Simple and Complex

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The Lord's angel said to Philip, “Go south along the desert road that leads from Jerusalem to Gaza.”  So Philip left.

An important Ethiopian official happened to be going along that road in his chariot. He was the chief treasurer for Candace, the Queen of Ethiopia. The official had gone to Jerusalem to worship was now on his way home. He was sitting in his chariot, reading the book of the prophet Isaiah.

The Spirit told Philip to catch up with the chariot. Philip ran up close and heard the man reading aloud from the book of Isaiah. Philip asked him, “Do you understand what you are reading?”

The official answered, “How can I understand unless someone helps me?” He then invited Philip to come up and sit beside him.

Acts 8:26-31

Do you understand the things you read in the Bible?  You may say, "Well of course I do, I learned to read when I was a child and if I don't know a word I can look it up in a dictionary. So I can certainly understand the Bible!"  

Many years ago I lived in Indonesia for a time.  I studied the language and learned quite a few simple words and their meanings.  But I was frequently frustrated because a complex concept would be expressed using several simple words, all of which I knew their meanings, but I had no idea what was being said.  I'm sure that when you learn a new language, no matter what it is, you will encounter a similar problem.

Jesus mostly taught using simple stories.  Even a child can learn the stories that Jesus told the people who would listen to Him.  And just like learning a new language you must learn the simple stories before you can step into the amazingly complex teachings that emerge as the Holy Spirit explains them to you like Phillip did for the
Ethiopian.

When I want to go deep into the Word of God I need someone to explain the Scriptures to me, even as the Official from Ethiopia did.  If I am not already a follower of Jesus, the Holy Spirit will send a Phillip to help me understand the Good News of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.  If I am already a believer the Holy Spirit, in me will bring the understanding that I need!  It is an amazing part of following Jesus.

"Lord Jesus, Your words are so simple and yet the depth of what You say is beyond measuring.  Show me more today of what You are speaking to me, even from the simplest Words of Scripture.  And Lord, help me to be willing to obey!  Amen."

Together in Eternity!

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Jesus said to his disciples, “Don't be worried! Have faith in God and have faith in me. There are many rooms in my Father's house. I wouldn't tell you this, unless it was true. I am going there to prepare a place for each of you. After I have done this, I will come back and take you with me. Then we will be together.

John 14:1-3

There will be a special place for you in Heaven. Your room in Heaven will not be just like everybody else's. Right now Jesus is getting your room ready so that when He comes back and gets you everything will be perfect.

If you are a follower of Jesus He has promised to be "with you always," but when He takes you back to Heaven you will be "together" with Jesus.

I once traveled to Africa with a dear friend. He is a seasoned international traveler. When anyone questioned who I was he would simply say "he's with me" and I was invited to go wherever my friend went. Consider the amazing reality that we will travel through eternity together with Jesus! Wherever Jesus goes we will go, and whatever Jesus does we will be right there with Him.

"Thank you Jesus that You are with me today and that Your Holy Spirit is in me. But Lord I do so look forward to the day that we will be TOGETHER IN ETERNITY! What an amazing future You have promised. And may You be praised forever! Amen."

Don’t Be Stupid!

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Act like people with good sense and not like fools.  These are evil times, so make every minute count. Don't be stupid. Instead, find out what the Lord wants you to do.  Don't destroy yourself by getting drunk, but let the Spirit fill your life.

Ephesians 5:15-18

There are verses in the Bible that sound like they were written this morning.  I believe that when the Holy Spirit inspired the Apostle Paul to write these words He must have known that they would be so needed right now in the history of this world!  

Foolishness is everywhere and these are indeed evil times!  Instead of trying to find out what the Lord wants them to do many people "act stupidly."  They actively look for pleasure and  become addicted to its pursuit.  

Truth and righteousness are no longer the "ideal" of "honorable" men.  In fact, men of honor are becoming a very rare commodity.  Fear is blossoming as men seek ways to protect themselves from the evil and fear is swelling like the tide and sweeping over the earth!

Getting drunk is not the only way today to destroy yourself.  There are many mind changing and intoxicating addictions that are available and are very efficient in bringing any man or woman to a pitiful end.  But when you let your life be filled by the Holy Spirit there is good sense in a world of foolishness, there is understanding in a world of stupidity, and there is joy and peace in a world that is marching lock-step toward eternal destruction!

"Dear Jesus, help me today to make every minute count in these evil times.  Show me today what You want me to do and fill my life with Your Holy Spirit.  And may Your will be done today with every breath that I take!  Amen."

Is Jesus Your Lord?

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Jesus left and returned to his hometown with his disciples. The next Sabbath he taught in the synagogue. Many of the people who heard him were amazed and asked, “How can he do all this? Where did he get such wisdom and the power to work these miracles?  Isn't he the carpenter, the son of Mary? Aren't James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon his brothers? Don't his sisters still live here in our town?” The people were upset because of what he was doing.

But Jesus said, “Prophets are honored by everyone, except the people of their hometown and their relatives and their own family.”

Mark 6:1-4

The people who knew Jesus the best had the most difficulty in coming to real faith in Him!They knew His mother and His brothers and sisters and they knew what kind of work He did as a carpenter, but they didn't know Jesus as the Lord! Sometimes it is easy to let what you know about Jesus stand in the way of coming to see who He really is!

The stories about Jesus' life and miracles are great for telling children, and of course everyone else. They are filled with wonderful moments when Jesus brought healing to the sick, lame and blind. And then there is the simple teaching that is truly amazing. Jesus even raised Lazarus from death. I can know all these things about Jesus and what He did during His life on this earth and even know all about His crucifixion, resurrection, and even His ascension and still not know Jesus as MY LORD!

