His Will, His Way

"Here is true success in life: to stay in the Word of God until we find the will of God so that we can walk in the ways of God." -O.S. Hawkins (The Joshua Code)

"....but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night." (Psalm 1:2)

"If Jesus Is Your Co-Pilot .....Switch Seats"

If ever you find yourself in the driver's seat of your own "spirituality" ....congratulations, you may have started your very own religion. We like to find ourselves as "religious", or "spiritual", hoping that our hard work will surely be ample to please God. Yet we find ourselves like this apparently wealthy, religiously successful, likely community respected man in Matthew 1916-22. We walk away, sad, from from any encounter with the God of the scriptures.

Why?? What does a person have to do to please God? "Let Jesus take the wheel" ....at the risk of using another modern cliche. Sorry, it just fit. But REALLY DO IT! Let God be the pilot. How do you do that? Size your religiosity up against scripture. If it doesn't fit ....don't wear it. But most importantly .....quit trying to "please" God ...and just surrender to Him, submit to Him, obey Him.

I know, a tall order if He is the God the scriptures speak of. But it speaks of this same God who is full of grace, goodness, ready to forgive our imperfect self-religiosity (sin), and is not willing that any of us perish without Him. So what do we have to do? Confess Him as Lord. Believe He is Lord. Follow Him as one surrendered to Him. This will NOT be perfect!! If you're trying for the perfect Christian award ....you'll never achieve it. It's not about that. Instead, and last cliche of the day, we are imperfect people serving a perfect God. Wait, just one more cliche.... "His grace IS enough." Really.

Join the party .....but house rules

1 And again Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying,

2 "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son,

3 and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come.

4 Again he sent other servants, saying, 'Tell those who are invited, "See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast."'

5 But they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business,

6 while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them.

7 The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.

8 Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy.

9 Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.'

10 And those servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. So the wedding hall was filled with guests.

11 "But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment.

12 And he said to him, 'Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?' And he was speechless.

13 Then the king said to the attendants, 'Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

14 For many are called, but few are chosen."

(Matthew 22:1-14)

1. Those who are sent

Believers are called to be laborers v3

planters

harvesters

2. Those who hear

"Not everyone who says Lord, Lord will enter the kingdom of Heaven. Only those who do the will of my father."

Do not fool yourself. Merely "believing" is not true Christ-following.

Nor is merely "doing" Christ-following.

This leaves one conclusion. Those who have believed and then take action of their belief in obedience to God's will ....to seek thise lost and lead, persuade them toward genuine repentance and true Christ followship.

3. Those who are invited again v4

It is often said that He is a God of second chances. To be sure.... God is full of grace and mercy, and is not willing that ANY should perish. It is on us to determine to surrender to Christ, submit to God's will, and follow through with continued obedience. v4

4. Those who rejected v5

Despite many attempts scripture is clear to the evident truth that many wil hear, yet still reject, the freely given invitation to the King's wedding feast.

The wedding is His Son's. the bride is His church. Are YOU part of Christ' church?

5. Those who mistreated v6

Some even become beligerent, even violent, toward grace. This is the work of he who is in the world, the evil one.

6. The consequence v7

God's Kimgdom has a governing, and He is Governer. There are rules, His rules! Oir city's, our very lives and freedoms and liberties are His to give and His to take away. If we refuse the "goodness" of God's grace ......there is only left to be commited to the fate awaiting the rest of a fallen world.

In this God will establish His Kingdom! This t

THE good news.

7. Those called v9 - 10

God's gift of grace is open to all. He will seek those who will be sought. ANYONE is invited to His great feast!

8. Those not worthy v11-12

But.... not all who come are willing to play by the house rules. We want to make our own way ....which, by our sinful nature, is contradictory to His way. God is so graceful. He will overlook our sin nature ...if we are willing to choose His way over our way.

9. The outer darkness v13

I think that sounds like a terrific deal. Grace to eternity with Him, at no cost to me. Still.... many wil not let go of their own will. To outter darkness those are cast. God will not be blackmailed or bartered with.

10. The few chosen v14

Few chosen indeed. But don't blame God. He is not playing Russion Roulette with our lives. It's not a crap-shoot where God says..... She will go, he will not. ALL are invited to "be chosen". But once at the feast, if we are not willing to submit to the King ....we are then deemed unworthy.

