Sermon nuggets Tues Nov 4
Theme John 18: 3 So Judas came to the grove, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons.
4 Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, "Who is it you want?"
Observe Jesus’ Plan v 3,4
The pieces are all in their places and now the beginning of the end as started. Jesus has prepared himself spiritually by spending and wrestling with his temptations in prayer. Judas enters with soldiers. Since messianic hopes ran very high at this time, Rome was very much on alert during this religious holiday. Pilate, who normally lived in Caesarea, would remain in Jerusalem, along with a sizeable army, lest a riot break out. To attempt to arrest Jesus during the feast would be foolish, and the religious leaders were determined not to make fools of themselves one more time.
But Jesus was in control, forcing His adversaries to act in a way that was contrary to their plan. v. 4 reminds us how much Jesus is really in charge. “Knowing all that was going to happen to him went out and asked them “Who is it you want?” He went to meet them. He didn’t run, hide, or even balk. He is like someone waiting for a ride to come in order to pick Him up.
The detachments of the temple guard come along with some officials from the chief priest and the Pharisees. John does tell us something the others do not mention. Among those present in this arresting “mob” were a significant number of Roman soldiers. There is some discussion as to how many soldiers John is referring. As the study notes in the NET Bible inform us, a “cohort” was normally a force of 600 men. But that name could apply to a group of around 200 men as well. So if that is true to the term used here in John we are not talking about 10 to 15 guys here, but well over 100. This crowd to arrest Jesus was carrying weapons, and lanterns and torches.
When I volunteered as a police chaplain for the city of St. Paul, I was allowed to go on a ride-along program. That night there was a "chase call". One of the squads was chasing a car that would not stop. It is perhaps the most dangerous time for public and police. It was exciting to listen to the chase on the police radio, but all were discouraged when they lost the car. My squad contined to the area and looked for general cars that fit the description. They spotted one with a couple of teens, but it was the wrong, make year and the wrong color. But I was surprised when it turned out ot be the right car and immediately there were three police cars on the scene for the arrest with 6 officers against 2 who were in the automobile. They didn’t have a chance to get away from them. Humanly speak the odds of the group seeking to arrest Jesus would have been quite a compliment. But if Judas was really aware of the power of Christ no amount of men could do anything against the will of the Lord. When large groups of soldiers came to arrest Elisha on the mountaintop three times they were annihilated by the unseen power of angels. How many angels do you think would have been ready to kill any attackers of the Lord? Yet, it was the will of God. It was according to His divine plan.
And why the mob action? What had He done? Had this man killed someone? Had He sold secrets to the enemy? Had He corrupted his high office? Was He a drug dealer? No. What had he done? He had showed compassion to the hurting. He had taught people about God in ways that was bringing a true revival of heart.
Mother Theresa was a wonderful and compassionate woman helping the sick, but when Jesus ministered to the sick they got better! When He touched the leper - the leprosy was gone. When He touched the coffin of a dead person - the person sat up and lived on! But Satan was behind the plan to kill Jesus. God was behind the largter plan to redeem mankind for all eternity and thereby defeat Satan.
Bessie McDonald was in the nursing home When she was 6 months old she contacted polio and over 80 years in her attempts to walk recieved 16 fractures as a result of her falls. Now she had broken her hip and had to spend the rest of her life in a wheelchair. As a Christian she was aware that God had a plan for her life, even in her infirmity. She did not want to be in a wheelchair and asked for healing. In her discouragement “God,” she prayed, “What can I do among so many people who somehow seem older than I?” Although it was hard she saw no future, yet she was determined to be true to the Lord and as cheerful as possible.
One day the Lord spoke to her and said in her heart. “Bessie, I want you to be my witness in this place.”
Now she was busy for the Lord wheeling herself up and down the corridors speaking as tactfully as possible to other patients and visitors, telling them of God’s love. God has a plan for her life and she found that plan being fulfilled even in her suffering. But that plan is not completed yet. The plan of God in Gethsemane was only a small part of the whole picture. Will you trust His plan for your life today? For our nation today? For the world today?
And don’t forget, suffering is sometimes part of the plan, but His work is not completed yet. There is more to come. Praise God.
Pastor Dale
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Monday, November 3, 2008
The Arrest- John 18:1,2
Sermon Nuggets Mon Nov 3
Theme- The Arrest
Verses-John 18:1-11 When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was an olive grove, and he and his disciples went into it.
2 Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples.
The Place
After Jesus high priestly prayer other accounts share that they sung a hymn and departed.
