Resurrection Week #2

As we celebrate the Holy week this week and the main events in Jesus' life let us move to Tuesday. Here is what happened:



A very important teaching of Jesus happened this day, a lesson on faith!



Matthew 21:18-22



The Fig Tree Withered



18 Now in the morning, as He returned to the city, He was hungry. 19 And seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, “Let no fruit grow on you ever again.” Immediately the fig tree withered away.

The Lesson of the Withered Fig Tree

20 And when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, “How did the fig tree wither away so soon?”

21 So Jesus answered and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done. 22 And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”



Our faith in Jesus and through the Holy Spirit gives us an enormous amount of power through the Holy Spirit. What Jesus is saying here is not whatever we want He will give us, but whatever we do according to His Word will be done such as providing everything needed to share the gospel! How strong is your faith?



Jesus as it seemed was always the case also had His authority questioned this day:





Matthew 21:23-37



Jesus’ Authority Questioned



23 Now when He came into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people confronted Him as He was teaching, and said, “By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority?”

24 But Jesus answered and said to them, “I also will ask you one thing, which if you tell Me, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things: 25 The baptism of John—where was it from? From heaven or from men?”

And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ 26 But if we say, ‘From men,’ we fear the multitude, for all count John as a prophet.” 27 So they answered Jesus and said, “We do not know.”

And He said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.



While He confounded the chief priests here he did tell ultimately reveal where His authority comes from:



John 17:1-3





17 Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, 2 as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.



Jesus and the Father are one, He has always had authority and always will!



Jesus gave on this day what is known as the Mount of Olives discourse: you can read this in Matthew 24:1-25:46



Main points here are:



*Prediction of temple destruction

*Signs of end of times

*persecution will happen to believers

*Jesus predicts tribulation, false christs, and prophets

* Jesus tells HE IS COMING BACK to gather believers!

*Jesus tells His Words last forever.

*Jesus reveals no one knows the hour of His return except God the Father.

*Jesus reveals when he returns He will judge and separate the goats from the sheep!



Read over these...very important teachings from our Lord!



To close this day out, bad news:



The plot to kill Jesus:



Matthew 26:3-5



3 Then the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders of the people assembled at the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, 4 and plotted to take Jesus by trickery and kill Him. 5 But they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar among the people.”



And Judas betrays our King:



Matthew 26:14-16



14 Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15 and said, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?” And they counted out to him thirty pieces of silver. 16 So from that time he sought opportunity to betray Him.That still hurts me every time I read it even though I know it had to happen!



So this ends Tuesday of our Holy Week.



Tom

Resurrection Week #1

Going to take a week break from the "Follow Me" series and remind us of why this week is important to our faith. Each day I want to remind you what Jesus was up to some 2000 years ago to show His love for you and I.



Starting with yesterday (Sunday April 13, 2014) which we call Palm Sunday:



Matthew 21



The Triumphal Entry


21 Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Loose them and bring them to Me. 3 And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of them,’ and immediately he will send them.”

4 All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying:

5 “Tell the daughter of Zion,‘Behold, your King is coming to you,Lowly, and sitting on a donkey,A colt, the foal of a donkey.’”

6 So the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Him on them. 8 And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying:

“Hosanna to the Son of David!‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’Hosanna in the highest!”

10 And when He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, “Who is this?”

11 So the multitudes said, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee.”



The beginning of the end has started as this Holy Week was kicked of by Jesus coming to Jerusalem where He knew what was going to take place but yet He was willing to take our sin upon Himself. Notice the multitudes praising Him now but in a few days notice how many were standing up for Him when He is arrested and tried! Most had disappeared or even turned against Him demanding His crucifixion, talk about flip-flopping!



He then went and spent night in Bethany.



On Monday: the two main points that I grasped that happened are these two:





Luke 19:41-44


Jesus Weeps over Jerusalem


41 Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, 42 saying, “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. 43 For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, 44 and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation.”





Matthew 21:12-17



Jesus Cleanses the Temple



12 Then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. 13 And He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’”

14 Then the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them. 15 But when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that He did, and the children crying out in the temple and saying, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant 16 and said to Him, “Do You hear what these are saying?”

And Jesus said to them, “Yes. Have you never read,

‘Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have perfected praise’?”

17 Then He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, and He lodged there.



Jesus knows the Jews are and will reject Him as Savior, which cause Him great pain, and destruction is coming thus He weeps.



Jesus sees how the temple is being sinful. Folks are selling sacrifice animals at high prices, and in many cases the animals are not blemish free, thus they are thieves before God!



Then once again He leaves Jerusalem and spends night in Bethany after healing some folks in the temple.



Soak all this in, for followers of Jesus this is the most important week of our faith. Share with others where your hope lies....in Jesus!



Tom

Are you following Jesus? #17

Do we understand these commands from Jesus? "Follow me and I will make you fishers of men?" and "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” ?