"Being part of God's Kimgdom, through Christ, has nothing to do with your self-readiness, but everything to do with your submissive willingness."

Steve Terrell

www.reclaimchristianity.com

Enjoy the party ...but house rules

Being part of God's Kingdom has nothing to do with your self-readiness, but everything to do with your submissive willingness.

We cannot go into God's house (not talking about a church building; think eternal) and live by our own rules. If we could we would be lord of that house wouldn't we? By "faith" we submit that His ways are, indeed, higher than our own. We trust Him then submit, daily, to His will.

Jesus told this in a story so that those hearing could relate.the story is just as well re-told today. (Matthew 22:1-14).

Every Man For Himself

Do you remember watching the old movies about sailors in turmoil, ships sinking, pending doom? What always happened things really got stressful. If no one beat him to it, the captain would ultimately scream..... "Abandon ship! Every man for himself!" Each was on his own!

Recently, there have been several news stories of failed cruise-liners. One, inparticular, was of particular focus. The captain abandoned ship, saving himself, no regard for his desperate, hopeless passengers and crew members. Wow! "Coward", we screamed at the television set! "Traitor"!

"Who" would do such a thing? If "I" were ever captain of a sinking ship.... we resolved.

Maybe it is a case of "sympathy for the devil", or maybe just a realization of the worldly, humanistic truth, that in the end ....no one is going to take care "you" .....other than "you", but here is drawn a conclusion. This captain can't save anyone anyway. Not really. He can advise. He can "lead". But honestly.... doesn't everyone already know where the life-boats are?

Here's another worldly, simply-human, truth. He (the captain) most often wouldn't save you; not at the cost of himself. Self-preservation is a very strong, very "human" characteristic. Sorry to burst any egos. Sad but true. We'll only play the hero when it either benefits us, or there's simply no other "out" but a blaze of glory anyway. See..... the ego wins. We are very "human" indeed.

So, being a self-preserving human myself..... I think about the big picture of that reality, the spiritual ramifications of such a truth. i realize there is still a dramatic difference in Christ' life and mine. Namely.... He wasn't self-preserving. When people rolled their eyes at Him, didn't take Him seriously, disrespected Him, and even crucified Him.... He felt no need to defend Himself or His purpose. Why? And why didn't He simply come down from the cross? With the exception of being a madman, there is only one other sensible conclusion. He wasn't trying to save Himself. He was trying to save us!

> "and saying, You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross." (Matthew 27:40 ESV)


If Jesus had come down from the cross ....there would simply, and sadly, be no need to "believe in Him".

> "He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him." (Matthew 27:42 ESV)


Have you ever wondered..... why are people so threatened by Jesus and "the way" (Christianity)? Did Christ, Himself, do anything physical except "good"? So what ...if He was a crazy? So what ....if He was a blasphemer? Wasn't the God of the Jews big enough to defend Himself? Weren't there far more harmful, more threatening criminals to pursue? I need no further evidence to cause me to believe that we (includes me) are all sinners indeed ...missing the mark of His glorious standard originally intended for us. Instead.... Like sheep we have gone astray, each turned to his own way. No, it's not that we get what we ask for.... but we most definitely get poor results for what we choose. We are "inherently" sinful, evil, self-promoting, self-destructing. But it can all be made right! THAT is the good news! While we were still sinners ..Christ died for us. He stood up for us! He was ridiculed, disrespected, and died ....for us. Thank You, my Lord, for not saving yourself instead.

If you could only describe Jesus in a word....

.....what would it be? Grace, Sacrifice, Lord? All right answers. I would choose "love". Here's why. Time and words are valuable commodities these days, especially for the Christian messenger. Let's get honest...... in our Information "Overload" Age no one takes much anything at face value. I think we're generally beyond the days of handing out a gospel tract, or whatever other trick ways to share the gospel. Of course, truth is that more has always been required; work of the Holy Spirit in a person primarily, and genuine, authentic involvement from the Christian. Nothing inherently wrong with the trick ways, per se. Just used up for the most part. This worn-out cliche is true.... People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care.

