Category Archives: Inspiration

Inspiration

I SEND AN ANGEL BEFORE YOU…

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My wife and I own and operate an Airbnb in our country home. We try to make everyone’s stay memorable and a blessing. But, oftentimes our guests are a blessing to us.

In this story, David is a fictitious name for the sake of his privacy.

David is a very kind soft-spoken Christian with an artificial leg. He doesn’t mind showing the tricks he can do with it! His sense of humor at the expense of his “handicap” is refreshing. He has state-of-the-art technology that can operate the type of walking or exercise he is doing through an app on his phone! He told us when he skis, he can set the app for downhill skiing!!

David is the director of a hospice center in a western state. His God-given talent is singing to those people who have come to the end of the road. He told us what a blessing it is to be with people and encourage them in their final days. But, as you will see God, had plans for him to serve and comfort people. God would turn a tragedy into triumph and groom him for this type of ministry.

My wife asked about how he lost his leg. It is here where his inspirational story begins…

He lost his leg in a motorcycle accident years ago. The speeding driver of a car hit and ran over him and his wife. His new wife of 3-months was on the seat behind him. Sadly, she died instantly. A paramedic was in a restaurant and saw the entire grisly crash. He immediately got up and ran to assist the downed riders. He was on the scene within seconds. But, when he got there, there was a black man already standing there comforting David. This surprised the paramedic! How did he get there so fast? But the man of color stayed with David the entire time comforting him even as they loaded David into the ambulance.

When the police and the paramedic began to focus their attention on writing the report of the accident, they turned to look for the black man. But he had vanished! Again, the paramedic was surprised! This was a small town where everyone knew each other. But no one knew the identity of the man, nor had anyone seen him come or go.

David was not supposed to live, but he did! He made a remarkable recovery to the astonishment of the doctors. There he stood before me on our back porch, with no evidence of the traumatic wreck except for his high-tech right leg. The story does not end here.

When David had recovered, he sought out the paramedic who was the second person on the scene and instrumental in saving his life. The paramedic said to David, “I have something odd to tell you about what happened that day. This is when he described the unusual presence of the unknown “man” who appeared and then vanished. Of course, David was amazed. But, what happened next added to the miracle of the day.

After leaving the paramedic, David sought out the policeman who also arrived at the accident within minutes. He told David he had pictures of the scene for him to see if he desired. David agreed although the policeman warned him of the stark bloody pictures. David looked through about 30 pictures. You guessed it! The black man was not in any of the pictures!!

My wife and I both said at the same time, “That was an angel!” David agreed. Shortly thereafter, David was asked to direct a hospice center. Now his purpose in life is to be an angel for those soon to pass into eternity. God had plans for David!!!

“Behold, I send an Angel before you to keep you in the way and to bring you into the place which I have prepared.” Exodus 23:20

Inspiration

Imagine There Were No Political Parties

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Last night, against my better judgment, I watched the runoff debate between Mississippi politicians, Cindy-Hyde Smith and Mike Espy.  Nothing new…two political parties using smear, lies, and embellishment to impress the voters.  I came away unimpressed and wondering, why politicians put themselves through this? Can either party really make things good in the USA?
Imagine there were no political parties. It’s easy if you try (to quote John Lennon). What if the country was managed by good men and women who were directed by the principals and letter of the Constitution and the Bible alone with love for each human being regardless of where their ancestry and where life’s journey has brought them? Would love for our neighbors finally become real and universal?
 
I am an optimist, but this will never happen on this earth. In our hearts, we all know this to be true. The answers to fixing this world are beyond our reach and wisdom. Again, in our hearts, we know this to be true.
 
The sins of selfishness, pride, and narcissism will always reign in the heart of carnal men and women. Therefore, we are destined to fight and continue to breed oppression, death, and misery.  God doesn’t create these troubles…we do!  Laws and lawsuits will never change the corrupt heart of mankind.
 
Whether liberal or conservative, we all have a desire for something good for us, our children, and those who are persecuted abroad, but this is as good as it is going to get. This I know with certainty because I have read and contemplated the word of God for over 40 years.
God is at work preparing us for the day when sin and sinner shall be no more. The words of the prophets and Jesus are sure.  If you go to the grave with hate, pride, and rebellion, you will rise the same way. The change of heart/character starts today. It is the work of God (through your cooperation) to make this change. We are powerless. The only thing we have to offer is the power of choice. God will never trample on this gift. When we are changed at the resurrection, the character is already set. This is why Jesus said, “you must be born again.”
 
This work of God is accelerating around the world. Thousands are receiving Christ and baptism are in the thousands per day. It will continue to increase until the announcement from heaven is made,
 
“He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still.”
Revelation 22:11.
The very next verse proclaims the work is done and Jesus returns:
“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.
Rev. 22:12.
 
Heaven’s plea is through the movement of the Holy Spirit upon the heart. Those who have experienced the work of the Holy Spirit know that God is calling. Don’t put it off another day! This decision will lead to peace, happiness, and a change of heart, unlike anything this world has to offer and  He will prepare you for that great day!
 
I tell you this, my brothers: an earthly body made of flesh and blood cannot get into God’s Kingdom. These perishable bodies of ours are not the right kind to live forever.
 
But I am telling you this strange and wonderful secret: we shall not all die, but we shall all be given new bodies!  It will all happen in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For there will be a trumpet blast from the sky, and all the Christians who have died will suddenly become alive, with new bodies that will never, never die; and then we who are still alive shall suddenly have new bodies too. For our earthly bodies, the ones we have now that can die must be transformed into heavenly bodies that cannot perish but will live forever.
 
When this happens, then, at last, this Scripture will come true—“Death is swallowed up in victory.” O death, where then your victory? Where then your sting?
1  Corinthians 15: 50-56 (TLB) 
Inspiration

Prejudice and A Sheet Full of Animals

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Based on Acts 10 and 11.  I urge you to read it!

“If therefore God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God? When they heard these things they become silent and they glorified God. saying, ‘Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life.“

Acts 11: 17-19

Peter was not much different than the typical Jew of the day.  He had prejudices against non-Jews.  This prejudice, if retained by Peter and the growing group of believers, would greatly impede (or stop) the work Jesus had commissioned to his disciples to “carry the gospel to the entire world for a witness.”  If they remained separated from the Gentiles, the believers would have imploded by focusing only on their own experience with Jesus.  They would have likely created a commune of believers keeping to themselves, congregating for themselves; keeping clear of those who would make them common and unclean.

Jesus’ example had taught them better.  They had seen Him break down barriers by talking with “sinners” and those of other cultures.

