A Higher Calling

Who is calling you?

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Ephesians 4:1-3 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

observation

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We have a higher calling that we should live up to, we should live with:

Humility
Psalms 147:6 The LORD sustains the humble

Romans 12:3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment,

Gentleness
Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control.

Patience
Psalms 37:7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him

Lamentations 3:26 It is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.

Love
1 John 4:12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

1 Corinthians 13:13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Unity
1 Corinthians 1:10 I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.

John 17:20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

application

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We have a higher standard to live up to and we have a higher calling on our lives so that we may be first-class ambassadors for our savior:

2 Corinthians 5:20 We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.

I will strive to represent my Savior appropriately, Christ message should be lived out in my life on a daily basis.

prayer

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Help me to live up to the higher calling that you have placed on your children, give me the power to live as an ambassador for your kingdom.

Sincerely Wrong

scripture

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Ephesians 2:11 Don’t forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders. You were called “uncircumcised heathens” by the Jews, who were proud of their circumcision, even though it affected only their bodies and not their hearts.

Colossians 2:4,8  I am telling you this so no one will deceive you with well-crafted arguments. Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ.

observation

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We have all seen the Peanuts TV special “It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown,” Linus is trying to convert his friends into believers of “the Great Pumpkin.” Linus writes a letter to the Great Pumpkin, to Charlie Brown's disbelief, Snoopy's laughter, Patty's assurance that the Great Pumpkin is a fake, and even to Lucy's violent threat to make Linus stop ("You better cut it out right now or I'll pound you!").

But Linus is convinced that the Great Pumpkin will indeed come because he thinks the patch he's in is sincere enough and even convinces Sally to stick around to wait with him. But then later Sally gets mad because she has missed “tricks or treats” and a big party at Violets house and then she threatens to "sue" Linus. She storms out of the pumpkin patch with the other kids, leaving Linus by himself, still convinced the Great Pumpkin will come.

Paul warns us of the deceived people in the temple, he talked about those religious looking people, the posers that want to convert you to their way of thinking. Being sincere is a very common trait amongst the deceivers, the thing about being deceived is that by definition of the word, you don't know that it has happened to you. We have to be careful for deceivers and we have to make sure that aren't one of them.

Titus 1:10 For there are many rebellious people, mere talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision group.

I am sure that the religious leaders that killed Jesus were very sincere and those same leaders were still sincere when the disciples started teaching about Jesus and they were still sincere when they stoned Stephen and martyred almost every one of the original disciples.

application

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I must be careful that I am obedient and that I am not being religious, I want to be the real deal, I don’t want the person that people see to really be a fake that is stirring up trouble, Jesus wants his disciples to spread the good news of the gospel without any personal motives or deception added on.

prayer

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I pray that I will be genuine and that you will find me faithful to the mission that you have given me. Help me to follow your commands without the disguise of being religious.

Two Ways To Live, It's Your Choice

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Ephesian 2:1-10 Once you were dead, doomed forever because of your many sins. 2. You used to live just like the rest of the world, full of sin, obeying Satan, the mighty prince of the power of the air. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. 3. All of us used to live that way, following the passions and desires of our evil nature. We were born with an evil nature, and we were under God's anger just like everyone else. 4. But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so very much, 5. that even while we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God's special favor that you have been saved!)

6. For he raised us from the dead along with Christ, and we are seated with him in the heavenly realms all because we are one with Christ Jesus. 7. And so God can always point to us as examples of the incredible wealth of his favor and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us through Christ Jesus.

8. God saved you by his special favor when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10. For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

observation

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I cannot believe that I did that again! Why is it so hard to resist Satan’s temptations? Because we have a sin nature it is just natural to live the way that he wants us to live. The “easy” way to live is to follow the rest of the world and do what comes natural, just follow those passions and evil desires.