Think hard on this for a moment. As a result from becoming a follower of Jesus the disciples went after others to give them the good news of Jesus and then discipled them. Are you doing the same thing? This was the central part of the lives the followers of Jesus and it was very costly to them even to the point of death.



It seems so called followers today have taken any personal responsibility of following Christ out of the equation. Most professing Christians would NOT say their purpose is to make disciples of all nations. This is clearly a wrong view according to the bible! Most would say that is the preachers job but look at what the bible says:





Ephesians 4:11-12

11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,



The pastors job is to equip the saints (fellow believers) for the work of the ministry! Not to sit in a pew seat and do nothing but work as Christ has directed followers to share gospel and disciple others. This is plain and simple.



So why is a big majority of the church ignoring these commands from Jesus? Could it possible be many are not saved and have not surrendered their lives to Jesus? Could it be that's why Jesus says "the gate is narrow and their are few who find it?". Could it be that is why Jesus said on Judgement day many will say " Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’



It is past time for followers of Christ to do what Jesus has called them to do. Those who falsely claim to be followers have a spectator mentality, no true follower should have to prodded or begged to do what Jesus has told us to do. True followers know what Jesus wants us to do and joyfully press towards the goals Jesus has laid out before us.



So what about it my friend? Are you a pew filler, spectator? Or are you on the front lines with your Lord and Savior bringing the good news to the lost and discipling new believers?



It is clear what we are supposed to be doing!



Tom

Are you following Jesus? #16

When we follow Jesus many fail to realize the power they have through the Holy Spirit. This Spirit is the power that we are given to make the radical changes in our new life (in Jesus) over our old life (without Jesus). Remember God told us way back in Ezekiel that a new heart and new spirit He would give us:



Ezekiel 36:26-27

26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.



Then Jesus tells us:

John 16:7

7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.



The Helper is the Holy Spirit. Why was it to our advantage that Jesus leave and send the Holy Spirit? Because in human form could do live inside us but if He left and sent back God in the form of the Holy Spirit, He then can dwell in us and give us the power we need to follow Jesus! Give a shout of praise!!!!!!



In reality when we die to self and give ourselves to Jesus, Jesus then dwells inside us, He is our life:



Galatians 2:20



20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.



Again, the Holy Spirit is our power, our life:



Romans 8:10-11



10 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.



This is the overwhelming message of our faith...Jesus dies for you so that He might live in and through you! YOU ARE IMPORTANT AND VALUABLE!



So when we are following Jesus, everything of Him in now in us...His righteousness, His love, His joy, His mind, His desires, His will, His purposes, and His power. So if we win the days battle it is because we have surrendered to Jesus today, if we lose today's battles it is because we decided to take the reigns back into our own hands and quenched the power of the Holy Spirit.



Oh God as a follower of you, may we always follow you and depend on your power for today's battles. Help us to not try to lead ourselves, but to recognize we have the power of the Holy Spirit to live victoriously today through our risen Savior Jesus Christ. May you receive all the honor and glory through our lives as we live for you! Amen.



Tom

Are you following Jesus? #15

Yesterday we talked about our greatest need being Jesus and that's it! Nothing else can be added to it. Many want to say as we looked at yesterday that money will be a sign your are in Jesus....that is not true and Jesus said the opposite generally you will lose everything. Another thing many want to say is if you follow Jesus or if you have enough faith you be healed of any sicknesses. This also is false.



While there are many instances where Jesus or the disciples through the Holy Spirit healed folks, and then stated your faith has made you well, that does in no way shape or form mean if we have faith we will be healed of sicknesses. When Jesus and the disciples did this it was to get the attention of folks that Jesus was the Messiah and to point to His power and spiritual healing. The physical healing was just a bonus.



God is in complete control, He can heal or not heal whom ever He wants to and either way we should give Him all glory, honor and praise. The bible does not teach as a general rule that the amount of faith you have in Jesus has anything to do with your physical health but you faith in Jesus has everything to do with your spiritual health and that is most important.



If faith in Christ had the ability to always heal folks then we would go around and say "trust in Jesus and your cancer will be gone", or "trust in Christ and no more heart problems". I think you get the point.



The Good News of Christ is not Jesus will heal you physically but Jesus will forgive your sins forever. Amen?



Here is a biblical example:



Matthew 9:1-8



Jesus Forgives and Heals a Paralytic


9 So He got into a boat, crossed over, and came to His own city. 2 Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.”

3 And at once some of the scribes said within themselves, “This Man blasphemes!”

4 But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? 5 For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise and walk’? 6 But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—then He said to the paralytic, “Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” 7 And he arose and departed to his house.

8 Now when the multitudes saw it, they marveled and glorified God, who had given such power to men.



Do you see what the number one priority is... "your sins are forgiven" not you have your physical health. Thus even was to show people the power of Jesus and the main point is spiritual healing not physical and it still is today!