Now it happened, as He was dining in Levi’s house, that many tax collectors and sinners also sat together with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many, and they followed Him.

Mark 2:15

When Jesus stopped to talk with the Samaritan woman at the well, he showed he did not discriminate against this racially mixed group of people who were not of the main-stream Jewish faith. Further, he did not care that she was a woman.  He did not subscribe to the typical prejudices of those who made themselves more righteous than others.

The woman said,

“Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship.”

John 4:20

Jesus response to her revealed the character of God.  He  does not limit the value of a person related to sex, race, or culture.  What matters are those who worship in spirit and truth.

 “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

John 4: 23, 24

Later on Paul would agree with this when he stated,

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.  And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

Galatians 3:28, 29

The lessons Jesus taught on tolerance and acceptance came hard for the Apostles, especially to Peter. This time, as shown in our opening text, Peter appears to be on the “cutting edge” of this new way of thinking and “worldview.”

The inner circle of believers, the Apostles, and other believers in Jerusalem heard that Peter had been eating with “uncircumcised men”

This created one of the first controversies in the church and involved the Apostles themselves who appeared to have similar prejudices against Gentiles.  Peter and the Apostles had something to learn and it started with a man named Cornelius,

“…a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, a devout man and one who feared God with all his household who gave alms generously to the people and prayed to God always.”

Acts 10:1,2

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At about 3:00 PM (9th hour) Cornelius, this “non-Jew” of Italian decent was visited by an Angel.  It was commonly believed among the Jews that angels did not associate themselves with Gentiles.

Nevertheless, the angel appeared and gave directions to him to

“…send men to Joppa and send for Simon whose surname is Peter.”

Acts 10: 5

Cornelius obeyed as directed by the angel.  He sent three of those employed by him: two of his household male servants and a devout soldier from those who waited on him continually.  

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The journey from Caesarea to Joppa was a long journey by foot of about 30 to 36 miles. Walking at a purposeful, but easy pace of 2.5 miles an hour, it would have been a trip of about 12-15 hours  If they left shortly after Cornelius’ vision,  let’s say about 5:00 PM, that would be about 19 hours until they arrived at Joppa.  Time enough for a short sleep of 4 to 7 hours.  “The next day as they were on their journey and drew near the city,” Peter was on a rooftop praying.  He was very hungry and while he waited for lunch to be prepared, he went on the rooftop at noon (6th hour)

Peter fell into a trance and saw a strange vision that he did not understand.

“…he fell into a trance and saw heaven opened and an object like a great sheet bound at the four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth. In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air.  And a voice came to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.”

 But Peter said, “Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean.”

And a voice spoke to him again the second time, “What God has cleansed you must not call common.” This was done three times. And the object was taken up into heaven again.”

Acts 10: 11-16

The term “common” was used by the Jews whenever something clean came in contact with something unclean.  The clean became “common.”

Following the words of Moses to the children of Israel,  Peter and the Jews obeyed the diet laws by refraining from eating any animal considered as unclean and eating only those God proclaimed as clean. The description of clean and unclean animals can be found in Leviticus 11.

Many people are surprised to find in the story about the animals going on to the ark by two were “unclean animals.” The “clean” animals went into the ark by seven.

You shall take with you seven each of every clean animal, a male and his female; two each of animals that are unclean, a male and his female;

Genesis 7:2 

Despite the command to slay and eat, Peter would not and did not do as directed.

Despite an apparent easy message, Peter did not understand the meaning of this vision.  Was this a vision about diet?  Was God telling him it was OK to eat unclean animals because God had made them clean now?

A cursory reading of this is used by many as a vision about diet, but we will see that Peter understood it differently after going through a period of wonder about its meaning.

“Now while Peter wondered within himself what this vision which he had seen meant, behold, the men who had been sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate.”

Acts 10:17

Notice that the sheet was let down three times.  This is a significant number to Peter because he had denied the Lord three times and the Lord asked Peter three times if he loved him.  Then Jesus said to Peter, “Feed my sheep.”

The fact that the sheet was let down three times seems to indicate Peter’s need to fully understand the significance of the repetitive act.  Peter like many of us tend to be a little hard-headed and need the repetition before we “get it.”  Often when something is repeated by the Lord, it means it is very important.  Was a change in diet an important event?

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Peter greets the messengers sent from Cornelius. They stay the night with Peter and they all leave the next day to see Cornelius. Peter invites some of the disciples with him. They travel the long trip back to Caesarea where Cornelius is waiting for them.

Somewhere along the way, the meaning of the vision becomes clear to Peter.  When Peter greets Cornelius, he discloses (almost immediately)  the meaning of the sheet with the many different creatures:

“You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean.“

Acts 10:28

The barriers set up by mankind and their religion was beginning to break down under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  The vision was not about diet, but a very important message of acceptance of all people so the message could go to everyone in the world.  It taught Peter something different than how he was raised. It was a message the early church needed to hear and know so their commission to go into all the world was not slowed by petty prejudices.

When Peter tells the story of Jesus to Cornelius and his household, they believe and they receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  Those who came with Peter were astonished that the Holy Spirit was given to these Gentile believers! Like Peter, they needed to understand that God does not discriminate.

“While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word.  And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also.  For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God.”

Acts 10: 44-46

Then Peter does something very much prohibited by the laws of the Jews.  He stays with them a few days!

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In the next Chapter of Acts (Acts 11), Peter is in Judea with the Apostles (those originally with Jesus) and other believers.  They all are astonished like those who were with Peter at Cornelius’ house.  You can hear in their exclamation of disdain for what Peter had done!

You went in to uncircumcised men and ate with them!”

Acts 11: 3

Peter then explained his vision to them.  At the end, Peter asks a serious question about the lesson he learned about prejudice and acceptance,

“….who was I that I could withstand God?”

When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, “Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life.”

Acts 11:17, 18

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Prejudice toward the Gentile slowly gave way. In this story, it gave way quickly…or did it? The believers were beginning to see that “….there is neither Jew nor Greek in Christ….”The separation of Jew and Gentile had been a tradition for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. They were looked upon as “inferior” in many ways. Also, the laws contained in ordinances would give way. Their job as the School Master to bring people to Christ was finished. Type had met anti-type. We now have the reality of Christ in the shadows that pointed forward to the work of Jesus.

“…which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.”

Colossians 2:17

Later in Galatians 2: 11-16, Paul calls out Peter for being hypocritical in his understanding about the separation of Jews and Gentiles.  I’ll save that story for another time.  But,  it points out that old prejudices are hard to break.