The whole world is living that way without any hope “doomed forever because of your many sins” God’s anger is upon you and the only way to be right with him is through his special favor (grace) that he has given to us because his love is more powerful than his anger. God sets aside his anger and shows us his mercy and love by his own choice; don’t think for a minute that you did something that deserved so great a reward.

Do you ever think that God is not nice or unfair? God can say take a look around you and see for yourself (verse 7), look at all those people in your church, can you believe that God showed so much grace to some of those people, look at the kindness that Jesus showed to the people throwing insults at him and setting traps for him, look at all the do over’s that the children of Israel had and the mercy that he gave to even a known criminal hanging on the next cross over from him.

God’s grace is the only reason that we are saved and the only reason that we have an opportunity to live a better way, a way that does not come natural, a way that is full of good works and love.

application

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We all have to make a choice to live for God and we have to remember that if we experience a temporary set back that God is forgiving. We will always have to battle that sin nature, just be sure that you don't give up the battle.

prayer

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Thank you Lord for your special favor to us even while we were living the way the rest of the world lives you died for our sins so that we can have eternity with you. I could have never done enough good to have deserved anything that you have given to me as a gift.

Real Hope

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Ephesians 1:15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.

17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.

18 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, 20 which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.

22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

observation

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In the recent presidential elections there seems to emerge a theme or catch phrase , it seems that the catch phrase of “family values” from the previous election was replaced this time with “change” and “hope.”

Hope is a big deal right now, there are plenty of people that could use a truck load of hope, there are people in despair all around us, maybe the economy has them gloomy or maybe they were already in darkness and despair from any number of other reasons.

Despair is not a normal condition for a child of God, even in the darkest of times we are to hold on to hope that comes from a higher source, this source of hope is much more powerful than the president and we have much more to hope for than just a rebate check.

Paul said that he wanted the church in Ephesus to know the hope that God offers, the hope that comes from the “rich and glorious inheritance” he has given to his people. Jesus said that he has prepared a kingdom for us since the beginning of time:

Matthew 25:34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.

What an awesome inheritance that we will receive when we get there.

And we have hope because Jesus raised from the dead so we can know that God will do the same for us. If God’s power wasn’t enough to raise Jesus from the dead then we wouldn’t have any reason to hope, if the grave was the end for him then surely it would be the end for us, but since he is at the right hand of the Father then we know we can believe the promises that Jesus made to those that believe in him.

Philippians 3:10 I can really know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead.

application

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This life is hard and it is difficult sometimes to remember that this is just a temporary assignment. We know that we will rest with him for eternity if he is the Lord of our life.

prayer

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Help us Lord to keep our eyes on you during the tough times. We cannot trust in any man to fix or problems, not the president and not even ourselves. Help me to rely on you each day.

That's An Awesome Benefits Package

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Ephesians 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.

In love 5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.

7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace 8 that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.

9 And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.

observation

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Just a couple of days ago we looked at what Jesus went through for our benefit (Matthew 26-27). Now here at the beginning of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians he makes us a list of the spiritual blessings that we have in Christ, blessings that he chose to bestow on us since before he created the world.

• He chose us to be holy and blameless
• He predestined us to be adopted into his family
• He has freely given us his glorious grace
• We have forgiveness of our sins
• He has revealed his plan to put everything under Jesus authority

application

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 We have received the greatest benefits package beyond what we could ever hope for; I cannot even comprehend how much I have been blessed through Christ.

prayer

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Thank you Lord for choosing to adopt me into your family and for forgiving me of everything that I will ever do wrong.

Go And Make Disciples

scripture

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Matthew 28:18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Ephesians 1:22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything.

observation

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We have all been in charge of something and have had things not work out so well. I remember the first time that I taught a Sunday school class, I was in the singles group at church and the teachers were going to be gone for a Sunday and they encouraged their students to consider teaching the class for one Sunday.