Jesus went to the cross out of design and His own will. He never was entrapped, never tricked, never surprised. He was not overcome by the power of the law, or Jews or Romans. As the prayer of Christ stated he knew full well he was about to die and in so doing he would be the savior of the world to all who will accept Him and follow him. This was the reason for his coming to earth. He never was the victim of circumstances.
John’s purpose is to present Jesus Christ as God, to reveal to the world his Deity. John majored on his divinity more than his humanity.
Jesus had finished being with his disciples in the upper room preparing them for this night and praying for them. He completed all the work that the Father had given to him except this final task of going to the cross. Jesus is the High priest and representing us before the Father. Jesus prays for the disciples and his church in the upper room. He prayed for His glory to be revealed and glory to the Father. Now was the hour to be turned over to his enemies.
There was a place that was also prepared for Jesus arrest. As all plans are in order by the sovereign God this too has some prophetic implications. By the Kidron valley, the brook was said to be tainted with blood shed from the many animals by the priests in the temple at the time of the Passover. Jesus would have passed over that brook, as a reminder that His blood was to be shed as the Passover lamb for the sins of the world.
The timing was perfect. Jesus finished His high priestly prayer to the Father. His “hour” truly had come. John very briefly refers to the Garden of Gethsemane and does not mention our Lord’s agonizing prayer in the garden as we read in some of the other Gospel accounts.
This garden was known to Judas since it was a place where they often went to pray and to rest, away form the crowds. It was a quiet resting-place, for retirement, prayer, perhaps sleep, and a trysting-place also where not only the Twelve, but others also, may have been wont to meet the Master. This was the safest place for an arrest, since many in Jerusalem were enamored with Jesus and the crowds made it impossible to safely arrest Jesus before when they wanted to. The officers of the temple were afraid of the people because of Jesus’ popularity. Do you think Jesus did not know that? Or do we come to a realization that it was in a Garden when sin won the victory from the first Adam, and it was in another garden when God was addressing this sin matter to overcome it. Jesus is the second Adam.
In the Greek, Gethsemane means an oil orchard. The Hebrew expression means olive press. It is still rich today in olive trees hundreds of years old and it is possible that these may be shoots of the same trees that witnessed Jesus' last night before his arrest.
Gethsemane is at the foot of Mount Of Olives where Jesus ascended into heaven. From the depths to the heights, one person did a study showing how the Mount of Olives is always associated with division. Jesus separated himself from the other people - going to the Mount of Olives.
Oil is a symbol both of the spirit and of understanding. In order to bring forth the liquid (oil) from the olive, an oil press causes great pressure on it. Jesus is the olive root according to Romans 11:16, supporting every olive branch and therefore every olive in the tree. We know in his prayer that great pressure was upon Him that night.
Judas was also hand picked by God to do the job of betrayal. It wasn’t his insight that brought the soldiers to Gethsemane, it was planned by God. The place, the time, and the people were all in God’s hands.
There are no surprises with Him.
We never know how the incidental events are really significant expressions of the glory and preparation of our Lord.
Pastor Dale.
Theme- The Arrest
Verses-John 18:1-11 When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was an olive grove, and he and his disciples went into it.
2 Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples.
The Place
After Jesus high priestly prayer other accounts share that they sung a hymn and departed.
Jesus went to the cross out of design and His own will. He never was entrapped, never tricked, never surprised. He was not overcome by the power of the law, or Jews or Romans. As the prayer of Christ stated he knew full well he was about to die and in so doing he would be the savior of the world to all who will accept Him and follow him. This was the reason for his coming to earth. He never was the victim of circumstances.
John’s purpose is to present Jesus Christ as God, to reveal to the world his Deity. John majored on his divinity more than his humanity.
Jesus had finished being with his disciples in the upper room preparing them for this night and praying for them. He completed all the work that the Father had given to him except this final task of going to the cross. Jesus is the High priest and representing us before the Father. Jesus prays for the disciples and his church in the upper room. He prayed for His glory to be revealed and glory to the Father. Now was the hour to be turned over to his enemies.
There was a place that was also prepared for Jesus arrest. As all plans are in order by the sovereign God this too has some prophetic implications. By the Kidron valley, the brook was said to be tainted with blood shed from the many animals by the priests in the temple at the time of the Passover. Jesus would have passed over that brook, as a reminder that His blood was to be shed as the Passover lamb for the sins of the world.
The timing was perfect. Jesus finished His high priestly prayer to the Father. His “hour” truly had come. John very briefly refers to the Garden of Gethsemane and does not mention our Lord’s agonizing prayer in the garden as we read in some of the other Gospel accounts.