Jesus becomes the Lord of your life when you fall down before Him and surrender yourself to Him! When you tell Jesus that you choose to let His will be the deciding factor in everything you do then you are stepping into the world of "Jesus is Lord."

You can make Jesus the Lord of your life when you know only a little about Him or when you already know much about His life. But knowing everything there is to know about Jesus does not mean that He controls you as you walk through each day.

Of course it is wonderful to know more about Jesus and that is what you will desire when you make Him your Lord. Every word of His story will be a golden morsel of delicious manna! But don't forget to fall down before Him and make Jesus your Lord!

"Oh Jesus, I do want to know everything that there is to know about You. But more than that, I want You to be the Lord of every thought I think, every word I speak, and every deed I do. May I be a living expression of You today in this world. And may You be praised forever. Amen!"

Are You At Ease?

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Dear friends, if we feel at ease in the presence of God, we will have the courage to come near him. He will give us whatever we ask, because we obey him and do what pleases him.  God wants us to have faith in his Son Jesus Christ and to love each other. This is also what Jesus taught us to do. If we obey God's commandments, we will stay one in our hearts with him, and he will stay one with us. The Spirit he has given us is proof that we are one with him.

1 John 3:21-24

Do you feel at ease in the presence of God and do you have the courage to come near Him? The answer to those questions is very important in determining how you live your life.

The "victorious Christian life" is not the experience of a man or woman who is uncomfortable in the presence of God. And if you don't have the courage to come near Him how can you show the Glory of God to those around you? There is no powerful witness from a man who is separated from God. All Satan has to do to remove you from the battle is to make you uncomfortable to be in God's presence. You may not join the forces of Satan in the battle, but you will be silent when the battle begins to rage around you.

How do you become comfortable in the same room with God? The answer to that really is quite simple. If you are obeying His commands you will feel no threat when you come close to God. Search God's Word to see if there are any commands you have not kept and then set your heart to obey each and every one.

If you are at ease and comfortable in the presence of God, Satan will not be at ease in your presence. When you draw near to God, He will draw near to you and Satan will run!

"Lord Jesus show me today everything that is keeping me from being comfortable in the presence of God. May Your name be praised forever. Amen!"

The Ultimate Wedding!

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From the throne a voice said,  “If you worship and fear our God, give praise to him,no matter who you are.”

Then I heard what seemed to be a large crowd that sounded like a roaring flood and loud thunder all mixed together. They were saying,

“Praise the Lord!  Our Lord God All-Powerful now rules as king.

So we will be glad and happy and give him praise. The wedding day of the Lamb

is here, and his bride is ready.

She will be given a wedding dress made of pure and shining linen.

This linen stands for the good things God's people have done.”

Revelation 19:5-8

There is going to be a wedding and it will be the greatest wedding in all of Eternity! Jesus the Son of God has paid the price for a Bride and she has made herself ready. Marriage on this earth is only a shadow of the Real Wedding in Heaven. The greatest joy on this earth is when a man and a woman come together and live in that shadow. A wise old woman once said that marriage is either "Heaven on Earth," or it is "Hell." God designed marriage to let us experience a small touch of heavenly bliss!

Even on this earth there is much to do for a bride to be to get ready for the wedding. She pays attention to many things. There are parties to plan, and many personal considerations in order to be ready for that day. After all the preparation, finally the day comes and the lives of two become one as they begin their journey together through this life!

The Bride of Christ is in the final stages of preparation for that ultimate wedding day! We are often tempted to think that when we die we simply "go to Heaven" and quietly slip into our Eternal relationship with Jesus. Don't forget the Wedding. When the whole Bride is ready the ceremony will begin and of course the Wedding Feast. Jesus' first miracle was at a wedding feast as He made the water into wine. But when Jesus is the Groom the wine will never run out and the joy will last forever!

"Lord Jesus, help me today and everyday for the rest of my life to be ready for the Wedding! Wash me with Your Word and hold me close to Your Heart until that wonderful Day. And Jesus may it come soon, oh very soon! Amen."

You Are The Horse!

 

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You used to be far from God. Your thoughts made you his enemies, and you did evil things.  But his Son became a human and died. So God made peace with you, and now he lets you stand in his presence as people who are holy and faultless and innocent.  But you must stay deeply rooted and firm in your faith. You must not give up the hope you received when you heard the good news. It was preached to everyone on earth, and I myself have become a servant of this message.

Colossians 1:21-23

It is not the evil things you do that make you God's enemy. You are the enemy of God because of what you think, not because of what you do. Love itself rests in your thoughts. When you love someone the way you think about them is different. Of course the actions follow, but the way you think is the heart of love.

What do you think about Jesus? Do you think He is the Son of God who came to earth and died for your sins so that you can avoid Hell? Or do you add to that the fact that Jesus loves you and wants to walk with you always, even to the end of the world? Is Jesus the desire of your heart or is He your Heavenly Insurance policy?

If you only avoid thinking about Evil what good is that? If your mind is constantly on the mundane matters of this world and not focused on Jesus how will you hear His voice or even feel the gentle nudge He gives to direct your day? My neighbor is Amish and his car is a horse. It is amazing to watch him give commands to his horse. Much of the time it seems the horse obeys without him doing anything. Of course the horse has listened to his master long enough to respond to even the quietest word or smallest movement.

Pretend that you are the horse and Jesus is my Amish neighbor. Keep your ears in the alert position to hear even the smallest word from Jesus. Others around you will think that you have just learned to live a righteous life. They would be wrong. Your righteousness comes from Jesus and your good decisions come from His simple commands.

"Lord Jesus help me to feel the slightest tug on the reins of my heart and help me hear every sound that comes from Your mouth, even a whisper. And may my thoughts always be on You Jesus. Amen."