That was the shortest Sunday school lesson that has ever been taught, I raced through all the material that I had so quickly that nobody even noticed that there was a lesson or what the point was. We do not always do a good job when we have been given a little bit of power or authority.

Jesus told his disciples that he has been given all of God’s authority, “God has placed everything under his feet and has appointed him head over everything.” Since Jesus has this authority we would do good to listen to what we have been told to do, ignoring what he says should not be an option for us.

Jesus didn’t say that we are to go and make teachers or go and make church members; he didn’t say to go and make workers or to make people who give their tithe.

Jesus told those of us that are his disciples to go and reproduce your selves and make more disciples.

application

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Jesus told us to do three things: to make disciples, baptize them and teach them to obey. I want to be obedient and be busy doing the good works that he created me to do. Certainly making disciples is part of those good works he created me for.

Ephesians 2:10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

prayer

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Thank you Lord for giving me a higher purpose in life, help me to live up to that purpose, thank you for giving me the power and ability to do the work that you called me to do. I pray that you will use the men’s conference this weekend to make more disciples and to re-energize the disciples that you already have.

The Rage Against Jesus

scripture

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Matthew 26 and 27

observation

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I cannot help but notice all of the rage that is being poured out on Jesus in Matthew 26 and 27.

The rage of the religious leaders with their mock trial, the way they were intentionally looking for false witnesses (Matthew 26:59) the way the high priest tore his robe, which was forbidden, the sarcastic attitude of the high priest when he asked the audience of other religious leaders “what do you think” and the beating and the spitting in his face and the jesting that was to follow (65-68).

Look at the anger and all the rage while Pilate was trying to let Jesus go free and the crowd became even more outraged. How could a man such as Barabbas be chosen to be set free while the gentle and kind Jesus be sentenced to cruel punishment and death.

Look at the brutal beating that the soldiers subjected Jesus to and how they mocked him. They flogged him and beat him with a staff while they knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said.

Most people reacted to Jesus with outrage in the final hours before he gave up his life. It is interesting to note that Peter denied him, Judas confessed him; when the chief priests pronounced him guilty of death, Pilate declared he found no fault in him; when the women that loved him stood afar off, Pilate’s wife, who knew little of him, showed concern for him and even the soldiers at the cross declared "surely he was the Son of God!"

Yes he is the Son of God and he went through a lot for me so that I can be with him for eternity.

application

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We should not take lightly the forces that were at work that brutally abused Jesus body. We went through so much for me that I should be willing to live for Him.

prayer

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Lord Jesus thank you for making a way for me to be in fellowship with you. I pray that you will help me to live for you and be sold out to be Your man on Your mission.

Be Careful, Dont Let Sin Pull You Under

scripture

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Matthew 27:1 Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people came to the decision to put Jesus to death. 2 They bound him, led him away and handed him over to Pilate, the governor.

3 When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and the elders. 4 “I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.” “What is that to us?” they replied. “That's your responsibility.” 5 So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.

6 The chief priests picked up the coins and said, “It is against the law to put this into the treasury, since it is blood money.” 7 So they decided to use the money to buy the potter's field as a burial place for foreigners. 8 That is why it has been called the Field of Blood to this day.

observation

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We cannot know what Judas was thinking when he made a deal with the religious leaders to betray Jesus but now he is making a confession that Jesus is an innocent man.

Maybe he expected the trial to turn out different since he knew that finding a credible witness against Jesus would be completely impossible. As part of Jesus inner circle he knew that there wasn’t anything that could be said against him, especially nothing that was worthy of death.

Judas testified to the priest that he was wrong but his testimony was ignored. Were not the priests the people that you are supposed to go to when you confess your sin so that a sacrifice could be made? They did not care to do their job they were just intent on getting rid of Jesus at any cost. They didn’t even care that Judas gave the testimony that should have stopped the prosecution. Judas didn't trust in the mercy of Jesus to forgive him and took matters into his own hands.

