John 1
Jesus' Ministry Begins
The Holy Spirit, Satan and You
“The Spirit then compelled Jesus to go into the wilderness, where he was tempted by Satan for forty days. He was out among the wild animals, and angels took care of him.” Mark 1:12-13(NLT)
"Ha Satan" the Accuser
In the Old Testament Satan does not show up very often. We see him once in first Chronicles, a few times at the beginning of Job, once in Psalms and twice in Zechariah. However he’s all over the place in the Gospels.
In fact Mark, the earliest Gospel, the document off of which Matthew and Luke worked, skips “Christmas” and takes us right to the center of the cosmic battle between God and the agent of evil, “ha Satan”, the “accuser”. No sooner is Jesus baptized, affirmed in the most beautiful way by God, his Father, than the Holy Spirit “drives” Jesus into six weeks of temptation in face to face combat . Jesus resists by quoting scripture, suffering and trusting. But then he’s ready for ministry.
I take it from this that we should not be surprised that God will train us also by putting us in the way of temptations which the accuser will delight in believing he’s free to orchestrate. In reality, however, although Satan seems to have a limited temporary freedom, his actions in relation to you are ultimately used by God to strengthen you. How, by driving you back to God, just as Jesus was.
How does one do “spiritual warfare”? If you’re in darkness, head straight toward the light. Be in church, never stay away. Read the Bible, in particular the Gospels. Confess your sins and repent. Stay in contact with godly friends who pray for you. Be courageous and renounce debilitating behaviors and embark on God’s path for your life.
Prayer
“Lord, although you allow, even orchestrate encounters within the world of darkness to strengthen me, I will not focus on them. I will not allow myself to devolve into a fearful combatant who feels the need to fight off demons right and left. The battle is yours and I will spend my time moving toward the light. Amen”
Friday, March 9, 2012
Thursday, March 8, 2012
John 1
Jesus' Ministry Begins
Talk to People
“What do you want?” he asked John and Andrew. They replied, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?”
“Come and see,” he said. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon when they went with him to the place where he was staying, and they remained with him the rest of the day. . . . .
Andrew then went to find his brother. . .. and brought Simon to meet Jesus.
Jesus later . . . .found Philip and said to him, “Come, follow me.”. . . .Philip then went to look for Nathaniel and told him, “We have found the very person Moses and the prophets wrote about! His name is Jesus, the son of Joseph from Nazareth.” John 1:38-45(NLT)
Reflection
Jesus met Andrew and John, hung out with them, they hit it off and Andrew asked his brother to hang out too. Same with Philip and Nathaniel. Simple.
But hanging out isn’t so simple is it? For me hanging out can’t just be talking, it’s got to be engaging in something. The question becomes, am I willing to invite others into my life in such a way that they will, over time, be exposed to Jesus?
Each of us is different. Each of us must find our own way. The one thing that most of us have in common, however, is that it requires some sort of sacrifice. Sacrifice of time, or sacrifice of my “us four and no more” comfortable little group, or sacrifice of some of my private space.
What is your plan for hanging out with those who need Jesus?
Prayer
“Lord, I suspect it starts in the heart. Therefore I say to you today, I am willing. Today I will pay attention to those people whom you put before me and seek to allow you to use me as your conduit between them and you. Amen”
Jesus' Ministry Begins
Talk to People
“What do you want?” he asked John and Andrew. They replied, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?”
“Come and see,” he said. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon when they went with him to the place where he was staying, and they remained with him the rest of the day. . . . .
Andrew then went to find his brother. . .. and brought Simon to meet Jesus.
Jesus later . . . .found Philip and said to him, “Come, follow me.”. . . .Philip then went to look for Nathaniel and told him, “We have found the very person Moses and the prophets wrote about! His name is Jesus, the son of Joseph from Nazareth.” John 1:38-45(NLT)
Reflection
Jesus met Andrew and John, hung out with them, they hit it off and Andrew asked his brother to hang out too. Same with Philip and Nathaniel. Simple.
But hanging out isn’t so simple is it? For me hanging out can’t just be talking, it’s got to be engaging in something. The question becomes, am I willing to invite others into my life in such a way that they will, over time, be exposed to Jesus?