This garden was known to Judas since it was a place where they often went to pray and to rest, away form the crowds. It was a quiet resting-place, for retirement, prayer, perhaps sleep, and a trysting-place also where not only the Twelve, but others also, may have been wont to meet the Master. This was the safest place for an arrest, since many in Jerusalem were enamored with Jesus and the crowds made it impossible to safely arrest Jesus before when they wanted to. The officers of the temple were afraid of the people because of Jesus’ popularity. Do you think Jesus did not know that? Or do we come to a realization that it was in a Garden when sin won the victory from the first Adam, and it was in another garden when God was addressing this sin matter to overcome it. Jesus is the second Adam.
In the Greek, Gethsemane means an oil orchard. The Hebrew expression means olive press. It is still rich today in olive trees hundreds of years old and it is possible that these may be shoots of the same trees that witnessed Jesus' last night before his arrest.
Gethsemane is at the foot of Mount Of Olives where Jesus ascended into heaven. From the depths to the heights, one person did a study showing how the Mount of Olives is always associated with division. Jesus separated himself from the other people - going to the Mount of Olives.
Oil is a symbol both of the spirit and of understanding. In order to bring forth the liquid (oil) from the olive, an oil press causes great pressure on it. Jesus is the olive root according to Romans 11:16, supporting every olive branch and therefore every olive in the tree. We know in his prayer that great pressure was upon Him that night.
Judas was also hand picked by God to do the job of betrayal. It wasn’t his insight that brought the soldiers to Gethsemane, it was planned by God. The place, the time, and the people were all in God’s hands.
There are no surprises with Him.
We never know how the incidental events are really significant expressions of the glory and preparation of our Lord.
Pastor Dale.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Praying for Love John 17:26
Sermon nuggets Fri Oct 31
Theme Praying for Believers
Verse John 17: 26 I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them." (NIV)
Praying for Love
An elderly man was on his death bed, when he called his five sons to come to the farm. He wanted to share his goodbyes. When they were assembled he took a stick and had them break one, which each did easily. Then he gave them a bundle of five sticks tied together and told them to individually to break them. They couldn’t break the sticks. The father said, “Remember that when I’m gone, individually you will fall. Together you will stand strong.”
The cord that binds them together is love. It is not always the emotional closeness, but the commitment that because they were brothers by blood it pleased the father, whom they loved, to commit to working with one another for the common good of each other. That is the will of our heavenly Father as well.
St. Augustine said man year ago, “In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty; in all things-charity.” Charity, love, is what we need to work together. There are far too many Christians so caught up in their prideful understanding that they lack love. So many churches claiming truth refuse to cooperate with other Christian groups or churches. What Jesus wants for us is to look at the Father by looking at the Son and gain a deeper understanding of His love and deeper awareness of His life within us. It is possible to disagree with others without being disagreeable. It is true love that encourages open sharing and communication. Many do not understand God because of pride, willful sin.
Marjorie Holmes wrote a book, To Help you through the Hurting. It was about the experiences of her mother, 84, who died suddenly. Before her death there was one thing the mother was unable to do and that was to help reconcile two member of her family that had been feuding. It was one of those agonizing conflicts between grown children that tear a parent apart. She wept over it, prayed over it, but the wounds were not healed.
Now in the face of preparations for her funeral Marjorie worried that contention would make things worse as there would not be unity with decisions over the distribution of the estate. While at the house the siblings saw the family Bible on the table and opened to where there passage was marked, “Now before the east of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the father. Having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.”
All the family began to cry and noticed another marker which read, “Little children, yet a little while I am with you ye hall seek me; and as I said unto the Jews, whither I go ye cannot come; so now I say to you, A new commandment I give unto you that ye love one another as I have loved you that ye love one another.”
The two who had been feuding took each other’s hands and then embraced holding one to their other tightly and crying. The peace they had that night was to last. The bridge of death had become the bridge of love.
The essential element to all the requests in prayer by Jesus was for love. He talked about joy, but joy without love is hedonism. He talked bout holiness, but without love that is self righteousness. He talked about truth which would be nothing more than bitter orthodoxy with out love.
The essential part of Jesus prayer was believers would grasp the love for God has for them and extend it to one another- that will make the church strong and bring others into the fold by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Pastor Dale
Theme Praying for Believers
Verse John 17: 26 I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them." (NIV)
Praying for Love
An elderly man was on his death bed, when he called his five sons to come to the farm. He wanted to share his goodbyes. When they were assembled he took a stick and had them break one, which each did easily. Then he gave them a bundle of five sticks tied together and told them to individually to break them. They couldn’t break the sticks. The father said, “Remember that when I’m gone, individually you will fall. Together you will stand strong.”