Reading through Jesus' interaction with Nicodemus in the gospel of John. Nicodemus was intrigued with "how" Jesus did what He did. I think he was curious as to what authority Jesus did "things" (e.g. Miracles). Jesus threw what, at first glance / human glance, seems to be a curve-ball for a response. He told Nic...... Unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God! In today's culture we would rebuke Jesus and demand "straight talk please sir!" And we would miss the straightest talk of all. Jesus "knows" mankind. Read the end of John chapter 2; just prior to Jesus' response here. He heard Nicodemus' inquiry but loved him enough to give him the answer he really needed to hear.

Be respectful to people, always. We are NOT Jesus, so we cannot presume to know a man's heart, intentions, or motivations outside him telling us. So handle Christian "challenges" with kid gloves. Don't be defensive when challenged. This may mean you get a little run over. Lie down and take it. Keep the main thing the main thing. If you miss all else, if you've no opportunity to share the numerous biblical truths of what it means to be saved, of "how" to be saved, don't miss "love". "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. Make this "Step #1" in your gospel presentation. If you strike out in demonstrating the reality that we are all sinners, fallen short of God's glory (c'mon, most of us know that already, whether we admit it or not) .....do NOT miss the opportunity to express God's love. Not hippy love, not liberal, progressive, post-modern culture love, but God's perfect, righteous, decisive love. The love that "chose" life eternal fir us. Push back the trees to see the forest we / people live in. People "do" need a Savior. Show them! God chose you to show them. It won't always be touchy-feely. Sometimes tough-love, but always love ....the greatest of these.

Steve Terrell

www.reclaimchristianity.com

The Value of Definition (Prop 8.1)

This whole idea, and argument, of "marriage" and "equal rights" comes down to "definition". The real question is.... are we drilling down far enough in our questioning? Or, are motives simply to get what a group wants? That is not "necessarily" a bad thing, but can be a dangerous, slippery slope. Who "defines" the idea or concept of marriage, and where did we get this idea or concept from? Is the concept biblical / of God? Or, did man originate it? Simply, a guy / gal can say... "I want my dog to be my life mate." Nothing can prevent that freedom. I can have my dog as my life partner and no one could argue otherwise. However, to ask to legally wed that dog (don't read into "dog". I could've used "cat".) would mean to RE-DEFINE the original idea. Although, from a Christian standpoint, I do not / cannot support homosexuality ...that is nearly a completely separate topic from what is under debate in California as we speak, I CAN, without any contradiction, support two peoples' freedom and decision for that lifestyle. Why? Because there is nothing "constitutionally" against it. They are free, under man's law, in that decision. But, to take that freely decisive union and request a constitutionally legal "marriage" (again, who / what originally defined "marriage") is explicitly asking to re-define an original definition ...is it not? It's like me wanting to change my citizenship to legally state that I am a citizen of the nation of "Bob". Well, that is simply inaccurate, and simply defies what is constitutionally and legally accurate / true about my own citizenship; regardless of what I "say". I can walk around all day long and say.... "I am a citizen of the United States of Bob." No one can "prevent" me from saying so. They can only disagree. But if I wish to utilize the "benefits" of being a citizen of the United States of America .....why would I be intent on saying I am a citizen of the United States of Bob? It simply defies logic. Furthermore, why would I even "want" to reap benefits of an idea / ideal which I fundamentally oppose? By saying I am of "Bob", would I not be disagreeing with the idea of being American? So, the only available alternatives are (1)to accept the idea / law as it was originally intended by the author(s) or (2)request that very idea / law be "changed". THAT (option 2) is where we walk on a very, very slippery slope! If we choose to change / re-define .....where does that end? We've effectively pulled the rug from under ourselves. Original definition no longer has any value. Moreover ....do "we" have the liberty to presume to change what is already defined?

Agreeing With God

Somewhere between the time Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey's back and His crucifixion, within a week.....

the people went from crying "Hossanah" ...to "hang Him"!
From shouting "Messiah"...to "murder Him".
From hailing Him as Christ the King ....to "crucify Him"!

Man agrees with God as Deliverer, as Savior, but as Sovereign Lord ....we demand control back.