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How tough it must have been for tradition to be overcome, especially among those older and set in their ways, But, as Peter explained his vision of the sheet, many were convicted and “glorified God.” by changing their way of thinking.

Truth never changes, but are there traditions in the church that need to give way? Are there prejudices against women for example. Do we believe, “there is neither male nor female in Christ…”

For hundreds, if not thousands, of years there has been traditions in the church about women….Do those traditions need to give way? Can the holy spirit and the burden of pastoral ministry be laid on the heart of a female?  Will their ordination help speed up the spreading of the gospel to the entire world or will it impede its progress?  Let us trust God with our prejudices.

Maybe the Lord needs to send us a vision of the sheet? Maybe we should ask the same question as Peter, “Who am I that I should withstand God?”

This I know,

“if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven,..” 2 Chronicles 7:14

Brothers and sisters, we need to hear from heaven. Is not God calling us to pull out all the stops to reach this dying world?

Father, please hear our prayer for wisdom and guidance. Not our will, but Yours be done. Let us not withstand you if you are calling us to put away traditions and prejudices that prohibit the spreading of the gospel.

Inspiration

Joe and the CEO

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” Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.”

Psalm 19:14

When I hear or read Psalm 19: 14, I think of Joe McClaron. Joe was a retired worker for the railroad who probably had the lowest paying job in the bank (internal mail courier).  In the 70’s I was working for a small community Bank in Nashville, TN.  But, this story is about Joe.  He  was a short slightly built black man identified by the nearly all white bank as perhaps the most humble person on the face of the earth. His countenance bore a perpetual smile that forced you to at least grin regardless of the type of day you were having. Joe seemed to never experience a bad day. He was quick to tell you about the love of His God….if you asked why he was always smiling….He never pushed God on anyone, but God was right there in those bright eyes penetrating your thoughts and intents. I was a brand new Christian at the time and enjoyed many “God” conversations with Joe.  We both loved to talk about the Bible and our Lord.

Another remarkable thing about Joe was that the highest ranking person in the bank, James Webb (Chief Executive Officer/President) and Joe became great friends!  You could sense that both respected each other for their appointed portion of life. The humblest lowest paid black man and the highest paid and highly respected white man in the community were buddies and they didn’t mind showing their great love and care for each other. It was a joy to watch God’s influence on this unlikely relationship.  Many times, I would see James with his arm around Joe, both having a good laugh as they walked through the marbled lobby.

Sadly, Joe became sick and was diagnosed with stomach cancer.  He died a quick death. Almost everyone at the bank attended Joe’s funeral at his small church on the south side of Nashville.  His influence transcended race and color. For a moment that day, there were only people (no color) who came to pay their respect for Joe and the God he served everyday….with a smile….

The next day, the board room at the bank was dedicated to Joe and it became the Joe McClaron Board Room. Surprisingly, I was asked to have the dedication prayer for the room. In my prayer, I asked the Lord to instill the spirit of Joe McClaron’s life and beliefs in this room and that each one of us would learn to start our day with the same prayer Joe prayed every day,

” Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.”

Psalm 19:14

Often, now before I get out of bed, I start my day with these words. Today, Lord, may the words of my mouth….. Joe’s influence still reaches out to me some 40 years later.

A few years ago, James Webb died…a man full of years and still highly respected. His funeral was at the city’s largest Presbyterian church in Nashville. It had been years since I left Nashville City Bank (long since sold to another bank), but Joe’s influence remained among it’s ex-employees. We all reminisced about the wonderful relationship between Joe and James. Praise God for those who reflect the love of God in their daily lives such as Joe and James.

Thank you Lord for giving me such a wonderful memory of Joe who knew you in such a way that the joy he experienced with You influenced everyone he met. Help me to remember that the experience with you is a joyful one and that your burden is light. Let it be reflected in my eyes and my face so that people will want to know about the joy in my heart.

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Matthew 11:28-30….

Inspiration

The Story Jesus Wanted To Tell, But Couldn’t

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“Arise, shine, for your light has come,
    and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.
See, darkness covers the earth
    and thick darkness is over the peoples,
but the Lord rises upon you
    and his glory appears over you.
 Nations will come to your light,
    and kings to the brightness of your dawn.”

Isaiah 60: 1-3

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The following account is based on Luke 15 and as told by Pastor Melvin K. Eisele.  The message of the story is recalled and painted as I heard it.

You are familiar with the story of Luke, but there is a twist.  If you catch it, what is the message for us as individuals and as a church?  You write the ending.

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A wealthy man had two sons and a daughter. The father gave the son a colorful coat which the son wore almost all the time.  He was so proud of its looks and the cost of the coat.  One day the younger son came to his father and asked him if he could have his inheritance now instead of waiting until later.

The father went to the bank with his son and calculated in his head how much the inheritance would be.  Then he withdrew the money from the bank and gave it to is son.  The father walked slowly and sorrowfully back to his farm as tears flowed down his face.  His beloved son Johnny was leaving home and the father knew that the world had many dangers waiting for him.  But, this was what Johnny wanted.

The day was wasting away. The father returned to his duties and the older son and daughter to theirs.  Before long Johnny came riding up on a bright shiny black stallion that pranced in high steps to show off his beauty.  The son was dressed like a king.  His posture was erect and proud.

Johnny had come back to quickly say his farewells before he headed out to the waiting world and its opportunities.  The older brother and sister helped him pack his few remaining things; all the while trying to tell Johnny that he was making a mistake.  They told him that the father was hurt and troubled over his wish to leave the safety and comfort of his home.

The son pompously  departed the property down the long road leading out into the world. The father, the older son, and the sister waved goodbye.  A remaining tear fell down the father’s face.

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Weeks went by.  Very early each morning the older son heard the opening and closing of the door to the house, but thought little of it.

Each day, the older son would see his father stop his work in the field and look down the long road as if expecting someone.  The opening and closing of the door in the early morning also continued.  Curiosity finally grew strong enough to push him out of bed.  The son walked downstairs and looked through the front window and on to the porch.  There kneeling on the porch in the dark of the young day and looking down the road was his father.  His words were soft, but his sobbing was strong.

Often when caravans would come near the property, the father would rush out to them.  He would eagerly ask if they had seen Johnny.

 “Yes, we have seen him in Babylon.  He is the life of the party! People like him and he is very popular and well-known.”

Occasionally, the father would get reports of the younger son and his eyes would grow bright knowing he is alive and well.

Then one day, another caravan came by and the father, the older son, and the daughter rushed out to ask about Johnny.