The cord that binds them together is love. It is not always the emotional closeness, but the commitment that because they were brothers by blood it pleased the father, whom they loved, to commit to working with one another for the common good of each other. That is the will of our heavenly Father as well.
St. Augustine said man year ago, “In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty; in all things-charity.” Charity, love, is what we need to work together. There are far too many Christians so caught up in their prideful understanding that they lack love. So many churches claiming truth refuse to cooperate with other Christian groups or churches. What Jesus wants for us is to look at the Father by looking at the Son and gain a deeper understanding of His love and deeper awareness of His life within us. It is possible to disagree with others without being disagreeable. It is true love that encourages open sharing and communication. Many do not understand God because of pride, willful sin.
Marjorie Holmes wrote a book, To Help you through the Hurting. It was about the experiences of her mother, 84, who died suddenly. Before her death there was one thing the mother was unable to do and that was to help reconcile two member of her family that had been feuding. It was one of those agonizing conflicts between grown children that tear a parent apart. She wept over it, prayed over it, but the wounds were not healed.
Now in the face of preparations for her funeral Marjorie worried that contention would make things worse as there would not be unity with decisions over the distribution of the estate. While at the house the siblings saw the family Bible on the table and opened to where there passage was marked, “Now before the east of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the father. Having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.”
All the family began to cry and noticed another marker which read, “Little children, yet a little while I am with you ye hall seek me; and as I said unto the Jews, whither I go ye cannot come; so now I say to you, A new commandment I give unto you that ye love one another as I have loved you that ye love one another.”
The two who had been feuding took each other’s hands and then embraced holding one to their other tightly and crying. The peace they had that night was to last. The bridge of death had become the bridge of love.
The essential element to all the requests in prayer by Jesus was for love. He talked about joy, but joy without love is hedonism. He talked bout holiness, but without love that is self righteousness. He talked about truth which would be nothing more than bitter orthodoxy with out love.
The essential part of Jesus prayer was believers would grasp the love for God has for them and extend it to one another- that will make the church strong and bring others into the fold by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Pastor Dale
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Prayer for Understanding John 17:25
Sermon nuggets Thurs Oct 30
Theme- Prayer for believers
Verses- John 17:25 "Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me.
Understanding
To paraphrase Jesus prayer, “O, that the world would know the Father like I know the Father.” The believers know that you sent me, but I pray that they might have the knowledge of who you are through my teaching. I need to continue to make you known to them, Lord, so that they love you and know the love you have for me, may be in them and that I myself may be in them. I pray that they would experience your love and your knowledge, and realization that even after I m gone I am with them?
Sometimes when I’m asked to do a funeral for someone I do not know very well, I ask their loved ones to tell me a little more about him. Some comments I get resemble these statements, “O, I wish you could have known him. He was such a lovely person. Many don’t know him very well, O I wish you could have known him like I Knew him. Let me tell you about him.”
Jesus does one better. It move us from not just knowing about God, but that we can know Him personally. We will know Him when we are reunited together. But through increased knowledge and understanding of Him now, we will realize His love and receive His love in us and the power of Jesus is also made manifested in us.
What is the glory which Christ has given by the Father and now given to us? Love. O that we could understand the power of His love; The love that sent Jesus to the cross and why He is willing to go. The love that will keep the believers protected. The love that causes Jesus to pray for us as believers and for our unity and for our reunion and for our understanding of knowing God better Christian unity is that unity which transcends all difference and joins men together in love. Too often today men love their organizations and creeds, and rituals more than each other. Only the love implanted in the hearts of man by God can tear down the barriers which men have erected between each other and church.
Jesus wants us to understand more about the glory and wonder of His Father. When Philip asked that Jesus shows them the Father, He responds by saying in John 14:9-13 “Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves.
12 I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.”
As we reflect the image of Christ in our lives so we also reflect the image of the Father. The world needs to know Him and the only way they can is through us and how He shows His glory and love through His children until Christ returns.
Pastor Dale
Theme- Prayer for believers
Verses- John 17:25 "Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me.
Understanding
To paraphrase Jesus prayer, “O, that the world would know the Father like I know the Father.” The believers know that you sent me, but I pray that they might have the knowledge of who you are through my teaching. I need to continue to make you known to them, Lord, so that they love you and know the love you have for me, may be in them and that I myself may be in them. I pray that they would experience your love and your knowledge, and realization that even after I m gone I am with them?
Sometimes when I’m asked to do a funeral for someone I do not know very well, I ask their loved ones to tell me a little more about him. Some comments I get resemble these statements, “O, I wish you could have known him. He was such a lovely person. Many don’t know him very well, O I wish you could have known him like I Knew him. Let me tell you about him.”