Each of us is different. Each of us must find our own way. The one thing that most of us have in common, however, is that it requires some sort of sacrifice. Sacrifice of time, or sacrifice of my “us four and no more” comfortable little group, or sacrifice of some of my private space.
What is your plan for hanging out with those who need Jesus?
Prayer
“Lord, I suspect it starts in the heart. Therefore I say to you today, I am willing. Today I will pay attention to those people whom you put before me and seek to allow you to use me as your conduit between them and you. Amen”
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Luke 1 & 2
Jesus' Ministry Begins
Previews of the Coming Event
“Jesus cured many people of their diseases and illnesses, and he cast out evil spirits and restored sight to many who were blind. Then he told John’s disciples, 'Go back to John and tell him what you have seen and heard—the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor.' And tell him, ‘God blesses those who do not turn away because of me.'"Luke 7:21-23(NLT)
Miracles as Movie Trailers
I love going to the movies early enough to watch the trailers. I love previewing the upcoming attractions. They make me anticipate the full show. They whet my appetite. They cause me even to live in the future a little bit, in the anticipation of what is coming.
Jesus’ miracles were his restoring in individual lives and among pockets of people in the Near East what the world was meant to be in the first place. He healed the sick, drove out demons, the blind could see and the deaf could hear and the lame could walk. The hungry were fed, the thirsty given drink and the life of God came alive in people. These actions of Jesus were his setting the world to rights.
When you see, experience or read of a miracle, that’s the trailer. Let the anticipation of the final coming event, the restoration of all things (Acts 3:21), fill you with anticipation and confidence that today can be lived in the full confidence of God’s tomorrow.
Prayer
“Father, thank you for the confidence we can have that although we are living in a broken world, previews of the coming event abound. I will rest my heart in that. Amen”
Jesus' Ministry Begins
Previews of the Coming Event
“Jesus cured many people of their diseases and illnesses, and he cast out evil spirits and restored sight to many who were blind. Then he told John’s disciples, 'Go back to John and tell him what you have seen and heard—the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor.' And tell him, ‘God blesses those who do not turn away because of me.'"Luke 7:21-23(NLT)
Miracles as Movie Trailers
I love going to the movies early enough to watch the trailers. I love previewing the upcoming attractions. They make me anticipate the full show. They whet my appetite. They cause me even to live in the future a little bit, in the anticipation of what is coming.
Jesus’ miracles were his restoring in individual lives and among pockets of people in the Near East what the world was meant to be in the first place. He healed the sick, drove out demons, the blind could see and the deaf could hear and the lame could walk. The hungry were fed, the thirsty given drink and the life of God came alive in people. These actions of Jesus were his setting the world to rights.
When you see, experience or read of a miracle, that’s the trailer. Let the anticipation of the final coming event, the restoration of all things (Acts 3:21), fill you with anticipation and confidence that today can be lived in the full confidence of God’s tomorrow.
Prayer
“Father, thank you for the confidence we can have that although we are living in a broken world, previews of the coming event abound. I will rest my heart in that. Amen”
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Matthew 1 & 2
Jesus' Ministry Begins
God Arrives in Person
"The time promised by God has come at last!" He announced. "The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!"Mark 1:15(NLT)
This graphic displays the history of universe. God, the Light, created the world (Genesis 1), but we humans fractured it with our selfishness (Genesis 3). God did not however remove his light from the darkness. He entered the darkness by revealing Himself to Abraham and then Isaac and Jacob and Moses and through the Exodus and Prophets and return from exile and so much more. This is the family of Abraham known as Israel.
Finally, when the time was right, after having met the world halfway, almost on its own terms, God entered the mess himself - as a person, one of those born into the family of Abraham. The Light came Physically to earth John 1:1-18. Yet, writes John, most prefer the darkness to the light.
Mark begins his Gospel very plainly and very profoundly. He says that with coming of Jesus, the Life of God has arrived. Heady stuff. That’s the Big Story, God’s Upper Story. Is the Upper Story impacting your lower story?