Not Better, Just Better Off

We live in a world so concerned with hurting people's temporal feelings that we're effectively unconcerned with their eternal feelings. Now, don't mistake that for liberty to be a smart-mouthed, know-it-all. The world needs to purge itself of that too. But it is entirely possible to say what ya' mean, and mean what ya' say, all without purposefully trampling over someone else's emotions. Especially true if you are a Christ-follower, carrying the precious cargo of Jesus' gospel.

A simple, work-a-day example of this.... I spoke to a Jehovah's Witness yesterday. I wasn't rude. No need to be. It was a very, very polite lady and presumably her daughter. But I had to tell her I didn't believe her doctrine. The problem was that whether the opportunity just wasn't there, or I didn't make one, I didn't get to tell her what the truth of Jesus' teaching and life really is. That frustrates me. Always in a hurry.

Along those lines of thinking... let me ask you something, Christian. Is your goal to be "right", to show what you know? Or is your goal to warn folks of God's wrath toward sin and the good, wonderful, amazing news of the gospel truth?

Let me ask you something, un-believer. Is your goal to be "right", to demonstrate that you're smarter than any hokie religion? O would you be willing to demonstrate that you're wrong in order to do the right thing? Do you really believe you can escape God's wrath by avoiding the problem [sin]? Or do you believe a half-gospel that says God is all about love (as our definition might fit at any given moment), and would never allow His people to go to Hell?

It's time for some straight-talk. We can lick our self-received wounds later, and apologize if we "do" inadvertently hurt feelings. God as my witness..... I won't do it on purpose. But I love you [people] too much to find myself tip-toeing through the topics [too much bible interpreting and fitting].

What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, as it is written: "None is righteous, no, not one; (Romans 3:9-10)

For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. (Romans 3:20)

BIG QUESTION: Is God "justified" in "judging the world" (v6), or "inflicting His wrath" (v5)?

BIGGER QUESTION: Are you willing to dillute the truth of God's word to make Him out to be a mean God ....so that you can feel better about going to Hell? Or willl you fool yourself into thinking you're just "ok"?

All have sinned

verses 9 express that Christ-followers, no more than those who inherited God's favor, are any better off than anyone else ....unless they recognize that we have all sinned, and are all sinners.

If just doing the right thing were the answer, let me ask you.... how is that really going for you? Do you do the right thing(s)? All the time? How frequent? Do you ever do the wrong thing(s)? How frequent? What covers you're tail then? What justifies that? Does anything?

ALL have sinned! NONE are righteous.

All have been warned

verse 10 warns that none of us have any special favor with God. Romans 2:11 says.... "For God shows no partiality."

verse 20 clarifies that there is nothing we could or would do, anyway, which would justify us before God.

verse 23 says it clearly... "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,"

You would put me in a bag and throw me in the ocean if I did not warn you of, for example, a coming tornado. We spent millions on technology to provide an "early warning system". Our favorite television shows are frequently interrupted so that we can know those systems work. But start "warning" folks about eternity, and now we're stepping on toes.

All are justified by God's grace, through faith in Jesus Christ,

and it is a gift to you and I, which cost Jesus a great deal. How is that mean? How is that offensive? How is that anything but loving? How about we just leave everyone alone, and if they rot in Hell, well.... at least we didn't get in their business. I'm not judging your business. I have my own to deal with. And God, Himself, will judge that. I just want you to know this simple oft repeated, truth. I am a sinner. You are a sinner. All have sinned. We do not really seek to please God. Listen to what Paul quotes from Psalms 5:9 and 10:7.

as it is written: "None is righteous, no, not one;  no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one." "Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive." "The venom of asps is under their lips." "Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness." "Their feet are swift to shed blood; in their paths are ruin and misery, and the way of peace they have not known." "There is no fear of God before their eyes." 

The Heart of The Gospel

Meteors falling to Earth, tsunamis, hurricanes, tornadoes, all leveling cities or shutting down the daily ebb and flow of life. Wars, and rumors of wars. Popes stepping down. I even read an article that whoever fills Benedict's role would supposedly be the final Peter; by name and position. Don't know where that comes from and sure don't want to start rumors for our Catholic friends. Disease and what seem to be pandemics. I've been sick all week with what feels like the bubonic plague, myself. Are these all signs of end-times or just a cycle repeated many times before of life on planet Earth? Facts can be, and are, argued both ways. But here's the real question. What does any of it have to do with the heart of the gospel? I had a dream last night. I won't say vision, as I had several memorable dreams last night. Strange dreams of abduction. I dreamed myself, Layne, and Adam were in a trailer, hoisted up on an overhead trolly system and taken away. Another dream of thieves at my grandparent's home in Alabama. Strange dreams. Are they signs or visions, or just random thoughts of a head filled with mucus from a severe cold? I don't know, but I got a sermon title out of it. One of the many dreams, and all I can recall of this particular one, are the words..... "What does any of this have to do with the heart of the gospel?"