Jesus does one better. It move us from not just knowing about God, but that we can know Him personally. We will know Him when we are reunited together. But through increased knowledge and understanding of Him now, we will realize His love and receive His love in us and the power of Jesus is also made manifested in us.
What is the glory which Christ has given by the Father and now given to us? Love. O that we could understand the power of His love; The love that sent Jesus to the cross and why He is willing to go. The love that will keep the believers protected. The love that causes Jesus to pray for us as believers and for our unity and for our reunion and for our understanding of knowing God better Christian unity is that unity which transcends all difference and joins men together in love. Too often today men love their organizations and creeds, and rituals more than each other. Only the love implanted in the hearts of man by God can tear down the barriers which men have erected between each other and church.
Jesus wants us to understand more about the glory and wonder of His Father. When Philip asked that Jesus shows them the Father, He responds by saying in John 14:9-13 “Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves.
12 I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.”
As we reflect the image of Christ in our lives so we also reflect the image of the Father. The world needs to know Him and the only way they can is through us and how He shows His glory and love through His children until Christ returns.
Pastor Dale
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Anticipates a Reunion John 17:25
Sermon nuggets Weds Oct 29
Theme Praying for Believers
Verses- John 17:24 "Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.
Reunion
A number of years ago Mission executive Rochugna Pudaited, an Indonesian delegate to the Asian congress on Evangelism in Singapore, was asked what he felt to be the reason for the great spiritual awakening sweeping through his country. “When some of the missionaries left under Sukarno’s rule, the national Christians began to mix together more freely and found they believed the same thing after all. This gave them a new sense of unity. They began to work together and to pray together ignoring organizational boundaries imposed upon them, I am afraid, somewhat artificially. When those barriers were removed the Holy Spirit began to work. The remarkable things which then took place in their lives were seen openly by unbelievers and many of them were attracted to Christ.”
Jesus prayed that we be one because it reveals the unity and oneness of God and His love and it shows the word that Jesus is real, and they believed He was sent by God. He further instructs them they the world will know we are Christians by our love.
This unity is a reflection of the unity that will be in heaven. Father in the Son, the son in the Father, Jesus in us and we in Christ. This is the love that Jesus has and is seen most graphically in the fact that Jesus wants us to be with Him where He is going to the Father.
We had already talked about the glory of Jesus was the cross. He taught, “No greater love has anyone than this, that one lay down his life for another. “ He showed the world the Father through His life, His teaching, His example, and His love while on earth. Our glory is showing the Christ like character. Certainly our unity as Christians with one another is centered around who Jesus is and what He has done for us. But the Jesus that unites us is the Jesus of the Bible, not some made up reflection of ourselves. If folks do not accept that fact that Jesus was the pre existing creator of the universe we would have no unity. We are unified around His divinity, His atonement, His bodily resurrection, His personal and visible return to the earth. Anything short of that is creating a false Messiah and we cannot have unity.. Truth and error cannot be unified, that which is clearly and plainly revealed in the Scriptures be boldly and strongly taught. Of course, there is room for minor differences of opinions and interpretations. IT would be the plan of Satan for pride to bring disunity in our differences and make unclear things reasons to divide and fight among ourselves.
Perhaps because I grew up in a large metropolitan area and far away from my mother’s relatives, we had few family reunions. We lived too far away and didn't have the money to afford getting together often. My father’s family was smaller and since we were the only Christians it was uncomfortable for him when they got together. But when I went with mother one in her later years to a get together of three generations with a larger reunion with her cousins and other relatives it was a wonderful time for her to talk with people she hadn’t seen in years and meet people who were our relatives that she had never met. She looked forward to going, and enjoyed her time there. She talked about it long after we came home.
In heaven there will be a great family reunion and the joy will be the guest of honor, Jesus Christ before the Father of us all. It will be wonderful. Jesus cannot wait to be with everyone He loved and purchased for Himself to meet each other for the first time. There will be unity of faith and for His glory. He looks forward to the time we can all be together with those we knew and those who influenced our lives but haven’t met yet. This reunion we will be our chance for the first time to see Jesus for whom He is in all his glory. We will understand more clearly how wonderful He is. I enjoy things better when others I love are around me. Jesus is aware that when we see His glory we will be blessed. Everyone who saw the revealed glory like John in the book of Revelations, were in awe and wonder. Jesus wants you to be with Him so you can see Him as His is, not how he was on earth. We will be the bride prepared for the bridegroom. It is an anticipated time. Those that went to heaven before have experienced some things we have not witnessed but only read about. Why would we wish them back? They departed from their earthly bodies and their souls are with the Lord. They also anticipate a more complete body at the time of the resurrection. But presently they are with the Lord.
