Luke 7:31 And the Lord said, "To what then shall I liken the men of this generation, and what are they like? 32 They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another, saying: 'We played the flute for you, And you did not dance; We mourned to you, And you did not weep.' 33 For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, 'He has a demon.' 34 The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, 'Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' 35 But wisdom is justified by all her children."
Jesus was teaching and talking and ministering and walking through the region of Galilee. In the very recent past He had raised the son of a widow from the dead in front of two very large crowds: one crowd of those joyously following Jesus, and one crowd of those somberly grieving not only for the lost son, but also for the widow who now found herself alone in this world with no visible means of support. In the midst of all of that, Jesus reached in and touched the young man’s coffin and commanded him to “arise.” He did.
All those who saw were amazed and dumbstruck. The reports spread far and wide. The same news spread then is spread today by all those who have seen…all those who have seen Jesus. You see, at some point the number of witnesses to the power of Christ should come into play as being a deciding factor in whether Christianity is real or not. While there are many other proofs which can be offered, eye witness accounts of dead lives being raised are too many and too powerful to simply ignore.
To this day, Jesus is changing the “dead” into the “living.” To this day Jesus is turning drug addicts into pastors, and drunkards into missionaries. Somehow, at some point, that must be accounted for. There is a power present in true Christianity that converts the soul and changes the heart in ways which men simply cannot do. All of that is exemplified in Jesus raising this young man, the son of the widow of Nain, from the dead. (Luke 7:11-17)
But some who were watching and hearing of these things chose to place their focus on different things other than the dead being raised to life. Unfortunately, that is still true today.
Instead of paying close attention to Jesus’ miracles, the Pharisees and lawyers continued to reject the will of God for themselves. They spent their time evaluating the methodology of how Jesus did what He did rather than noting the results. And so, Jesus thought of their actions as exemplifying “children in the marketplace.” Saddest of all, (Luke 7:30,) they were rejecting the will of God for their lives. Their thoughts, like children, were only about what might please themselves – and since they were already “righteous,” there was no further need to examine what they needed most, and what God wanted them to have: salvation.
- Pastor Bill
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Friday, February 22, 2008
TRUE Help Desk
Ever since Friday of last week, I’ve spent a lot of time on ‘help desk’ phone calls with various manufacturers of products, and even had a “expert” tech visit my home office to attempt to fix an audio problem with my computer.
My problem is unresolved. I still have no sound on my computer. (It happened when I installed USB 2.0 drivers, corrupting existing audio drivers – or at least confusing them.)
It struck me how much of the world’s ‘solutions’ are exactly like this. You install one thing in your life and you wind up with something else broken, and so on and so forth. You wind up chasing various solutions to various problems all your life, and remain unsatisfied and broken to whatever extent your existence has brought you.
In spiritual terms, we call this “brokenness.” None of us like to be broken, but life experience tends to do that anyway. The question is: How can whatever state of brokenness we are in be fixed?
Some might say the answer is “religion.” For centuries this has been the answer many have sought. The problem is religion cannot heal the spirit of man – but can only massage the soul of man. This is why it takes so much religion. The soul enjoys being massaged. (BTW – one of the foremost ‘religions’ in the world today is the religion of science.)
Luke 6:6 Now it happened on another Sabbath, also, that He entered the synagogue and taught. And a man was there whose right hand was withered. 7 So the scribes and Pharisees watched Him closely, whether He would heal on the Sabbath, that they might find an accusation against Him.
The scribes and pharisees were practitioners - and recipients of - soul massage, in the form of religious zealotry. They were so comfortable in a fleshy system they were venomous toward anything or anyone who might attempt to change the ‘system.’
Luke 6:10 And when He had looked around at them all, He said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." And he did so, and his hand was restored as whole as the other.
We are left to imagine the expression on the face of Christ as He looked around at those who had come to berate the ONLY ONE who has a solution to the problems of life’s brokenness – no matter what or how great the extent. This is yet another example of Christ’s ability to restore our original operating system – no matter how badly it has been corrupted – and no matter what the ‘experts’ may say. Only Jesus saves.