Prayer
“Lord, I get it, now, by your grace, give me what is necessary to fully embrace it. Amen."
Jesus' Ministry Begins
God Arrives in Person
"The time promised by God has come at last!" He announced. "The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!"Mark 1:15(NLT)
This graphic displays the history of universe. God, the Light, created the world (Genesis 1), but we humans fractured it with our selfishness (Genesis 3). God did not however remove his light from the darkness. He entered the darkness by revealing Himself to Abraham and then Isaac and Jacob and Moses and through the Exodus and Prophets and return from exile and so much more. This is the family of Abraham known as Israel.
Finally, when the time was right, after having met the world halfway, almost on its own terms, God entered the mess himself - as a person, one of those born into the family of Abraham. The Light came Physically to earth John 1:1-18. Yet, writes John, most prefer the darkness to the light.
Mark begins his Gospel very plainly and very profoundly. He says that with coming of Jesus, the Life of God has arrived. Heady stuff. That’s the Big Story, God’s Upper Story. Is the Upper Story impacting your lower story?
Prayer
“Lord, I get it, now, by your grace, give me what is necessary to fully embrace it. Amen."
Monday, March 5, 2012
Matthew 1 & 2
Jesus' Ministry Begins
The Crucial Difference
"After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. And a voice from heaven said, 'This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.'" Matthew 3:16-17
“you must be born again” John 3:7
Reflection
Can you imagine hearing these words spoken by God to you, “this is my dearly beloved son/daughter, who brings me great joy”? The disciple John, writer of the Gospel called himself “the one Jesus loves”. Can you say that about yourself? At Jesus’ last supper, Peter at first refused to let Jesus wash his feet because he felt unworthy. Yet Jesus said that Peter couldn’t have any part of him unless Jesus did that. Have you, metaphorically speaking, let Jesus wash your feet?
It is this one step, this swallowing of my “reverse pride” that says “I cannot possibly be loved like that” that is for many the most formidable barrier to living the life God wants you to live.
Practice calling yourself what John called himself. Practice imagining God saying to you what He said to Jesus.
God is crazy about you. When God first thought of you before you were even conceived, his heart overflowed with love for you.
Prayer
“Lord, yes, it is more blessed to give than to receive, but it is harder to receive than to give, at least for me. Please Lord teach me the humility that accepts your love and acceptance in spite of what I know about myself. In Jesus’ name. Amen”
Jesus' Ministry Begins
The Crucial Difference
"After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. And a voice from heaven said, 'This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.'" Matthew 3:16-17
“you must be born again” John 3:7
Reflection
Can you imagine hearing these words spoken by God to you, “this is my dearly beloved son/daughter, who brings me great joy”? The disciple John, writer of the Gospel called himself “the one Jesus loves”. Can you say that about yourself? At Jesus’ last supper, Peter at first refused to let Jesus wash his feet because he felt unworthy. Yet Jesus said that Peter couldn’t have any part of him unless Jesus did that. Have you, metaphorically speaking, let Jesus wash your feet?
It is this one step, this swallowing of my “reverse pride” that says “I cannot possibly be loved like that” that is for many the most formidable barrier to living the life God wants you to live.
Practice calling yourself what John called himself. Practice imagining God saying to you what He said to Jesus.
God is crazy about you. When God first thought of you before you were even conceived, his heart overflowed with love for you.
Prayer
“Lord, yes, it is more blessed to give than to receive, but it is harder to receive than to give, at least for me. Please Lord teach me the humility that accepts your love and acceptance in spite of what I know about myself. In Jesus’ name. Amen”
Friday, March 2, 2012
The Birth of the King
John 1
Our World
"He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him." John 1:10
Does this verse apply to you? How?
Christian
"Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God-- children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God." John 1:11-13
To be born of God (born again) means that the Spirit of God is at work within you, tearing down old structures within you and building new ones. This is a painful process which is at the same time good and life-giving. Have you asked Jesus to do this within you? Are you resisting Him?