This reunion is long in the planning. There will be nothing scheduled that would require we must leave. Jesus prays that this will be our anticipation as it is His. He is looking forward to that and wants that hope to be an encouragement to us until we meet again.
Pastor Dale
Theme Praying for Believers
Verses- John 17:24 "Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.
Reunion
A number of years ago Mission executive Rochugna Pudaited, an Indonesian delegate to the Asian congress on Evangelism in Singapore, was asked what he felt to be the reason for the great spiritual awakening sweeping through his country. “When some of the missionaries left under Sukarno’s rule, the national Christians began to mix together more freely and found they believed the same thing after all. This gave them a new sense of unity. They began to work together and to pray together ignoring organizational boundaries imposed upon them, I am afraid, somewhat artificially. When those barriers were removed the Holy Spirit began to work. The remarkable things which then took place in their lives were seen openly by unbelievers and many of them were attracted to Christ.”
Jesus prayed that we be one because it reveals the unity and oneness of God and His love and it shows the word that Jesus is real, and they believed He was sent by God. He further instructs them they the world will know we are Christians by our love.
This unity is a reflection of the unity that will be in heaven. Father in the Son, the son in the Father, Jesus in us and we in Christ. This is the love that Jesus has and is seen most graphically in the fact that Jesus wants us to be with Him where He is going to the Father.
We had already talked about the glory of Jesus was the cross. He taught, “No greater love has anyone than this, that one lay down his life for another. “ He showed the world the Father through His life, His teaching, His example, and His love while on earth. Our glory is showing the Christ like character. Certainly our unity as Christians with one another is centered around who Jesus is and what He has done for us. But the Jesus that unites us is the Jesus of the Bible, not some made up reflection of ourselves. If folks do not accept that fact that Jesus was the pre existing creator of the universe we would have no unity. We are unified around His divinity, His atonement, His bodily resurrection, His personal and visible return to the earth. Anything short of that is creating a false Messiah and we cannot have unity.. Truth and error cannot be unified, that which is clearly and plainly revealed in the Scriptures be boldly and strongly taught. Of course, there is room for minor differences of opinions and interpretations. IT would be the plan of Satan for pride to bring disunity in our differences and make unclear things reasons to divide and fight among ourselves.
Perhaps because I grew up in a large metropolitan area and far away from my mother’s relatives, we had few family reunions. We lived too far away and didn't have the money to afford getting together often. My father’s family was smaller and since we were the only Christians it was uncomfortable for him when they got together. But when I went with mother one in her later years to a get together of three generations with a larger reunion with her cousins and other relatives it was a wonderful time for her to talk with people she hadn’t seen in years and meet people who were our relatives that she had never met. She looked forward to going, and enjoyed her time there. She talked about it long after we came home.
In heaven there will be a great family reunion and the joy will be the guest of honor, Jesus Christ before the Father of us all. It will be wonderful. Jesus cannot wait to be with everyone He loved and purchased for Himself to meet each other for the first time. There will be unity of faith and for His glory. He looks forward to the time we can all be together with those we knew and those who influenced our lives but haven’t met yet. This reunion we will be our chance for the first time to see Jesus for whom He is in all his glory. We will understand more clearly how wonderful He is. I enjoy things better when others I love are around me. Jesus is aware that when we see His glory we will be blessed. Everyone who saw the revealed glory like John in the book of Revelations, were in awe and wonder. Jesus wants you to be with Him so you can see Him as His is, not how he was on earth. We will be the bride prepared for the bridegroom. It is an anticipated time. Those that went to heaven before have experienced some things we have not witnessed but only read about. Why would we wish them back? They departed from their earthly bodies and their souls are with the Lord. They also anticipate a more complete body at the time of the resurrection. But presently they are with the Lord.
This reunion is long in the planning. There will be nothing scheduled that would require we must leave. Jesus prays that this will be our anticipation as it is His. He is looking forward to that and wants that hope to be an encouragement to us until we meet again.
Pastor Dale
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Praying for Unity John 17:22,23
Sermon nuggets Tues Oct 28
Theme Praying for Believers
Verses- John 17:22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: 23 I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
Praying for Unity.
It strikes me as I have been studying and preaching on Spiritual gifting how often the call to unity comes up. Now it is the theme of Jesus prayer for believers.