“Have you seen my son Johnny?”

“Uh, I am not sure.  He was in the city for a while, but as we passed the outskirts of town near a pig farmer, we saw someone who looked like Johnny feeding the pigs.”

The father and his small family were troubled.  The next day the older son and the daughter went searching for Johnny.  It took them several weeks to find Johnny on the outskirts of Babylon feeding the pigs.  They both encouraged Johnny to come back home, but he was too ashamed to return with them.

“Johnny,  father wants you to come back.  He is greatly troubled. Please reconsider.”

“I have many friends here and cannot return with you. My life is good. Please leave me alone.”

So with heavy hearts the brother and sister began the long ride home to their father and went about their work on the family farm.

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The father began to build houses on the property.  As the builders finished one, he would start them on another.  Much time passed and the father stopped every day to look down the road.  Each dark morning the older brother heard the opening and closing of the door downstairs.  Pretty soon the caravans had no report on Johnny.

The family was worried about Johnny.  The brother and sister thought he would never come home. Their appeal to him had failed. So the long days continued, but the father routinely continued to look.

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One day as they were working under the hot sun, the son and daughter saw their father running towards a small dot off in the distance.  They, too, began to run towards the dot anticipating it to be Johnny.  They youngsters passed their father and reached Johnny first.  He was tattered and the colors of his coat had faded.  He was skinny and dirty.  With his head down cast, he put his head on the shoulders of his brother and sister.  They were overjoyed despite the smell and the feeling of Johnny’s skinny body under the worn-out coat.

As the father came running up to Johnny, he almost fell with excitement.  His face was wet with tears of joy!

“Oh my Johnny.  My dear son!  How I have missed you!”

The strong tanned arms of the father wrapped his arms around the frail Johnny.  He pulled the  dirty smelly head of his younger son to his breast and wept aloud with his son.

The brother and father stepped back to see the scene and wept with them.  Then they rushed back to farm to instruct the workers to prepare a great feast with food and song.

Johnny had returned home!

Johnny said to his father,

“Dad, I missed you.  I have spent all the money you gave me.  I am hungry and ashamed. I have done things that has dishonored you.  I will understand if you want me to continue on.”

The father put his arm around him as they walked the long road back to the farm and the many houses he had built.

“Johnny, you are my son.  All I have is yours.”

“Dad, you are all I have or want. The world was fun for a while, but I now know that your love for me is better than anything money can buy.

After Johnny showered, the father, the older brother, and sister came to his room.  The father laid out a new and even more expensive set of clothing on the bed.  The father gently helped his weak son dress.  Johnny felt the warmth of the robe and the great feeling of being clean. But, most of all, his the sight of his father overcame the hunger from not eating a good meal in months.

That night, the family rejoiced and laughed as they ate the best food around the fire.  Johnny, had come home!  He was dead, but now he is alive!

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Let us take this message to the world.  The love and acceptance of the Father and his family.  The world is dark.  We are to let the glory of the father be upon us.  When the world sees this light, kings will come to us.

Inspiration

A Sheet Full of Animals-A Lesson on Prejudice

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Based on Acts 10 and 11.  I urge you to read it!

“If therefore God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God? When they heard these things they become silent and they glorified God. saying, ‘Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life.“

Acts 11: 17-19

Peter was not much different than the typical Jew of the day.  He had prejudices against non-Jews.  This prejudice, if retained by Peter and the growing group of believers, would greatly impede (or stop) the work Jesus had commissioned to his disciples to “carry the gospel to the entire world for a witness.”  If they remained separated from the Gentiles, the believers would have imploded by focusing only on their own experience with Jesus.  They would have likely created a commune of believers keeping to themselves, congregating for themselves; keeping clear of those who would make them common and unclean.

Jesus’ example had taught them better.  They had seen Him break down barriers by talking with “sinners” and those of other cultures.

Now it happened, as He was dining in Levi’s house, that many tax collectors and sinners also sat together with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many, and they followed Him.

Mark 2:15

When Jesus stopped to talk with the Samaritan woman at the well, he showed he did not discriminate against this racially mixed group of people who were not of the main-stream Jewish faith. Further, he did not care that she was a woman.  He did not subscribe to the typical prejudices of those who made themselves more righteous than others.

The woman said,

“Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship.”

John 4:20

Jesus response to her revealed the character of God.  He  does not limit the value of a person related to sex, race, or culture.  What matters are those who worship in spirit and truth.

 “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

John 4: 23, 24

Later on Paul would agree with this when he stated,

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.  And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

Galatians 3:28, 29

The lessons Jesus taught on tolerance and acceptance came hard for the Apostles, especially to Peter. This time, as shown in our opening text, Peter appears to be on the “cutting edge” of this new way of thinking and “world view.”

The inner circle of believers, the Apostles, and other believers in Jerusalem heard that Peter had been eating with “uncircumcised men”

This created one of the first controversies in the church and involved the Apostles themselves who appeared to have similar prejudices against Gentiles.  Peter and the Apostles had something to learn and it started with a man named Cornelius,

“…a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, a devout man and one who feared God with all his household who gave alms generously to the people and prayed to God always.”

Acts 10:1,2

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At about 3:00 PM (9th hour) Cornelius, this “non-Jew” of Italian decent was visited by an Angel.  It was commonly believed among the Jews that angels did not associate themselves with Gentiles.

Nevertheless, the angel appeared and gave directions to him to

“…send men to Joppa and send for Simon whose surname is Peter.”

Acts 10: 5

Cornelius obeyed as directed by the angel.  He sent three of those employed by him: two of his household male servants and a devout soldier from those who waited on him continually.  

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The journey from Caesarea to Joppa was a long journey by foot of about 30 to 36 miles. Walking at a purposeful, but easy pace of 2.5 miles an hour, it would have been a trip of about 12-15 hours  If they left shortly after Cornelius’ vision,  let’s say about 5:00 PM, that would be about 19 hours until they arrived at Joppa.  Time enough for a short sleep of 4 to 7 hours.  “The next day as they were on their journey and drew near the city,” Peter was on a rooftop praying.  He was very hungry and while he waited for lunch to be prepared, he went on the rooftop at noon (6th hour)

Peter fell into a trance and saw a strange vision that he did not understand.

“…he fell into a trance and saw heaven opened and an object like a great sheet bound at the four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth. In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air.  And a voice came to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.”

 But Peter said, “Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean.”

And a voice spoke to him again the second time, “What God has cleansed you must not call common.” This was done three times. And the object was taken up into heaven again.”

