December 14, 2014

Gentile And Jew 

 Acts 11: 1  

 Luke

Soon the news reached the apostles and other believers in Judea that the Gentiles had received the word of God.

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Thoughts....

"And the lion shall lay down with the lamb".

Many see the lion as the kingly ruler of the animal kingdom.  He stealthly stalks, watches, goes rapidly after his prey, while the lamb is considered the most gentle, meek, forgiving, lowly.

The Jews long considered themselves the rulers of God's kingdom on earth, believing the Gentiles to be those too lowly to live in the Kingdom of the God....namely with themselves....the Jews.

As God would have it, he exposed the Jews as being unforgiving and the Gentiles to be worthy.

The apostles and other believers had been raised to believe what was taught in the Temples.  They were staunch in their belief, yet converted to believe in the one true Lord, Jesus Christ, accepting him as their Savior and making him Lord over thier lives.  It must have been astounding to those who were taught to believe only the Jews 'had God', to learn that the Gentiles could have him in their lives, too.

How was this possible? 

Jesus wasn't born just for the Jews.  He was born to be the Savior for all.  Let's look at what Matthew documented historically about his.

In Matthew 1:20-23 we learn that an angel told Joseph to not be afraid of his upcoming marriage to Mary, and that the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit.  The angel then went on to tell Joseph that Mary "will have a son" and that they are to name him Jesus, which means 'the Lord saves', "for he will save his people from their sins."  We further learn in verse 23 that this was prophesied by Isaiah (Isaiah 7:14, 8:8,10) "Look!  The virgin will conceive a child!  She will give birth to a son, and he will be called Immanuel (meaning God is with us)."

Jesus' people are not just the Jews, they are the Gentiles, also.  All of God's children are his.

Immanuel....Jesus....'God is with us'. 

In John 14:9 Jesus said, "anyone who has seen me has seen the Father!"  And in verse 10 we read as he continues "Don't you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?  The words I say are not my own, but my Father who lives in me doee this work through me.  Just believe I am in the Father and the Father is in me."  

In John 3:5 Jesus said, "The truth is, no one can enter the Kindom of God without being born of water and the Spirit."  Going back to verse 3 he said, "I assure you, unless you are born again, you can never see the Kingdom of God.  And yet, the Jews believed they were in the Kingdom of God.

God, in his deftness, turned the Jews' world upside down and the Gentiles' world rightside up, if you will.

In John 17:2-3, Jesus prayed to God, his Father, saying that God had given him authority over everyone in all the earth and that he, Jesus gives eternal life to each one given him.  He goes on to say that the way to have eternal life is to KNOW God, the only one true God, AND Jesus Christ, himself.  

In Acts 26:16-20, it is historically documented that Paul 'preached first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that ALL must turn from their sins and turn to God - and prove they have changed by the good things they do.'  He did this because Jesus appeared to him one day to appoint him as his servant and witness, telling him he should tell the world about his experience and other times he will appear.  Jesus went on to speak telling Paul, who so persecuted Jesus prior to this as a Jew, "I [Jesus] will protect you from both your own people and the Gentiles.  Yes, I am going to send you to the Gentiles, to open their eyes so they may turn from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God.  Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins and be given a place among God's people, who are set apart by faith in me. "

Note:  Jesus did not say 'set apart' because they are Jews or Catholics, Pentecostal or Baptist, etc.  He clearly indicates those who are God's people are set apart by faith in him....Jesus.  All. 

God's people live in God's kingdom.  God's kingdom is comprised of people who have faith in Jesus.  Those who do not have faith in Jesus cannot be a part of God's kingdom, and furthermore, it takes more than faith.  It takes being baptized by water AND Spirit to enter the Kingdom of God WITH good works - the good things they do - to prove to God and Jesus they belong to them and they are worthy to enter the Kingdom of God.

So, based on todays lesson, do the Jews still rule the Kingdom?  No.  The Lamb of God does.  It is Jesus who takes away the sins of the world.  Happy are we to receive him!

Open your arms, your heart, your mind this Christmas season to receive the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world....and ...opens the doors to ALL to enter the Kingdom of God. 

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Glory to God in the highest and peace to his people on earth.

Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father, we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory.

Oh, Lamb of God, you takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.

You are seated at the right hand of the Father, receive our prayer.

For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the most high,

Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit in the Glory of God the Father.  Amen.  

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  Let Us Pray

"Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the Word, and I shall be healed."  Father God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, I just praise you and thank you for offering to me the Kingdom of God.  I whole heartedly beg your forgiveness, ask for your healing and hereby promise to do better than I have in living my life and sharing you with the world.  Thank you for helping me understand that although all fall short of your glory, all can be saved by your love.  I ask you right now, God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, enter my heart with thanksgiving, renew, restore, ignite within me a new love, a new birth, a new life-filled promise, a new future with you - that we may be one as you, Jesus, and the Father are one.  Give me your words to share who you are, that you are, and how wonderful you are....to ALL.  And thank you, Joseph and Mary for choosing to allow Jesus to live, that we may embrace him in our arms, too.  Jesus is Lord!  Alleluia!  Amen.

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This message was typed on a library computer because the church computer ceased to function.  It would mean the world to me, and to God, were you to make a donation today to enable me to purchase a computer, and hopefully be able to draw from the old computer all 'Thoughts' written for the Lord to complete the book he has slated for publishing.  Thank you in advance and may God bless you.   

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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         

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

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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. 

'All who have been united with Christ in baptism have been made like him.  There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female.  For you are all Christians - you are ONE in Christ Jesus.'  Galatians 3: 27

  It is not how we worship, but that we worship....the Trinity!

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

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

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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."

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  Our Continual 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, animals, the earth, 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  ***

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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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