Our country is divided once again. I think the days of political parties setting aside their personal differences to work together for the common good hardly seems possible even with addressing the economic problems. On our coins are written E. Puribus Unum. Those words are Latin for “One among many.” Even the name of our country, The United States of America, is an expression of many states individually ruled, together under a common rule. States do not have the same laws, yet there are laws all hold in common. Within our nation the majority must speak for the minority. The strong must help the weak; the educated is to pave the way for the uneducated. When our nation no longer is committed to unity then it will fall.
But unity has its challenges. I think of the story of the porcupines that were freezing to death and decided to get closer together to stay warm. As they did their quills would poke and stick each other. In their hurts they would leave again. They realized the dilemma for unity- they couldn’t exist apart, and they didn’t like being together.
People have quills that we don’t like poking us, yet we too, have quills. Quills can be sin, personality differences, attitude, various opinions, pride, and personal habits.
What is on the heart of Jesus when it comes to all believers is how to get along and keep the main things that unifies us. The prayer of most parents is that their kids get along. They love their kids, but their kids do not always love one another, even in adulthood.
It is more important with the brothers and sisters in Christ. We have a task to do. We are related to one another by faith. The Spirit of God dwells in each one. Yet getting along among Christians of different cultures, among different denominations, among conferences, among churches and those within the church is a perpetual challenge. Prayer is suppose to unify us as the Holy Spirit is given the freedom to do his healing work.
Jesus is not praying for organizational unity. There is a lot of debate about having one church denomination. It used to be the Roman Catholic Church was the only true church on earth. But as peole read the Bible there was a parting of major doctrinal issues. We have come to realize all believers everywhere are part of the universal church, or body of Christ. But the Bible speaks of local congregations to carry out the work of Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus teaches wheat and tares exit in the same field. It is a reality that not everyone who joins a church is born again. Not everyone will unify on the main doctrines of the faith, or the practice of their faith. Not everyone is committed to unity as to their own will and way and wants. There is a lack of love.
Recently I was offended by someone in church. We do not see the purposes and practices of what we should be doing in the same way. It was the Spirit of God that prompted me to do what Jesus did- to pray. I prayed for love and for unity. I gave the situation over to the Lord who is the head of the church. Every day as the Spirit brings this person to my mind I will pray for him. We believe the same things, but it is easy to let our differences define us more than our Savior. We do not have to agree on everything to be part of the team to which our Lord calls us to work.
Do you realize that while Jesus is praying for you today, He is also praying for the person with whom you do not get along? On his lips is the request to the Father that you have unity. Church unity and unity among all believers is one the heart of Christ. Can we agree with His prayer?
Pastor Dale
Theme Praying for Believers
Verses- John 17:22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: 23 I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
Praying for Unity.
It strikes me as I have been studying and preaching on Spiritual gifting how often the call to unity comes up. Now it is the theme of Jesus prayer for believers.
Our country is divided once again. I think the days of political parties setting aside their personal differences to work together for the common good hardly seems possible even with addressing the economic problems. On our coins are written E. Puribus Unum. Those words are Latin for “One among many.” Even the name of our country, The United States of America, is an expression of many states individually ruled, together under a common rule. States do not have the same laws, yet there are laws all hold in common. Within our nation the majority must speak for the minority. The strong must help the weak; the educated is to pave the way for the uneducated. When our nation no longer is committed to unity then it will fall.
But unity has its challenges. I think of the story of the porcupines that were freezing to death and decided to get closer together to stay warm. As they did their quills would poke and stick each other. In their hurts they would leave again. They realized the dilemma for unity- they couldn’t exist apart, and they didn’t like being together.
People have quills that we don’t like poking us, yet we too, have quills. Quills can be sin, personality differences, attitude, various opinions, pride, and personal habits.
What is on the heart of Jesus when it comes to all believers is how to get along and keep the main things that unifies us. The prayer of most parents is that their kids get along. They love their kids, but their kids do not always love one another, even in adulthood.
It is more important with the brothers and sisters in Christ. We have a task to do. We are related to one another by faith. The Spirit of God dwells in each one. Yet getting along among Christians of different cultures, among different denominations, among conferences, among churches and those within the church is a perpetual challenge. Prayer is suppose to unify us as the Holy Spirit is given the freedom to do his healing work.
Jesus is not praying for organizational unity. There is a lot of debate about having one church denomination. It used to be the Roman Catholic Church was the only true church on earth. But as peole read the Bible there was a parting of major doctrinal issues. We have come to realize all believers everywhere are part of the universal church, or body of Christ. But the Bible speaks of local congregations to carry out the work of Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus teaches wheat and tares exit in the same field. It is a reality that not everyone who joins a church is born again. Not everyone will unify on the main doctrines of the faith, or the practice of their faith. Not everyone is committed to unity as to their own will and way and wants. There is a lack of love.