Acts 10: 11-16

The term “common” was used by the Jews whenever something clean came in contact with something unclean.  The clean became “common.”

Following the words of Moses to the children of Israel,  Peter and the Jews obeyed the diet laws by refraining from eating any animal considered as unclean and eating only those God proclaimed as clean. The description of clean and unclean animals can be found in Leviticus 11.

Many people are surprised to find in the story about the animals going on to the ark by two were “unclean animals.” The “clean” animals went into the ark by seven.

You shall take with you seven each of every clean animal, a male and his female; two each of animals that are unclean, a male and his female;

Genesis 7:2 

Despite the command to slay and eat, Peter would not and did not do as directed.

Despite an apparent easy message, Peter did not understand the meaning of this vision.  Was this a vision about diet?  Was God telling him it was OK to eat unclean animals because God had made them clean now?

A cursory reading of this is used by many as a vision about diet, but we will see that Peter understood it differently after going through a period of wonder about its meaning.

“Now while Peter wondered within himself what this vision which he had seen meant, behold, the men who had been sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate.”

Acts 10:17

Notice that the sheet was let down three times.  This is a significant number to Peter because he had denied the Lord three times and the Lord asked Peter three times if he loved him.  Then Jesus said to Peter, “Feed my sheep.”

The fact that the sheet was let down three times seems to indicate Peter’s need to fully understand the significance of the repetitive act.  Peter like many of us tend to be a little hard-headed and need the repetition before we “get it.”  Often when something is repeated by the Lord, it means it is very important.  Was a change in diet an important event?

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Peter greets the messengers sent from Cornelius. They stay the night with Peter and they all leave the next day to see Cornelius. Peter invites some of the disciples with him. They travel the long trip back to Caesarea where Cornelius is waiting for them.

Somewhere along the way, the meaning of the vision becomes clear to Peter.  When Peter greets Cornelius, he discloses (almost immediately)  the meaning of the sheet with the many different creatures:

“You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean.“

Acts 10:28

The barriers set up by mankind and their religion was beginning to break down under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  The vision was not about diet, but a very important message of acceptance of all people so the message could go to everyone in the world.  It taught Peter something different than how he was raised. It was a message the early church needed to hear and know so their commission to go into all the world was not slowed by petty prejudices.

When Peter tells the story of Jesus to Cornelius and his household, they believe and they receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  Those who came with Peter were astonished that the Holy Spirit was given to these Gentile believers! Like Peter, they needed to understand that God does not discriminate.

“While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word.  And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also.  For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God.”

Acts 10: 44-46

Then Peter does something very much prohibited by the laws of the Jews.  He stays with them a few days!

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In the next Chapter of Acts (Acts 11), Peter is in Judea with the Apostles (those originally with Jesus) and other believers.  They all are astonished like those who were with Peter at Cornelius’ house.  You can hear in their exclamation of disdain for what Peter had done!

You went in to uncircumcised men and ate with them!”

Acts 11: 3

Peter then explained his vision to them.  At the end, Peter asks a serious question about the lesson he learned about prejudice and acceptance,

“….who was I that I could withstand God?”

When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, “Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life.”

Acts 11:17, 18

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Prejudice toward the Gentile slowly gave way. In this story, it gave way quickly…or did it? The believers were beginning to see that “….there is neither Jew nor Greek in Christ….”The separation of Jew and Gentile had been a tradition for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. They were looked upon as “inferior” in many ways. Also, the laws contained in ordinances would give way. Their job as the School Master to bring people to Christ was finished. Type had met anti-type. We now have the reality of Christ in the shadows that pointed forward to the work of Jesus.

“…which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.”

Colossians 2:17

Later in Galatians 2: 11-16, Paul calls out Peter for being hypocritical in his understanding about the separation of Jews and Gentiles.  I’ll save that story for another time.  But,  it points out that old prejudices are hard to break.

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How tough it must have been for tradition to be overcome, especially among those older and set in their ways, But, as Peter explained his vision of the sheet, many were convicted and “glorified God.” by changing their way of thinking.

Truth never changes, but are there traditions in the church that need to give way? Are there prejudices against women for example. Do we believe, “there is neither male nor female in Christ…”

For hundreds, if not thousands, of years there has been traditions in the church about women….Do those traditions need to give way? Can the holy spirit and the burden of pastoral ministry be laid on the heart of a female?  Will their ordination help speed up the spreading of the gospel to the entire world or will it impede its progress?  Let us trust God with our prejudices.

Maybe the Lord needs to send us a vision of the sheet? Maybe we should ask the same question as Peter, “Who am I that I should withstand God?”

This I know,

“if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven,..” 2 Chronicles 7:14

Brothers and sisters, we need to hear from heaven. Is not God calling us to pull out all the stops to reach this dying world?

Father, please hear our prayer for wisdom and guidance. Not our will, but Yours be done. Let us not withstand you if you are calling us to put away traditions and prejudices that prohibit the spreading of the gospel.

Inspiration

A Lame Man Walks-Why Do You Wonder?

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Please read Acts Chapter 3

“Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this?”

Acts 3:12

It is tempting to let the story of the lame man overshadow the “meat” of Acts 3. In fact, Peter seems to down-play this miracle of healing when he says,

“Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk?”

Acts 3:12

Peter immediately directs the eyes of the people towards Jesus and away from himself and even the lame man!

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The book of Acts is a continuation of the book of Luke (Both written by Luke).  As a physician, Luke must have been impressed by this healing. No doubt he had seen many people with similar problems, but could do little about it.  Perhaps he only prescribed something for the pain.  But, in a moment, this man’s ankles, legs, and feet became strong and he began to leap in his joy!

What a feeling it must have been to both walk and jump after spending his entire life on a dirty mat, assisted by family and strangers!  Despite this miracle, Peter points the people to something even more fantastic.  They are about to hear things they have never heard before!  It will change their lives and they will be able to walk too!

There is a powerful theme in this chapter that is eternal.  Its teaching is a critical part of the command of Jesus to:

“Go into all the world and preach the GOSPEL to every creature…” Mark 16: 15.

What is the good news? All its elements are found in Peter’s short sermon. Sadly, some of these elements are left out by many gospel workers today and, therefore, the power of the gospel is left incomplete.

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Peter begins to tell the crowd who wondered at the healing of the lame man the bad news. He reminds them that their sin crucified the “Prince of Life.”  But, there is good news:

They did it out of ignorance and the Lord knew it would happen and revealed it ahead of time through His prophets!

“But those things which God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled.”