The very coins that they probably stole out of the treasury for the use of killing Jesus now they are suddenly concerned with being sure to not put it back into the temple treasury.

Be careful and don’t play with sin because it will take you further than you want to go and keep you there longer than you want to stay.

application

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Run! Do not play with sin, Judas had a love of money but the money didn’t matter later when he realized what he had done.

prayer

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Keep me in your word each day Lord and keep me from evil. I want to be serious about my relationship with you and I can’t be close to you and playing with sin at the same time.

With One Word

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Matthew 26:59  The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death. 60 But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward. Finally two came forward 61 and declared, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’”

62 Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” 63 But Jesus remained silent. The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.”

64 “Yes, it is as you say,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

65 Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. 66 What do you think?” “He is worthy of death,” they answered.

67 Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him 68 and said, “Prophesy to us, Christ. Who hit you?”

observation

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Every time that the religious leaders went up against Jesus he was always able to put them in their place and cause them to back off, but this time was different. Previously we are told that no one dared to ask him any more questions because the response was way more than they could handle.

This time he did not say a word for to do so would have stopped the process that had now begun, the very reason that he had come to earth to begin with, if he spoke up on his behalf then he would have easily ruined their plans.

This time he only answered one question, “Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God” the one only time that he spoke up and it was not a response that would him in his defense but instead it would stir up more trouble against himself.

“Yes, it is as you say,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

Jesus willingly submitted himself to go through this process that would end in him giving his life on the cross. Even when they taunted him while they were punching him and told him to tell them which one of them had just hit him, can you imagine what would have happened if he would have said each name after the person hit him? I think that the punching and slapping would have stopped after he correctly told them who it was, they would have freaked out.

Jesus willingly went through being mistreated and embarrassed for our benefit, he could have spoke up at any time and silenced his critics just as he had done before.

application

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I will not take lightly how much Jesus went through for me.

prayer

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Thank you more than I can say for enduring the abuse and punishment that I deserved. I don’t know if I could love someone that treated me so badly.

Mistreated For Our Sake

scripture

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Matthew 26:14-16 Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty silver coins. From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.

observation

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Immediately after an instance of greatness kindness done to Christ where he is anointed with expensive perfume as a woman weeps for him (Matthew 26:1-13), follows an instance of the greatest unkindness and betrayal.

The Pharisees needed some help to quietly take Jesus into custody, they could not take the chance of creating a disturbance among Jesus’ followers, but they were perplexed about how to get him without public opinion being turned against the Pharisees.

Maybe back in those days it was difficult to find somebody at night, they didn’t have the street lighting that we have so maybe that’s why the Pharisees needed help to find Jesus at a time when the crowds were not there to turn against them.

They never dreamed that one of Jesus own would help them out. They had no reason to expect that Judas would seek them out to give them what they needed.

By the law (Ex. 21:32), thirty pieces of silver was the price of a slave and Judas didn't hold out for another penny.

application

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Be careful that even though you are inside the church circles that you are for real. There are people inside the flock that are not really in the kingdom.

prayer

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Thank you Lord for offering yourself as a substitute for us to give us what we could not earn for ourselves. Thank you for putting up with being mistreated.

People Get Ready

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Matthew 24:30 “At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. 31 And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.

36 “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 37 As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39 and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.

40 Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.

43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

observation

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Ready or not here he comes, but you won’t know it until it is too late, Jesus will come back and his angels will gather up his sheep.

Like I said it will be too late just like it was in the days of Noah when it was business as usual until water started falling from the sky for the first time and then maybe somebody thought about Noah’s warning. I think that by the time it got up over their knees then everybody believed Noah.

Don’t think that you have any spare time at all to get right with your creator, which is a lie from Satan. Don’t be left behind with “all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory.”

application

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We must all be ready. If you are not ready then get ready immediately because you don’t even know if you will have another chance.

prayer

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I thank you Lord that you want to have an intimate relationship with us and that some day when we are with you in glory that relationship will become what you intended for it to be. I pray for opportunities to share with my coworkers about their greatest need.