Recently I was offended by someone in church. We do not see the purposes and practices of what we should be doing in the same way. It was the Spirit of God that prompted me to do what Jesus did- to pray. I prayed for love and for unity. I gave the situation over to the Lord who is the head of the church. Every day as the Spirit brings this person to my mind I will pray for him. We believe the same things, but it is easy to let our differences define us more than our Savior. We do not have to agree on everything to be part of the team to which our Lord calls us to work.
Do you realize that while Jesus is praying for you today, He is also praying for the person with whom you do not get along? On his lips is the request to the Father that you have unity. Church unity and unity among all believers is one the heart of Christ. Can we agree with His prayer?
Pastor Dale
Monday, October 27, 2008
Intercession John 17:20,21
Sermon nuggets Mon Oct 27
Theme- Praying for believers
Verses John 17:20-21"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
Intercession
As we have been mindful of Jesus prayer, we saw in the first part of this chapter the intimacy He had with the Father. There is love in the relationship with the Divine. God didn’t need to create mankind because He was lonely. In this unique and mysterious relationship between Father, Son and Holy Spirit God was complete. But to display His glory He chose to create mankind in His own image. Creation didn’t come from loneliness it came from love.
As Adam and Eve enjoyed their intimacy in the Garden of Eden with God and one another, Satan did what he could to interrupt that. The temptation to sin led to the fall and broke spiritual and human relationships. Jesus came to restore us to the Father. He came to make what is unholy and sanctify us to be holy before His throne. The purchase of our redemption was the goal of displaying His glory to all the universe.
But be assured this role that Jesus played was not only in His sacrifice but also as high priest. The job of the priest was to act on behalf of the seekers of God. Hebrews tells us 7:25-26 “Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. 26 Such a high priest meets our need-- one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens.”
Jesus demonstrated to Peter personally that the Son of God was praying for Him and bringing Him before the throne in prayer when He prayed that Peter’s faith may not fail.
In this marvelous truth of intercession Jesus is not the only one who prays for us, but Romans 8:26 informs us, “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.” The third member of the Trinity is also involved with this ministry of intercession.
Today you and I are being prayed for by Jesus and the Holy Spirit. But further teaching in the New Testament also gives each believer the task of interceding for others. 1 Tim 2:1-6 “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone--for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.
This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men-- the testimony given in its proper time.”
Jesus prays for all believers, His church. But take comfort as each hair on our head is numbered, so each member of the body of believers is on the mind and heart of our Lord.
How does the reminder that Jesus is praying for you today affect you? There is spiritual work going on now on your behalf as you go about your day.
We have a wonderful savior.
Pastor Dale.
Theme- Praying for believers
Verses John 17:20-21"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
Intercession
As we have been mindful of Jesus prayer, we saw in the first part of this chapter the intimacy He had with the Father. There is love in the relationship with the Divine. God didn’t need to create mankind because He was lonely. In this unique and mysterious relationship between Father, Son and Holy Spirit God was complete. But to display His glory He chose to create mankind in His own image. Creation didn’t come from loneliness it came from love.
As Adam and Eve enjoyed their intimacy in the Garden of Eden with God and one another, Satan did what he could to interrupt that. The temptation to sin led to the fall and broke spiritual and human relationships. Jesus came to restore us to the Father. He came to make what is unholy and sanctify us to be holy before His throne. The purchase of our redemption was the goal of displaying His glory to all the universe.
But be assured this role that Jesus played was not only in His sacrifice but also as high priest. The job of the priest was to act on behalf of the seekers of God. Hebrews tells us 7:25-26 “Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. 26 Such a high priest meets our need-- one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens.”
Jesus demonstrated to Peter personally that the Son of God was praying for Him and bringing Him before the throne in prayer when He prayed that Peter’s faith may not fail.
In this marvelous truth of intercession Jesus is not the only one who prays for us, but Romans 8:26 informs us, “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.” The third member of the Trinity is also involved with this ministry of intercession.
Today you and I are being prayed for by Jesus and the Holy Spirit. But further teaching in the New Testament also gives each believer the task of interceding for others. 1 Tim 2:1-6 “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone--for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.
This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men-- the testimony given in its proper time.”
Jesus prays for all believers, His church. But take comfort as each hair on our head is numbered, so each member of the body of believers is on the mind and heart of our Lord.
How does the reminder that Jesus is praying for you today affect you? There is spiritual work going on now on your behalf as you go about your day.
We have a wonderful savior.
Pastor Dale.
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