Acts 3: 18

At the end of the first letter to Theophilus (Book of Luke), Luke told the story of how Jesus explained to the disciples about Himself as found in the Tanakh (what we call the Old Testament) See Luke 24. This was the day after the Resurrection and, perhaps, took Jesus hours to explain because there was so much material.

 Jesus’s Bible study along with His resurrection from the dead, made the disciples bold and full of faith. They were no longer afraid and almost all of them would die proclaiming the message of Jesus.  It is in this type of Bible study given by Jesus where people are first educated on the scripture and then converted.  It is the most effective method of turning non-believers unto believers.

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True conversion comes from a knowledge of Jesus through God’s word!  Conversion should come in this order:  Facts about Jesus, Faith  in Jesus, then Feelings of joy and peace in Jesus.

  Facts (God’s word) give the basis for Faith (Trust) and Faith gives the basis for Feeling (conviction, joy, desire to obey) that comes last.  Now it is not to say that some tragic event or feeling will lead someone to begin to look for facts about Jesus, but a knowledge of Jesus is the first step in true conversion.  Wouldn’t you agree?  How often has this order been shuffled resulting in a confused and weak convert?

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Conviction and spiritual eyesight will arise when people hear the story of Jesus and how it was foretold through the

“Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms”

(Luke 24:44)

In this chapter, Peter “connects the dots” for these people who are in wonder of the lame man being healed. Peter reminds the people about the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and God’s promise to bless the entire earth through Abraham’s seed. Then he reminds them how Pilate wanted to let Jesus go, but they chose a murderer over the “Holy and Righteous One.” Peter gives them hope by acknowledging the prayer of Jesus as He hung on the cross,

“Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.”

Luke 23:34

Peter concurs with that prayer, which he heard from a distance….The people, as well as the rulers, did their dirty deeds out of “ignorance!”

Then Peter begins to tell them the good news.  He  tells them the same thing Jesus told them,

“But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled.”

Acts 3: 18

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Now it is decision time. Peter has an alter call. A sermon like this needs a response.

“Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus…”

Acts 3:29

Peter is offering them an opportunity to respond to what they just heard and to rid themselves of the ugly acts of sin. Their scarlet sins can be blotted out and Jesus will refresh them by coming into their lives (the new birth). Then he reminds them that although Jesus has gone away, He will come again and “restore all things.”

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The good news is simple, but it should always contain the 10 elements that Peter used here in the 3rd chapter and in his sermon in the 2nd chapter where 3,000 were added to the church:

1.) All of us are sinners and we will die eternally. (Bad news)

2.) Our sins (out of ignorance of the word) sent Jesus to the cross to die. (Bad news).  The good news is that His word is available to all.

3.) Jesus is found in the Old Testament as well as the new. (Prophecy).

4.) God foretold that that Jesus must suffer. He did it willingly for us. (Justification)

5.) Jesus was raised. Without this, we have no hope. (Resurrection)

6.) Repent for your sins and be converted. Refreshing (new birth) will come. Your life will be changed! (Sanctification)

7.) Be baptized as a public acknowledgment of your desire to follow Jesus (Obedience).  

8.) Rise to walk in newness of your new life in Christ. (Change your lifestyle)

9.) Depend on Jesus daily.  Heaven has received Jesus (Ongoing ministry of Jesus in Heaven. See Hebrews)

10.) Jesus is coming again to restore all things. The redeemed will all live in a new heaven and a new earth!  See Isaiah 66:22-23

When the gospel is presented (it may take some time) and people hear the entire story of Jesus, they will feel the pull of the Holy Spirit to make a decision for Christ.

“If I be lifted up, I will draw all men unto myself.”

John 12:32

Today if you hear His voice and feel the knocking at the door to your heart, yield to the pull and do not resist.  Ask Him to take over your life….a life that has been marked by bad decisions and mistakes.  He will give you rest and peace.

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.”

Revelation 3:20

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Matthew 11:28-30

Inspiration

Breakfast With Jesus

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Breakfast by The Sea

John 21: 1-17

It is after the Resurrection and before Pentecost. The disciples seem to have some time on their hands. 7 of the disciples are together: Peter, Thomas, Nathanael, James, John (Sons of Thunder-Mark 3:17) and two others (not named).

Peter jumps up and says, “I’m going fishing.” Peter can’t stand to sit still. He is like many of us; we must be busy. So the others follow and they spend the night fishing and talking on a calm sea. The thousands that would often line the shore to see Jesus are not there. The disciples are still young in the faith despite having spent over 3 years with Jesus.

In the light of the cool early morning, Jesus comes to visit them for the third time. He has been busy building a fire and getting the wood hot enough to turn them to coals. A perfect fire for cooking and warming cold hands and bodies. From the boat, Jesus is small in the distance, but John is able to recognize Him and tells Peter that it is the Lord! John has been the most intimate with Jesus. He would often lovingly lay his head on the warm chest of the Redeemer, so he is able to recognize the form and mannerisms of his Lord better than the others.

But, Peter (always the dramatic and impetuous one because of his intense feelings), jumped into the water in his underwear to swim to Jesus. The boat was too slow in reaching the shore. There Jesus had breakfast ready with fish and bread.

The Lord cares about his hunger and warmth. Jesus loves Peter and wants to encourage Him because He knows that one day Peter would give his life on a cross for Him. Instead of fighting and cutting off someone’s ear, he would let them take him away.

After a filling and satisfying breakfast, as the warm sun is coming up, they walk down the shore with the others just behind them. Jesus looks at Peter and asks him three times if he loves Him. Jesus knows Peter’s feelings, but He asks for Peter’s sake. The questions and the answers teach Peter a lesson of commitment to others. “Feed my sheep.”

The Lord still walks the shores wanting to have breakfast with us. There is something special about rising early to meet Jesus for breakfast, but can we recognize that He is there? Does someone who knows him intimately have to tell us?

Jesus may not be able to be seen or heard as in this story, but we can know that He is there by the knocking. Jesus said,

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.”

Revelation 3:20

Brothers and Sisters, I see no reason to think that this verse is a one time event at the beginning of our experience. Jesus knocks at my door often. How about you? It is He calling us away from the others to talk with us and encourage us.

Each morning, I hear the knocking. He is waiting to warm me and feed me. Thank you Lord. “You know all things; you know that I love you.”

“Feed My lambs.”