- Pastor Bill
My problem is unresolved. I still have no sound on my computer. (It happened when I installed USB 2.0 drivers, corrupting existing audio drivers – or at least confusing them.)
It struck me how much of the world’s ‘solutions’ are exactly like this. You install one thing in your life and you wind up with something else broken, and so on and so forth. You wind up chasing various solutions to various problems all your life, and remain unsatisfied and broken to whatever extent your existence has brought you.
In spiritual terms, we call this “brokenness.” None of us like to be broken, but life experience tends to do that anyway. The question is: How can whatever state of brokenness we are in be fixed?
Some might say the answer is “religion.” For centuries this has been the answer many have sought. The problem is religion cannot heal the spirit of man – but can only massage the soul of man. This is why it takes so much religion. The soul enjoys being massaged. (BTW – one of the foremost ‘religions’ in the world today is the religion of science.)
Luke 6:6 Now it happened on another Sabbath, also, that He entered the synagogue and taught. And a man was there whose right hand was withered. 7 So the scribes and Pharisees watched Him closely, whether He would heal on the Sabbath, that they might find an accusation against Him.
The scribes and pharisees were practitioners - and recipients of - soul massage, in the form of religious zealotry. They were so comfortable in a fleshy system they were venomous toward anything or anyone who might attempt to change the ‘system.’
Luke 6:10 And when He had looked around at them all, He said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." And he did so, and his hand was restored as whole as the other.
We are left to imagine the expression on the face of Christ as He looked around at those who had come to berate the ONLY ONE who has a solution to the problems of life’s brokenness – no matter what or how great the extent. This is yet another example of Christ’s ability to restore our original operating system – no matter how badly it has been corrupted – and no matter what the ‘experts’ may say. Only Jesus saves.
- Pastor Bill
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Trying to Quit?
Romans 7:14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15 For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. 16 If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. 17 But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find.
How many times have you tried to quit?
“Quit what?” you may answer. Well…just about anything. There are just some things in every life which seem to be the nemesis of our existence. Cigarettes, alcohol, sex, drugs, rock & roll…You know the list. You know the lust.
But there are many more. When we look inside our heart as God sees it, we see millions more.
Matt 5:21 "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.' 22 But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, 'Raca!' shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, 'You fool!' shall be in danger of hell fire.
Matt 5:27 "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not commit adultery.' 28 But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
According to the Spiritual Law, (the law that KNOWS the attitude and desires of the heart,) I am – we ALL are – guilty of far more than we could ever hope to even begin to confess. But we also KNOW the blood of Jesus washes away the sin of every man. And when we apply the blood of Christ, ALL sins, past present and future are forgiven – and in Jesus’ power, we are no longer slaves to sin but slaves to righteousness.
At times, when we still have a wrong heart attitude, or a wrong action, we wonder where it comes from? We are no longer slaves to sin, but we have been set free to sin. In other words, NOW we have a choice…one made in freedom – will we continue to choose Christ? Not just in a moment of conversion – but as a way of life.
Romans 7:20 Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. …24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 I thank God--through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin. Choose Christ, for life. Choose to be a slave of righteousness. Quit it by His power.
- Pastor Bill
How many times have you tried to quit?
“Quit what?” you may answer. Well…just about anything. There are just some things in every life which seem to be the nemesis of our existence. Cigarettes, alcohol, sex, drugs, rock & roll…You know the list. You know the lust.
But there are many more. When we look inside our heart as God sees it, we see millions more.
Matt 5:21 "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.' 22 But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, 'Raca!' shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, 'You fool!' shall be in danger of hell fire.
Matt 5:27 "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not commit adultery.' 28 But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
According to the Spiritual Law, (the law that KNOWS the attitude and desires of the heart,) I am – we ALL are – guilty of far more than we could ever hope to even begin to confess. But we also KNOW the blood of Jesus washes away the sin of every man. And when we apply the blood of Christ, ALL sins, past present and future are forgiven – and in Jesus’ power, we are no longer slaves to sin but slaves to righteousness.