Follow the Leaders

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Matthew 23:1 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples:

2 “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. 3 So you must obey them and do everything they tell you."

"But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. 4 They tie up heavy loads and put them on men's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them."

5 “Everything they do is done for men to see."

observation

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Have you ever thought that if your leaders are bad enough that you don’t have to listen to them? According to Jesus it doesn’t matter how bad they are we still have to have respect for their position.

Moses was a pretty good leader and he was a just judge for the people in disputes but these Pharisees that are in power now are just the opposite. Jesus describes them in this chapter as hypocrites, blind guides, snakes and yet the people were supposed to submit to their authority.

1 Peter 2:13 Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men

application

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It is real easy to think that your leaders do not know what they are doing but Jesus says that we are to continue to be submissive.

prayer

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Thank you Lord for the leadership in my church, I pray that the members of my church will cooperate with their leadership.

Traps

If your gonna trap Jesus you better have a really big trap.

scripture

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Matthew 21:15 But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple area, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant. 16 “Do you hear what these children are saying?”

That’s the last straw! He just finished clearing all the money making schemes from the temple and now the little children are singing his praises. The religious leaders are mad and they feel like they have tolerated this Jesus fellow long enough.

It’s time to set the traps!

Trap #1- Who gave you the right?

Matthew 21:23 Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him. “By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you this authority?” 24 Jesus replied, “I will also ask you one question. If you answer me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things.

Trap #2 – Are we supposed to obey the government?

Matthew 22:15 Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. 16 They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren't swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are. 17 Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” 18 But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me?

Trap #3 – What about religion?

Matthew 22:23 That same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him with a question. 24 “Teacher,” they said, “Moses told us that if a man dies without having children, his brother must marry the widow and have children for him.

Trap#4 – How about the law

Matthew 22:34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

observation

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The religious leaders of the day used many tactics to try to at least discredit Jesus or if they could really have their way they could get lucky enough to have a reason to kill him.

It is amazing how smart we can think that we are, sometimes we try to outwit somebody but look at these fellows, they are trying to outwit God. Don’t laugh too hard or poke too much fun at them because we have all been there and done that. At times we have all played with sin or tried to have a secret sin over here on the side or maybe you knew God was telling you to do something and you kept ignoring his voice. We have it all worked out in our heads just exactly why we cannot be obedient and be submissive to what God wants us to do.

Jesus was always aware of their traps and he turned the tables on them.

• He spoke three parables against them (Matthew 21:28 - 22:14).
• He replied to their question with a deeper question (Matthew 21:23).
• He used scripture (Matthew 22:29-32) when they were trying to twist the scripture to create a trap.

Each time they were speechless and could not reply to his wisdom:

Matthew 22:46 No one could say a word in reply, and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions.

application

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Don’t try to play God. If you are embracing sin that you don’t want to let go of then don’t believe for a minute that you are out smarting God. Get real with him and he will be real to you.

prayer

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Help us to be real with you Lord. You already know where we are at and what we are up to. Keep me from embracing a lie so that I will stay close to you and be useful for you.

Who Is The Greatest?

scripture

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Matthew 20:17  Now as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside and said to them, 18  “We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death 19  and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!”

20  Then the mother of Zebedee's sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him. 21  “What is it you want?” he asked. She said, “Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.” 22  “You don't know what you are asking,” Jesus said to them. “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?” “We can,” they answered.

23  Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father.” 24  When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers.

25  Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26  Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27  and whoever wants to be first must be your slave 28  just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

observation

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Power struggles are always happening, from the cradle to the grave there is a struggle for power and we are always asking: who is in charge, who is the best, why are you telling me what to do?