Also it is clear in the bible because of sin we have consequences even if we are forgiven. These consequences often times are sicknesses. We can't complain about them because we are the ones who sinned! So often I hear folks say why did so and so get cancer? Why not them? Why not us? We all deserve it! I know that's hard to process but think about it, it is true!



So once again our greatest need is to Follow Jesus, not physical health! Physical health is promised in heaven with that new body, not here on earth in this sin scarred body!



Tom

Are you following Jesus? #14

What is your greatest need? Sit back and think about that for a bit. So what did you come up with? Money? Health? Better husband or wife? Or what?



Your greatest need is Jesus! Hands down...He is it. Forgiveness of sin and reconciliation to God. There has become a problem with this because so many have skewed the gospel and want to add things to it. I can hear you saying like what?



Some have added prosperity to it. Following Jesus does NOT equate riches! The bible is clear, matter of fact it may cost you everything!



Luke 9:56-62



The Cost of Following Jesus


57 As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” 58 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” 59 To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” 60 And Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” 61 Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” 62 Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”



Family, a home, a bed, death of a loved one, saying good bye to family, it all sounds harsh but Jesus makes it clear when we follow Him we lay it all down and follow...does that sound like prosperity? Or how about this one:





Matthew 19:16-22



Jesus Counsels the Rich Young Ruler


16 Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?”

17 So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”

18 He said to Him, “Which ones?”

Jesus said, “‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ 19 ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ”

20 The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?”

21 Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”

22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.



Does that sound like prosperity? Ha! Jesus says our treasure is heaven to store it up there buy doing the Father's business here not gaining riches here! One more:





Matthew 19:23-25



23 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”



Now Jesus did not say it is impossible for the rich to enter heaven but that it is harder. Why? Because money put obstacles in the way of our relationship with God if the money is not handled correctly. Let me be clear having money or riches is not sin, the way we handle it can be.



So do you see it is clear nothing in the bible talks about prosperity as a proof that you are right with God, only the shed blood of Christ can make you right with God!



Tomorrow we will look at health being an added to the gospel!



Tom

Rule, Rules Rules. In the old testament, followers of God had what we call laws to live by or rules. Following these laws that were given by God either made them right with God or wrong with God. They could not keep all these rules and were constantly on the wrong side of God which lead to serve consequences over and over again.



In the new testament we see God's plan play out. We can't do it God and he already knew we would not be able to so God sent His own son, Jesus to die for our sin, to cover what we could not. Thus following rules is not the key to being right with God, giving our lives to Jesus is.



A good what this looks like in the bible is Nicodemus. Nicodemus was a top of the line Jew. A leader among his people. Believed in God, tried to follow all the religious laws, but like everyone else could not. So he came to Jesus with some questions:



John 3:1-21


You Must Be Born Again

3 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

9 Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? 11 Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. 12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

For God So Loved the World

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”



To sum all that up Jesus told Nicodemus he must be born again! He must have a new life, which can only be done through Jesus! Wow. It is not about rules it is about a relationship with Jesus!



This new life is seen in the old testament too:



Ezekiel 36:25-28



25 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. 26 And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. 28 You shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers, and you shall be my people, and I will be your God.



A new heart, a new spirit....God puts it in us when we receive Christ. That is why we can rest in Jesus:



Matthew 11:28-29



28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.



Oh the rest of Jesus! He removes the burden of the laws and gives us rest for our souls! That is great news! And that leads us to this now we have been born again, we have the rest of Jesus, we now want to follow and obey Jesus! It leads us to a want to follow the teachings and commands of Jesus. A willingness to follow and obey because we love Him and He loves us. He even gives us the Holy Spirit to help us obey and follow!



So here is today's question, Have you been born again? It is a must to be right with God! A good way to tell is if you enjoy following and obeying the One you love!



Tom

Are you following Jesus? #12

When we think about following Jesus compared to what all other major religions teach there is one thing we need to learn and know. Other religions say follow certain rules, perform certain rituals, observe specific regulations, or pursue a specific path but Jesus says "follow Me".



Jesus wants a relationship with us, not rules and regulations. Other religions say go and find or search out truth and life. Jesus says:



John 14:6

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.



Matthew 11:28

28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.



Do you see the MAJOR difference? Jesus is the answer to our search. He fills our every spiritual need. In himself! That is why He calls us to follow Him.



We are called to grab onto Jesus and not let go and because of what He has done for us we then want to obey and follow His Word in the bible because we know He has our best intrests in mind. It brings Him joy and also brings us joy to faithfully follow and obey!



Make sure you are following Jesus and not doing all the so called christian things without Christ. This happens all the time! It is called going through the motions with out a relationship. Search your heart, God will let you know where you stand with Him.



Being in Jesus provides the peace that is indescribable! Just knowing that you abide in His love and all you have to do is surrender your life and follow Jesus!



Thank you Jesus!



Tom