“The first work that Christ entrusted to Peter on restoring him to the ministry was to feed the lambs. This was a work in which Peter had little experience. It would require great care and tenderness, much patience and perseverance. It called him to minister to those who were young in the faith, to teach the ignorant, to open the Scriptures to them, and to educate them for usefulness in Christ’s service. Heretofore Peter had not been fitted to do this, or even to understand its importance. But this was the work which Jesus now called upon him to do. For this work his own experience of suffering and repentance had prepared him.” Desire of Ages, p 814

Inspiration

Living and Moving in Christ

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Let’s take a break from the Bible Prophecy and turn our eyes to Jesus.  I plan to continue the series on Bible prophecy but, this morning, I was reminded of something that happened to me about 16 years ago.  Here is the story.

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Those who DWELL under his shadow shall return;
They shall be revived like grain,
And GROW like a vine.
Their scent shall be like the wine of Lebanon.

Hosea 14:7

Have you ever heard a sermon that stayed with you for a very long time?  Perhaps it comes to your mind when triggered by a verse here or there.  Or maybe the reality of it lingers until it finally sinks in and you are transformed. The verse above triggered something I heard a long time ago and it has never departed from my thoughts.

About 16 years ago at the funeral of my step-brother (David), the family set up a TV and VHS machine in the entrance to the church where it played a video of one of David’s weekly Bible classes.  I paused to listen to this gifted teacher. His words have been on my mind ever since.

David was one of 4 sons and a daughter of a family run by a tough ex-Army Sargent father, made callous by WWII. My brother and I was drafted into the family in 1963 when my mother remarried.  My step-father took a particular interest in toughening me up, but that is a different story. Of all the sons, I like David the most.  He was  quite, but intelligent and athletic.  David and I played basketball almost every day.

David went off to fight in Viet Nam in 1969 and came back as wild as could be.  When he returned, he bought a brand new 1969 Chevy SS with a 396 engine that was strong and wild like him.

He drank and smoked pot almost daily and soon the car was a pile of twisted metal.  He and my cousin walked away unharmed.  He was hardened from what he saw and did in the war. He would laugh and tell me stories of how they would fly the helicopter low and kick the locals off their bicycles.

But, Jesus came into his life and David was transformed into a wise and gentle teacher of God’s word around 1974. This was about the time I gave my life to Christ. He and I often talked of spiritual things although we were of two different denominations.  I remember one night, we were discussing the timelines of the 70-week prophecy in Daniel.  We were in the parking lot of the apartments where I was staying.  We drew our respective charts of the timelines in the dust on the trunks of the parked cars under the street light.  When we needed more space, we just moved to the next car hood or trunk!

 Although we had some difference, we both were certain of one thing.  Jesus had come into our lives.  We were forgiven and we both had great joy in knowing and working for our Lord! We loved to talk about Jesus. We were both babes in Christ, but growing in leaps and bounds in the word of God and our relationship with Jesus.

Sadly, David was killed in a car accident on his way to work around 1998.  A young lady on her phone swerved and sent David and his van tumbling down the freeway.  He was not wearing his seat belt.   What a tremendous loss for God’s kingdom!

At the entrance to the church, where they had the funeral, one of David’s classes was on a loop and played over and over. On the screen, you could see the calm and Christ-like face of my brother in Christ. He was talking to the class about “continuing” in God. He cited different Bible characters who “continued” with God. His point was clear. We are to “continue” with God. We should not set our hand to the plow and look back. To do so makes us unworthy of the kingdom.

But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Luke 9:62

David said, we are also to “dwell” in Christ like you would in your house. To “continue” in Christ is to move forward in our God no matter the circumstance (grow). Our God will finish the work that he started in us as we “dwell” and “continue” with Him.

…for in Him we live and move and have our being…

Acts 17:28

How I wish I had that tape!

Hosea concludes his book after spending 13 chapters of exposing the sins and rebellion of His own people.  It ends with the encouragement to them, and us, to “dwell” and “continue” (grow) in the true God. Many Christians have said, “it is too hard for me” and they give up. They took their hand off the plow and went back. Maybe they should have started by simply “dwelling” before “continuing.”

The wise person in Christ will know the importance and necessity of “dwelling” and “continuing” in Christ no matter the circumstance…no matter how rebellious and wild they may have been at one time or the challenges of the moment.

From Steps to Christ, p. 68, 69: “Jesus teaches the same thing when He says, “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in Me. . . . Without Me ye can do nothing.’ John 15:4, 5. You are just as dependent upon Christ, in order to live a holy life, as is the branch upon the parent stock for growth and fruitfulness. Apart from Him you have no life. You have no power to resist temptation or to grow in grace and holiness. Abiding in Him, you may flourish. Drawing your life from Him, you will not wither nor be fruitless. You will be like a tree planted by the rivers of water.”

Inspiration

Jesus’ Prayer for Unity-Was it Answered?

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While I am working on the series titled Prophecies for Our Time, I thought I would share with you the  material for my sermon this weekend.

While I am not a pastor, I have been a Bible Student for 39 years and I get opportunities from time to time to share what I have learned on my Jesus Journey.  I think you will find this topic interesting.

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I love the 17th Chapter of John.  It is truly the Lord’s payer.  In this chapter we are allowed to sit close to Jesus and hear His words as he makes requests from our Father concerning himself, his disciples, and finally believers who will believe the testimony of the disciples throughout the ages to come.  Let’s read this part of John 17:

I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word;  that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.

John 17:21-23

Jesus is praying first of all for the disciples, but also those who would believe their eye witness account of Jesus short teaching time (3 1/2 years)

The new testament tells us about the eye witness account of the disciples and their Jesus journey, but we also know that Jesus is found in the Old Testament as well:

And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself

Luke 24:27

Jesus gave a long Bible study to disappointed disciples the day after His crucifixion as they walked to Emmaus sad and dejected.  For His Bible study, Jesus used what we call the Old Testament.  The topic? Jesus!

A disciple named Philip once helped an Ethiopian understand about Jesus by teaching him Scripture.  What scripture?

Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him.

Acts 8:35

What was the Scripture?  Was it the New Testament?  No! What we call as the New Testament had not been assembled and parts of it had not been written.  The scripture about Jesus came from the Old Testament! Philip explained to the Ethiopian this passage:

“He was led as a sheep to the slaughter;
And as a lamb before its shearer is silent,
So He opened not His mouth.
 In His humiliation His justice was taken away,
And who will declare His generation?
For His life is taken from the earth.

Isaiah 53: 7,8 

Because of this, we should not be shy about learning from the Old Testament.  To neglect the teachings of the Old Testament is to be only partly equipped for your Jesus Journey.

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

2 Timothy 3:16

This passage was not about the New Testament.  It was not finished and assembled. It meant the scripture we call the Old Testament.  But, it certainly refers to the New Testament that we have now.