Jesus had just told them that he was going to be tortured and killed and then the mother of Zebedee’s boys is asking for her kids to be given a top position in Jesus kingdom. If you were a part of a group whose leader was going to be tortured and killed, would you be very happy that your mom was asking for you to be at the top of his organization? She is probably up in heaven right now saying, “Man, why did I ask that question?”

Jesus submitted to the will of the Father to come to the earth and die for us. He prayed in the garden “not my will but yours” and he told his disciples one day “my food is to do the will of the Father.” (Matthew 26:39, John 4:34)

But then God has given all authority in heaven and earth to Jesus and placed all things under his feet. (Matthew 28:18, Ephesians 1:22)

application

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We are to become like Christ, he gave us the best example to show us how to be a servant. I need to say to Jesus everyday “not my will but yours”

prayer

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Show me today and everyday how to serve you and to do so with humility, I don’t need any special recognition for being “Your man on Your mission.”

What Else Is There?

scripture

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Matthew 19:16 Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” 17 “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good.

If you want to enter life, obey the commandments.” 18 “Which ones?” the man inquired. Jesus replied, “‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, 19 honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’”

20 “All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?” 21 Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

22 When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.

23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell 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.”

25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?” 26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

observation

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Here is a man in an enviable position, he is rich in a place that had very few rich people, perhaps in order to be so rich maybe he was doing some type of work for the Roman government. With that much money he must have it all and he claims that he is being a good guy but for some reason hr still has an empty spot inside.

I think that he was looking for something more because it seems that he felt like he was missing something when he asked “what do I still lack?” (Mt 19:20). It is difficult to fill that God spot inside us with anything else, nothing else will fill it.

The man is looking for an answer to his dilemma and he asks Jesus “what is there that I am missing?”, but Jesus gives him an answer that he already knew:

“Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”
Jesus answered “If you want to enter life, obey the commandments.”

What a proud man, he already had been trying to keep all the commandments, he seems to me that he was a very good person but he didn't do good with a good heart. Sometimes “good” people are the hardest ones to reach but in this instance Jesus is talking to a good and rich person, he had two traits that can be difficult to set aside in pursuit of what we are looking for.

It doesn't matter what there is between you and eternal life, there is not anything that can keep us away from him if we are truly seeking him.

God can save this man and God can do anything that he wants to do.

application

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Don't forget that when you are dealing with God that anything is possible! I will look opportunities to share with a seeker today.

prayer

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I thank you Jesus that you gave me eternal life and I didn't have to earn it, you just gave it to me for free.

You Weren't Judged?

scripture

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Matthew 18:23 “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. 25 Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.

26 “The servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ 27 The servant's master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.

28 “But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denari. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded.

observation

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 The children of the king, those that have been given everything, all the riches of glory, a clean slate as if they had never done anything wrong, why is it that they can not forgive the minor offenses that are done against them?

What a huge sin it is for us to judge our brother when we have escaped judgment. I should not dare to devalue another person that has equal worth and receives equal love from God there is nobodythat is any better off at all.

Why can't we see that everybody on this planet is a sinner in need of a Savior?

If we found the salvation and forgiveness that we desperately needed then why can't we offer this free gift that we received to others?

Are you better than others, weren't you in the same situation in God's eyes? We are all his beloved children that need his son and it really doesn't matter how bad that other guys sin is because all sin is sin to the same degree.

application

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I will try to view the world as God sees it. I am no better than any other human being on this planet.

prayer

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Help me to see the world the way you see it Lord. Give me your eyes.

Power To Meet Your Need

scripture

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Matthew 17:24 On their arrival in Capernaum, the tax collectors for the Temple tax came to Peter and asked him, "Doesn't your teacher pay the Temple tax?"

25. "Of course he does," Peter replied.
Then he went into the house to talk to Jesus about it. But before he had a chance to speak, Jesus asked him, "What do you think, Peter? Do kings tax their own people or the foreigners they have conquered?"

26 "They tax the foreigners," Peter replied. "Well, then," Jesus said, "the citizens are free!