We get hung up on lots of theological ideas, or things that sound lofty. Some aren't even fit for the category of "theology". We debate creation as if we weren't crafted. And I ask you, what does any of this have to do with the heart of the gospel? That is, Jesus Christ, the Messiah. I urge that we keep our focus on the only One in whom we have hope of redemption of the formerly mentioned scares.

The author of Hebrews said well of this hope, of Jesus.....

Jesus, Author:

Long ago, at many times and  in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets,  but  in these last days  he has spoken to us by  his Son, whom he appointed  the heir of all things,  through whom also he created  the world.  He is the radiance of the glory of God and  the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.  After making purification for sins,  he sat down  at the right hand of the Majesty on high,  having become as much superior to angels as the name  he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. (Hebrews 1:1-4 ESV)

Jesus, Finisher:

And just as  it is appointed for man to die once, and  after that comes judgment,  so Christ, having been offered once  to bear the sins of  many, will appear  a second time,  not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly  waiting for him. (Hebrews 9:27, 28 ESV)

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and  sin which clings so closely, and  let us run  with endurance the race that is  set before us,  looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith,  who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising  the shame, and  is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1, 2 ESV)

Just Because

"Why, O LORD, do you stand far away? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?" (Psalm 10:1)

Why would God allow evil? It's an age-old question, and one not easy for the human mind to claim an answer to.

The Atheist:

The atheist exclaims there is no God. He leans strongly on his own moral judgment. Yet, in regard to that moral judgment, there is no consistency from one standard / person to the next. Life, itself, is hopeless, pointless, directionless, and ultimately meaningless. His only possible god is Today.

The Deist:

The deist is more rational. He believes there is a greater power; one who has spun us into existence only to leave us hanging. He is not a personal god. He is not an interactive god. Either he cannot control the events of our daily lives or he simply doesn't care to.

The Believer:

Can it be possible, even feasible, that God is sovereign in choice and action, and His ultimate will spans generations, millennia! It reaches beyond our physical world and into the spiritual. The Scriptures (our only concrete basis for knowing and understanding the God of Adam, Abraham, and Father of nations) indicate...

"For  we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against  the rulers, against the authorities, against  the cosmic powers over  this present darkness, against  the spiritual forces of evil  in the heavenly places." (Ephesians 6:12 ESV)

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In order to answer David's question for ourselves we need only to turn back to God's Word, and view it wholly, completely, not parsed and picked. Chapter 9 of Isaiah clearly demonstrates David's specific outlook on God.

His ways are not ours.

"Seek the  Lord  while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the  Lord , that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the  Lord." (Isaiah 55:6-8 ESV)

"Forgiveness" is not our nature. Our natural reaction is condemnation ....unless it involves one's self as the offendor, the aggressor against God. So why does God forgive evil? Well, you or I just might need that forgiveness ourselves.

Our ways are not His.

"For the wicked boasts of the desires of his soul, and the one greedy for gain curses and renounces the LORD." (Psalm 10:3)

With either no god, or one who doesn't care ...one is puffed up and prideful; a god in his own mind, yet lacking the tools or the solution to actually play the part.

Seeking gain exclusively for oneself is antithetical to pursuing God.

"He must increase, but I must decrease." (John 3:30 ESV)

So, is there a God .....or are we on our own?

"In the pride of his face the wicked does not seek him; all his thoughts are, "There is no God." (Psalm 10:4)

"The  fool says in his heart,  There is no God. They are  corrupt, they do abominable deeds, there is none who does good." (Psalms 14:1 ESV)

If there is God ......does He care about our daily lives?

"His ways prosper at all times; your judgments are on high, out of his sight; as for all his foes, he puffs at them." (Psalm 10:6)

Jesus is God's "because"!

