to ruin by telling them not to pay their taxes to the Roman government and by claiming he is the Messiah, a king."

So Pilate asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?"

Jesus replied, "Yes, it is as you say."

Pilate turned to the leading priests and to the crowd and said, "I find nothing wrong with this man!"

Then they became desperate.  "But he is causing riots everywhere he goes, all over Judea, from Galilee to Jerusalem!"

"Oh, is he Galilean?" Pilate asked.  When they answered that he was, Pilate sent him to Herod Antipas, because Galilee was under Herod's jurisdiction, and Herod happened to be in Jerusalem at the time.

Herod was delighted at the opportunity to see Jesus, because he had heard about him and had been hoping for a long time to see him perform a miracle.  He asked Jesus question after question, but Jesus refused to answer.  Meanwhile, the leading priests and the teachers of religious law stood there shouting their accusations.  Now Herod and his soldiers began mocking and ridiculing Jesus.  Then they put a royal robe on him and sent him back to Pilate.  Herod and Pilate, who had been enemies before, became friends that day.

Then Pilate called together the leading priests and other religious leaders, along with the people, and he announced  his verdict.  "You brought this man to me, accusing him of leading a revolt.  I have examined him thoroughly on this point in your presence and find him innocent.  Herod came to the same conclusion and sent him back to us.  Nothing this man has done calls for the death penalty.  So I will have him flogged, but then I will release him." 

Then a mighty roar rose from the crowd, and with one voice they shouted, "Kill him, and release Barabbas to us!"  (Barabbas was in prison for murder and for taking part in an insurrection in Jerusalem against the government.)  Pilate argued with them, because he wanted to release Jesus.  But they shouted, "Crucify him! Crucify him!"

For the third time he demanded, "Why? What crime has he committed?  I have found no reason to sentence him to death.  I will therefore flog him and let him go."

But the crowd shouted louder and louder for Jesus' death, and their voices prevailed.  So Pilate sentenced Jesus to die as they demanded.  As they had requested, he released Barabbas, the man in prison for insurrection and murder.  But he delivered Jesus over to them to do as they wished.           

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 Thoughts....

Have you ever been in a situation such as Jesus found himself?  Having truth, but being fed to the wolves essentially?  Have you been forced to experience the negative outcome of others' peer pressure and lies?  It's Satan's best form of attack.  He tries to kill one's spirit.  Including The Spirit of God within....Holy Spirit. 

As Jesus held his head high, so must you.  You know the truth God instilled in you.  Hold tightly to it.  Cling to God, Jesus, Holy Spirit with everything you have within.  The ride will be a roller coaster, but hang on!  Your victory is near!   

Jesus was delivered to the naysayers, accusers, to do with him as they wished.  But you do NOT have to expect this will happen to you.  Jesus KNEW what was about to happen.  He KNEW he would soon be free.  He KNEW he was the Savior for the world, and that what was happening, needed to happen to set you....and I....free.  "Free from what?", you ask.  Freedom from eternal death.  Freedom from further persecution, negative peer pressure, lies, and attacks by the devil himself. 

So hold on.  Because the end IS near, and, the truth WILL set you free.  Await your new life with fervent anticipation.  Believe with all your heart that God, Jesus, Holy Spirit ARE with you, and WILL carry you, as well as protect you and yours.  There may be a fork in the road, or a turn along the way, but you need NEVER travel without the Trinity who WILL go before you, stand behind you, and walk alongside you....all the way.  "You'll never walk alone."

If you accept Jesus Christ as your Savior and make him Lord of your life, he will be your advocate always.  Holy Spirit will fight any foe for you and with you, if you ask him into your life, as well.  And God will be there the whole way through.  They will not leave you nor forsake you....if you do not leave or forsake them. 

Pilate tried to save Jesus.  He believed him.  Herod tried to save him, too, but then mocked him.  Ultimately, Pilate relented and handed him over to the crowd.  The crowd lied about Jesus.  They said Jesus told others not to pay their taxes.  But if you have been following along for the last year-plus through the study of Luke, or the years before that of our studies which are archived, you will remember, Jesus said to follow man's law and placed emphasis on giving to Caesar his due. 

Riots?  I don't know that I would call a religious assembly a riot.  Jesus taught the Word of God and healed people in the name of God.      

Power.  The leading priests and teachers of religious law accused him.  Could it be they feared losing their power?  Their status or prestige?  Could it be they were upset because this 'young man' could preach and teach as they could?  Or was it just because he was a man of God....THE man of God sent to save the world?  Were his miracles perceived as coming from Satan rather than God?  Didn't Jesus address that also when he said a nation at war against itself is doomed?  Why would Satan be fighting against himself...in reference to illness? 

Whatever the real reasons were behind the revolt the leading priests and teachers of religious law and others, the truth is, THEY were causing the riots and THEY were in revolt.  Seems to me that the references to sinful nature are clearly outlined and describe well what they were doing against Jesus in Galatians 5:16-21.  And that Jesus clearly followed Holy Spirit within per Galatians 5:23-25.  Which list describes your actions best?  Have you fully turned your life over to Holy Spirit to be guided and directed?  Will you follow the path of righteousness for God's glory?  Will you choose to NOT live by Satan's ideals, but by the grace and mercy and gifts with fruit of Holy Spirit?

Will you be able to look back on your life and say you kept your head held high and walked as Jesus or will you be found to be a part of those in opposition to him, willing to attack another?

I pray that you will choose this day whom you will serve, and that it will be God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, if you haven't chosen the path that leads to eternal life already by asking them into your heart.  May peace abound in your hearts and minds as you go forth, knowing.....the Truth WILL set you free.  And you will be free indeed.  Alleluia!  

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 Let Us Pray

God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, please help me to NOT ever be like those who point fingers without truth, or purposely lie under peer pressure, or choose to hurt others.  Show me the path you want me to take and help me to walk it daily.  I choose you, God, Jesus, Holy Spirit.....please never leave my side.   You have been with me through thick and thin, please do not leave me now.  Guide me on the path of righteousness for your sake.  May you receive all glory and honor through the way I act, live, and have my being.  Protect me from those who seek to hurt me or attempt to destroy my walk, my talk, for you and with you.  Help others always see your light shine through me.  And understand, as well as accept, the gifts and fruits you've given me....to help myself, and all others, along lifes way with you.  Thank you.  I praise you and thank you.  Always.  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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