However, we don't want to offend them, so go down to the lake and throw in a line. Open the mouth of the first fish you catch, and you will find a coin. Take the coin and pay the tax for both of us."

observation

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Quite possibly Peter had never seen Jesus pay the temple tax and it was even more likely that they did not have any money at all with them. There is a good chance that Peter has a sinking feeling inside and is a little bit afraid.

Jesus knew that Peter was troubled without him saying it that's just part of being all knowing. Jesus gives Peter justification for not needing to pay the temple tax, it would be like us passing the offering plate today and requiring Jesus to tithe.

Jesus showed himself to be all knowing first and then he showed himself to be all powerful. What are the odds that an ordinary man could tell Peter to go fishing and open the mouth of the first fish that he catches and take out a coin that is sufficient to exactly pay the temple tax for Jesus and Peter. They needed two-drachma each and the fish brought them exactly four drachma.

In our time of need, which is always, Jesus knows the need and he has the power to supply the provision for our need even before we decide to ask him. Sometimes we go everywhere else first.

Philippians 4:19 Our God shall supply all our need, according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

application

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I will trust my heavenly father for all my needs.

prayer

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I thank you father for your blessings that you have bestowed on me. I thank you that you know my need and that you supply me with everything that I need. I am a rich man!

A Little Faith Needed Over Here

scripture

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Matthew 17:14 And when they had come to the multitude, a man came to Him, kneeling down to Him and saying, 15 “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and suffers severely; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water. 16 So I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not cure him.”

17 Then Jesus answered and said, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me.” 18 And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour.

19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” 20 So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. 21 However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”

observation

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How amazing is it that the father had faith but the disciples, the closest followers that Jesus had, could not heal the boy.

Notice how Jesus felt about their lack of faith, he is distressed that their faith had not grown enough to do the work that he had sent them out to do. He just sent them out and empowered them in Matthew 10 he told them:

Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. As you go, preach this message: 'The kingdom of heaven is near. 'Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons.

I am sure that he is patiently waiting for me to exercise my faith so that I can be more useful for his kingdom. We all must fall so far short of our potential for kingdom work just because we don't have faith that is at least the size of a mustard seed.

Want to know how to increase your faith? Jesus tells us that increasing our faith can be done through prayer and fasting but it also takes the Holy Spirit working within us to empower us

application

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I want to grow in faith so that I will be more useful for the kingdom, I know that whatever you tell us to do you have given us the power to do it.

prayer

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Increase my faith Lord through the good times and the hard times. Help me to rely on you and to know that I have supernatural power within me.

Stay Focused

scripture

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Matthew 16:21 From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.

22 Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!” 23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”

24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.

26 What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done. 28 I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

observation

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Imagine Peter having just said these words to Jesus: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:16)

And now he is rebuking Jesus, this man that he just said is the “Son of the Living God.” You may say “what nerve” but we all want to tell God how it should be done and what should come to pass.

James 4:15 Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that.”

Jesus says that if we are on board with God’s plan then we have to lay down our own desires and pick up our cross and follow him. We cannot run our own life and be a follower at the same time, somebody is in control we just have to decide who it‘s going to be.

Rick Warren says that this life is a “temporary assignment”, how tragic it would be to have it all for this temporary assignment and then have nothing for eternity. So much of what we worry about is just a vapor that dries up and doesn’t really matter.

The ultimate reward goes to the man who gave up running his own life and chased after God’s desires for his life.

application

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I must stay focused on the eternal assignment and work for my Savior. Any temporary worldly gain is a blessing from the Lord that I need to manage wisely and use for his purposes.

prayer

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Thank you for being a God of second chances, for allowing us to grow instead of forcing us to instantly change into what you want us to be. Peter finally gets it right in a lot of ways but he is never perfect while he is on this temporary assignment. Help me to always to be concerned with the eternal instead of the temporary.