Jesus
"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."John 1:14
Jesus is God. God was on earth for short life time. He is still on earth within believers and that’s where we will find Him today, How? When you see Grace and Truth expressed together, not blended, not half and half, but each in its fullness, one not compromising the other but instead fulfilling and glorifying the other. When you encounter hints of that, you are encountering Jesus.
Prayer
“Lord, whatever renovations to my interior life that need to be done, do them. I grant you access to every “room in my house” including the ones that shame me. Build truth into me. Build Grace into me. Remove my version of me and give me your version of me. Amen”
John 1
Our World
"He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him." John 1:10
Does this verse apply to you? How?
Christian
"Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God-- children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God." John 1:11-13
To be born of God (born again) means that the Spirit of God is at work within you, tearing down old structures within you and building new ones. This is a painful process which is at the same time good and life-giving. Have you asked Jesus to do this within you? Are you resisting Him?
Jesus
"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."John 1:14
Jesus is God. God was on earth for short life time. He is still on earth within believers and that’s where we will find Him today, How? When you see Grace and Truth expressed together, not blended, not half and half, but each in its fullness, one not compromising the other but instead fulfilling and glorifying the other. When you encounter hints of that, you are encountering Jesus.
Prayer
“Lord, whatever renovations to my interior life that need to be done, do them. I grant you access to every “room in my house” including the ones that shame me. Build truth into me. Build Grace into me. Remove my version of me and give me your version of me. Amen”
Thursday, March 1, 2012
The Birth of the King
John 1
Astonishing!
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men." John 1:1-4(NIV)
If this is true. . . .
The implications of these verses are staggering.
They include the following: I am accountable to Jesus for how I live. The life I have is given to me with expectations. Jesus is right now the competent “CEO” of the universe. Jesus is right now setting all things right. Life exists beyond this life. The next life depends on my relationship to Jesus in this life. Life and death are in Jesus’ hands, not mine. I could go on.
Think of scientists, businessmen, psychologists, physiologists, economists, parenting, living in community with others, or anything at all that you may be engaged in. Do you pursue life without consulting the One who created and understands every detail of that endeavor or do you go it alone and throw up a prayer every once in a while?
Jesus is the most brilliant, powerful, beautiful, intelligent, rational, compassionate Being that ever existed. And, of course, that has to rate as the grossest understatement of all time.
Why is it then that we can be so unwise (another gross understatement) that we would choose to do anything, ever, without first consulting Him? What could be more unintelligent? (consulting Jesus is called prayer)
Prayer
“Lord, forgive me for my same old pride and busy-ness and simple unreflective and unintelligent approach to life that not only leaves you out, but in really doesn’t work like you intend life to work. So, Lord Jesus, I ask you, the creator and sustainer of the universe and all that is in it, including me, to come to me and change my heart and my will and my behaviors so that I rely, actually rely, on you for what I do today and each day. Amen”
John 1
Astonishing!
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men." John 1:1-4(NIV)
If this is true. . . .
The implications of these verses are staggering.
They include the following: I am accountable to Jesus for how I live. The life I have is given to me with expectations. Jesus is right now the competent “CEO” of the universe. Jesus is right now setting all things right. Life exists beyond this life. The next life depends on my relationship to Jesus in this life. Life and death are in Jesus’ hands, not mine. I could go on.
Think of scientists, businessmen, psychologists, physiologists, economists, parenting, living in community with others, or anything at all that you may be engaged in. Do you pursue life without consulting the One who created and understands every detail of that endeavor or do you go it alone and throw up a prayer every once in a while?
Jesus is the most brilliant, powerful, beautiful, intelligent, rational, compassionate Being that ever existed. And, of course, that has to rate as the grossest understatement of all time.
Why is it then that we can be so unwise (another gross understatement) that we would choose to do anything, ever, without first consulting Him? What could be more unintelligent? (consulting Jesus is called prayer)
Prayer
“Lord, forgive me for my same old pride and busy-ness and simple unreflective and unintelligent approach to life that not only leaves you out, but in really doesn’t work like you intend life to work. So, Lord Jesus, I ask you, the creator and sustainer of the universe and all that is in it, including me, to come to me and change my heart and my will and my behaviors so that I rely, actually rely, on you for what I do today and each day. Amen”
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)