So Jesus’ prayer is for believers like you and me who believe in God’s word.  What was his prayer for the disciples and us who believe in God’s word?

that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me

John 17 21

Jesus is praying for us to be one, but it is one in Jesus as he is one with the Father.  The purpose of this is for evangelism.  To help non-believers, believe.

And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.

John 17: 22

Notice that he has given the disciples glory that came from the Father through Jesus.  This glory is so that we may be one just as Jesus and the Father are one!  That is powerful and this is all so people will know about the love of God the Father and Jesus!  Here is how I see the unity Jesus desires in His prayer:

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Let’s fast forward to 2014.

The Christian church is the largest of all religions, but it is divided into two major sections: Catholic and Protestant. Both are split into some 30,000 different denominations.

Lately, it has been suggested by the Pope and Tony Palmer (now deceased) that the divisions within the Christian church happened when the Protestants “protested” and broke away from the Catholic church.

Martin Luther a priest of the Catholic church found a Bible chained to a monastery wall written in Latin. As he read, he discovered the theme of righteousness by faith.  The church was promoting salvation by works.

As Martin Luther read the Bible and compared it with the Roman Catholics’ teaching, he developed 95 thesis that he was prepared to defend.  In 1517, he took this document and nailed it to the door of the Wittenberg church.  The document started off with these words:

Out of love for the truth and from desire to elucidate (make it clear, explain it), the Reverend Father Martin Luther, Master of Arts and Sacred Theology, and ordinary lecturer therein at Wittenberg, intends to defend the following statements and to dispute on them in that place. Therefore he asks that those who cannot be present and dispute with him orally shall do so in their absence by letter. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.

The Reverend Father Martin Luther saw a conflict between the practices of the church and the words of the disciples and the words of the prophets.

He was ready to defend the truth either orally in person or by letter!

Tony Palmer made a statement in front of a large congregation of Protestants that Luther’s protest was over…finished… because the Roman Catholic Church and the Lutheran Church had signed an agreement about the theme of righteousness by faith.

But there we 94 more disagreements and many more men involved in the Protestant Reformation. Men such as John Calvin, John Wycliffe, Jon Huss, Peter Waldo and many others.  Many were burn at the stake for not giving alliance to the Roman Catholic church during what we call as the dark ages.

Tony proclaimed that the children should come home to the church at Rome.

So there is a big move toward unity between the Catholic church and many of the protestant churches as I write this.  What is the basis for this unity?  Tony said that it is the Spirit that we can work out all our difference on doctrine when we are upstairs.  That seems to be saying that the teachings of Jesus are not as important as unity.  His teaching and the teaching of all the prophets are doctrine are they not?

Below we will see that true or doctrine cannot be compromised.  Why because doctrine is the revealed will of God.  It is teachings of Christ and of God.  Can we compromise any truth?  Which ones do we throw out for the sake of unity?

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Divisions within the church started long before the 16th century

Let’s look at a few instances from the Bible:

 Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe’s household, that there are contentions among you. Now I say this, that each of you says, “I am of Paul,” or “I am of Apollos,” or “I am of Cephas,” or “I am of Christ.”  Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?

1 Corinthians 1:10-13

Many of the believers were lining up behind men and their teachings that they liked.  It was like a popularity contest.  Does this sound familiar?  Paul was pleading that they all come together and speak the same thing and that there are no divisions!   He wanted them to line up behind Jesus, who is not divided.  Paul placed the importance on Christ and not himself when he asked, “Was Paul crucified for you?” This was about 55 AD!

Making a commitment to Jesus can cause divisions:

“Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’ He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.  And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.

Matthew 10: 34-39

No doubt we are to love and care for our family, but making Jesus #1 in your life can be tested if you have to choose family  over  following Jesus.  We often hear people say that their priorities in life are:

God then family then job.

This is sometimes tested.

Paul knew that when he left a town that he had evangelized that men would come in and draw them away from the simple teachings of the gospel and Jesus:

For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.

“So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

Acts 20:29-32

What protects the new believer from these wolves?  The new believer is like a small seedling just starting to sprout.  It must be feed, watered and pampered until it is rooted and grounded.  Let us never forget this.

Also, grumblers and complainers in the church can cause divisions:

These are grumblers, complainers, walking according to their own lusts; and they mouth great swelling words, flattering people to gain advantage. But you, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ:how they told you that there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts.  These are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit.

Jude 1: 16-19

Notice the type of person they are:  sensual who cause divisions and they don’t have the Spirit of God in them.  They will use flattery to gain advantage.  With their mouth, they will use “swelling words” to influence.

How often do people decide truth by the appearance of the person rather than by comparing their teaching with the word of God.  During Paul’s time, there was a people who were very careful to compare Paul’s teaching with the word of God.  We must be like them!

These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

Acts 17:11

Notice they were excited about receiving the words of Paul, but they searched the scriptures every day to see if Paul was telling the truth.  How many people in a church can do this or even want to do it?

The word of God should never be compromised for the sake of unity.  The word is what is a light unto our path.  There is no light in someone who teaches against God’s word:

To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.

Isaiah 8:20

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So the question is did Jesus’ prayer fail?  No!  If you are in Christ.

So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

Romans 12:5

Our unity is found IN Christ. We are members of the same body if we are IN Christ!

 Many are at different points in their Jesus Journey, but if we are IN Christ we are IN the father and are one!  Some have much light from God’s word and some have little but we can be one in Christ.

The term “IN CHRIST” appears 76 times in the New Testament. Notice that right after the phrase is the way to be “IN CHRIST”

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Romans 8:1

“Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints.“

1 Corinthians 1:2

Church is not a membership, it is a calling! We are sanctified IN Christ and called to do His will!

“I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called”

Ephesians 4:1

There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling;

Ephesians 4:4

What is this calling?

It is to follow in his steps to live a life IN Christ following His example.

For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:

1 Peter 2:21

Here is how to be IN Christ:

Unity in Christ

Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. For

“He who would love life
And see good days,
Let him refrain his tongue from evil,
And his lips from speaking deceit.
Let him turn away from evil and do good;
Let him seek peace and pursue it.
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
And His ears are open to their prayers

1 Peter 3: 8-12

By doing these things, you are doing the things you were called to do!

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So we are brought into unity as individuals who are IN Christ.  When we believe and follow His words as given by his disciples (eye witnesses) and the prophets who were carried away in vision we become one.

We might be different by sex, nationality, race but if we are In Christ we are one:

 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus…There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.  And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Galatians 3:26, 28