"but  God shows his love for us in that  while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  Since, therefore,  we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from  the wrath of God.  For if  while we were enemies  we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by  his life.  More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received  reconciliation." (Romans 5:8-11 ESV)

We need to get back to balancing the checkbook of our lives; to "balance" back to an agreeable product .....not the balance "I" desire, not the balance the "world" desires, but the balance which our Great Common Denominator enacts. We have to trust "His" life-ledger. Jesus brings things back in balance. He "is" God's because, the answer to what the world asks "why".

It is often said that the gospel can be summed up in John 3:16 .....this "because" of Jesus Christ.

"For God so loved the world"...... He redeemed us while we were still sinning,

"that He gave His only begotten Son" ........instead of us paying for our sin.

"that whosoever believes in Him"..... His liberty applies to the just and unjust. The choice is freely ours,

"should not perish" .......for what hope is there otherwise?

"but have eternal life" ......a conclusion, a profitable conclusion, where God is sovereign and just, merciful and mighty, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, and Friend of sinners .......the Because to all our why's.

A beautiful day, I stand in the warm
No concern of pending storm
Worry not what tomorrow will bring
God's provident will demands a Spring

Be Still, Be Quiet

Our mouths must first be closed before we can hear from God. Once heard, men can be given tongues of The Spirit. Be still. Be quiet. Know that He is God. Then be anointed of The Holy Spirit of God!

"Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father, but his mother answered, No; he shall be called John. And they said to her, None of your relatives is called by this name. And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called. And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, His name is John. And they all wondered. And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea, and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What then will this child be? For the hand of the Lord was with him. And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying, "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us; to show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace." (Luke 1:57-79 ESV)

The Dawn and Doom of Disobedience

Disobedience Is Dishonorable:
The first thing that occurs when we begin to entertain thoughts of disobedience is the breaking of trust, the fall of our faith, in God. We decide that our decisions just might be better than His, the Almighty of Creation.

v6 "So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate."


Disobedience Is Deceitful:
Once faith falters and trust is tossed aside we must deceive in order to justify our decision. Right and wrong are embedded in the hearts of man and woman. Innocence is lost.

vv7-8 "7 Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths. 8 And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden."


Disobedience Is Dreadful:
Once we become governors of our own way ....fear sets in.
vv 9-10 "9 But the LORD God called to the man and said to him, "Where are you?"
10 And he said, "I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself."


Disobedience Is Divisive:
Once fear is established we begin to defend. We must self-preserve, whatever the cost.

vv 11-12 "11 He said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?"
12 The man said, "The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate."


Disobedience Is Decisive:
As dishonorable, deceitful, dreadful, and divisive disobedience is established ....The Righteous, Loving, Sovereign, Merciful God establishes consequences ....not to harm us, but to save us from ourselves.

vv 14-19 "14 The LORD God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life.
15 I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel."
16 To the woman he said, "I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you."
17 And to Adam he said, "Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, 'You shall not eat of it,' cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life;
18 thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field.
19 By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return."

Who Is In Control?

As we face the perilous edge of fiscal cliffs, and are tempted to worry, and wonder who is in control of our man-made messes., consider this.......

"Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying, "Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us." He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision. Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying, "As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill." I will tell of the decree: The Lord said to me, "You are my Son; today I have begotten you." (Psalms 2:1-7 ESV)

When I was Younger

"But seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."

There are things, in life, which only come with age. There are exceptions, but most of us just have to learn the things of life the hard way. O' how I wish I had learned the lessons Jesus was teaching here at the end of Matt. 6! More than just not worrying (the negative) but focusing our attention on something which matters more! (The positive)

Jesus teaches us to focus on Kingdom matters ....the cure for whatever earthly is the matter. This is not just blindly denying worldly matters, but properly focusing our attention, firstly, on Kingdom matters ...we will then face all matters within God's world-view.

A New Life In 2013

Leave the old in 2012. Start "new" in 2013. Commit to follow Christ, to be "in" Christ. There is NO other way to eternal life. He is the way, truth, and He IS the life! Admit that you are a sinner when compared to God's righteous standard (not man's), and then repent, turn away, from sin. Put it behind you. Follow Jesus.

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." (2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV)