It’s Wake Up Time!

Last week I wrote a Diary about crossing over to the other side of our problems.  The key scripture we looked at was when Jesus and His disciples crossed the lake in the midst of the storm.  This same passage brought me a new and powerful revelation that I want to share this morning.

Mark 4: 35-41 As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples,“Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.”³⁶ So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed).³⁷ But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water.

³⁸ Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?”

³⁹ When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves,“Silence! Be still! ”Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm.⁴⁰ Then he asked them,“Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

THE GOOD SHEPHERD!

To labor simply means to work hard and apply effort towards a task.  As Christians we are asked to labor for the harvest of God.

Matthew 9:36-38 But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were wearyand scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.³⁷ Then He said to His disciples,“The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers aref ew.³⁸ Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”

Being scattered like sheep having no shepherd really spoke to me.  We look around and see people that are completely operating out of a worldly mindset going from work to the chores of daily routine.  They are people that are scattered without a foundation of Godly purpose or hope.  They are in need of a shepherd, deceived and scattered not knowing what will satisfy their life.

Is Your Love Sincere?

When we read God’s word it is clear that “Love” is the foundation of our walk with Him.  We have discussed many times that love endures “all” things and we are told in the word to love God, love our enemies and love our neighbor as ourselves.  

The word love appears 759 times in the bible and we need to consider its value in our Christian walk as our highest priority.  As I was searching out love in the bible God revealed to me two passages that the bible has another word in front of love.  That word is “Sincere”.

2 Corinthians 6:6 We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us, and by our sincere love.

Websters Dictionary

sincere |sinˈsi(ə)r|

adjective ( -cerer , -cerest )

free from pretense or deceit; proceeding from genuine feelings : they offer their sincere thanks to Paul.

Sincere is free of pretense of deceit.  If we break down the bible we will determine that the word sincere is taking love to another level.  I believe we can have love that is not sincere.

ARE YOU THROWING THE FIRST STONE?

There is a pattern of judgmental religion running rampant in the church of America today.  This is a place that makes sinners feel unwelcome and it doesn’t represent the true relationship we have with Jesus Christ. 

Mark 2:15-17 Later, Levi invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. (There were many people of this kind among Jesus’ followers.) ¹⁶ But when the teachers of religious law who were Pharisees saw him eating with tax collectors and other sinners, they asked his disciples, “Why does he eat with such scum?”

¹⁷ When Jesus heard this, he told them,“Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”

Building On The Rock!

Our daily experiences in the world are forming our life foundation.  What we allow in our heart will determine the substance of its strength in times of trouble.

Luke 6:46-49 “So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say? ⁴⁷ I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it. ⁴⁸ It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built. ⁴⁹ But anyone who hears and doesn’t obey is like a person who builds a house right on the ground, without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it will collapse into a heap of ruins.”

Silence, Be Still

When the storms of life come, it threatens our situation.  We have an expectation of what we believe is the answer.  Those expectations are disrupted, so we are quick to react in a way that is opposite of God’s plan.

Mark 4: 35-41 As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples,“Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.”³⁶ So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed).³⁷ But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water.

³⁸ Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?”

³⁹ When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves,“Silence! Be still!”Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm.⁴⁰ Then he asked them,“Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

⁴¹ The disciples were absolutely terrified. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “Even the wind and waves obey him!”

Are You Listening?

As we grow in the knowledge of God with a spirit of humility we begin to listen to the truth found in the Bible.  The bible will become our source and the situations (parables) of every day life will begin to line up with His truth.  It becomes a practical application of the power of God into our circumstances.

Matthew 10:10-13 His disciples came and asked him, “Why do you use parables when you talk to the people?”

¹¹ He replied,“You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others are not.¹² To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.¹³ That is why I use these parables,

For they look, but they don’t really see.
    They hear, but they don’t really listen or understand.

Are You Complete?

When Jesus finished the work of God at the cross our salvation was complete.  It became our responsibility to seek and walk out this finished work.

Colossians 2:8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. ⁹ For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily;¹⁰ and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.

The scripture tells us to beware of empty deceit, according to the tradition of men and basic principles of the world.  This can be difficult if we are not focused on God.  The world is full of deceit and the principles of it are all around us.  We are being told to choose all kinds of “Positions” in the world of politics and life, which most all do not line up with the truth of God, so therefore they are not a part of His finished work.

Do You Believe?

John 11:26 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. ²⁶ And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

This death that Jesus spoke of was a physical death, which explains that we are separated from our earthly body into spirit that goes home to be with the Father.  This would mean that our spirit remains alive.

Our spirit becomes alive when we know Jesus Christ as our savior.  The life we experience here on earth before our physical body dies is already alive inside of us.  We have the ability to walk in the spirit now and forever!

It Is Finished!

It is “good” Friday and a good Friday it is, as Jesus finished the work He was sent to accomplish at the cross setting us free from our sin.

John 19:28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said,“I thirst!”²⁹ Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth.³⁰ So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said,“It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.

Webster’s Dictionary

finish |ˈfini sh |

verb [ trans. ]

1 bring (a task or activity) to an end; complete : they were straining to finish the job | [with present participle ] we finished eating our meal | [ intrans. ] the musician finished to thunderous applause.

• reach the end of a race or other sporting competition, typically in a particular position :

noun

1 [usu. in sing. ] an end or final part or stage of something

What’s Your Everything?

Our performance in life is related to our success.  It is very easy to fall into the trap of pleasing man instead of God to gain short-term popularity, promotion or acceptance.

Galatians 1:10 Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Question:  Today will you seek man’s approval in your choices or God’s?

Galatians 1:11 I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached is not of human origin. ¹² I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.

Are We Deceived?

The more I study the Word and seek God, I learn that we all can be deceived at times.  A lot of the time we actually deceive ourselves.  How you might ask?  People’s pride that comes from their good deeds or works starts to deceive them into thinking they are exempt from sin, or that their reliance is not on Jesus, but on themselves. 

1 John 1:8-10 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. ⁹ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. ¹⁰ If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.

When this happens we deceive ourselves, and our reliance moves from Jesus to us.  This causes a self-righteous mindset that could also be known as a “religious spirit”.  I don’t believe this is always a conscious mindset but rather a fleshly position that causes people to pass judgment on others when we all are sinners.  The fact is we will never stop needing a savior and to do so would mean Jesus’ sacrifice was not necessary.

We need Jesus as our savior yesterday, today and forever.  He is our salvation and our source of righteousness.

Everything You Need

Do we seek to have everything we need or everything we want?  This is a good question.  We often find ourselves seeking many things that we have concluded as needs but more than likely they are wants that are unnecessary to live a Godly life.

2 Peter 1:3 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. ⁴ Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

The older Carrie and I become our concept of what’s important is changing.  When we seek God’s plan for life we start to see the goodness in Godly things such as our marriage, children, quality time and the joy of relationships.  These things start to outweigh the desire to have more material things.

Do you sacrifice material things of the world for the goodness of God?

What Do You Love?

As we go through life we have desires that attract our attention.  The Word tells us we are either focused on the goodness of God or on the things of the World.

1 John 2:14 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. ¹⁶ For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.¹⁷ And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

When we love the things of the world our heart is pointed to those things.  Our love cannot be on God and the World at the same time.  They are contrary to one another.

Galatians 5:16-17 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. ¹⁷ For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.

Do You Need Rest?

There are many types of rest we can achieve.  These are physical, mental, emotional and spiritual.  Most often when we think of rest it is physical. 

Hebrews 4:1-3 Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it.² For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word, which they heard, did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heardit.³ For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said:

“So I swore in My wrath,
‘They shall not enter My rest,’”

Reading the word we learn that there is spiritual rest we can achieve in our Lord.  This spiritual rest is tied to faith as it states in verse 2.

Question:  Do you need rest?