At times, when we still have a wrong heart attitude, or a wrong action, we wonder where it comes from? We are no longer slaves to sin, but we have been set free to sin. In other words, NOW we have a choice…one made in freedom – will we continue to choose Christ? Not just in a moment of conversion – but as a way of life.
Romans 7:20 Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. …24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 I thank God--through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin. Choose Christ, for life. Choose to be a slave of righteousness. Quit it by His power.
- Pastor Bill
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Death to Dying
It sure seems like we will live forever doesn’t it? I mean, it’s very difficult to think about dying, and even harder to think of dying.
By thinking of dying, I mean the literal instant of physical death. We like to pretend we never think of such a thing, and yet, if we are honest, we are thinking of just such a thing pretty often. But we really can’t imagine it, so we put it out of our minds as quickly as the thought arises.
Instead, a new thought floods over us…of invincibility. Better to lie to ourselves. Better to not even to think of dying since it is so hard to imagine. We can’t imagine it because no one has ever been able to describe the process. We can’t imagine what can’t be described, so we say things like, “I’m not afraid to die,” and roll on with our ‘invincible’ selves - all the while knowing we will die but not wanting to think about it. Are we all crazy?
The main reason we know we will die is because every human being that has ever lived on earth has died. Except Jesus Christ.
The truth is – we don’t have to die if we simply choose to live. The choice is so simple it has always boggled the minds of those who would consider such a thing – that man, me, myself, I, can have eternal life if I simply choose to.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
The stumbling block to mankind has always been the simplicity of how it is we receive eternal life. The truth is all we must do, all we can do, is repent of our sins and believe on Jesus Christ. In doing so, we return to God a small part of the love He has shown for us, by sending His only begotten Son into the world to die for our sin.
Jesus proved He had power over death and dying by rising from the dead. He is alive and present with us today. He continues to change the lives of all who call on His name. He continues to save from death all who believe.
If you desire to live forever, simply pray with all your heart, “Lord Jesus, I open my heart, and invite you inside, to be my Lord, my Savior, and my friend. Wash me clean of all of my sin. This day I have decided to follow you Jesus, forever and ever. Amen.”
It’s just that simple to make the impossible a reality. Do you believe?
- Pastor Bill
By thinking of dying, I mean the literal instant of physical death. We like to pretend we never think of such a thing, and yet, if we are honest, we are thinking of just such a thing pretty often. But we really can’t imagine it, so we put it out of our minds as quickly as the thought arises.
Instead, a new thought floods over us…of invincibility. Better to lie to ourselves. Better to not even to think of dying since it is so hard to imagine. We can’t imagine it because no one has ever been able to describe the process. We can’t imagine what can’t be described, so we say things like, “I’m not afraid to die,” and roll on with our ‘invincible’ selves - all the while knowing we will die but not wanting to think about it. Are we all crazy?
The main reason we know we will die is because every human being that has ever lived on earth has died. Except Jesus Christ.
The truth is – we don’t have to die if we simply choose to live. The choice is so simple it has always boggled the minds of those who would consider such a thing – that man, me, myself, I, can have eternal life if I simply choose to.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
The stumbling block to mankind has always been the simplicity of how it is we receive eternal life. The truth is all we must do, all we can do, is repent of our sins and believe on Jesus Christ. In doing so, we return to God a small part of the love He has shown for us, by sending His only begotten Son into the world to die for our sin.
Jesus proved He had power over death and dying by rising from the dead. He is alive and present with us today. He continues to change the lives of all who call on His name. He continues to save from death all who believe.
If you desire to live forever, simply pray with all your heart, “Lord Jesus, I open my heart, and invite you inside, to be my Lord, my Savior, and my friend. Wash me clean of all of my sin. This day I have decided to follow you Jesus, forever and ever. Amen.”
It’s just that simple to make the impossible a reality. Do you believe?
- Pastor Bill
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