17Then Jesus came down with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of His disciples was there, along with a great number of people from all over Judea, Jerusalem, and the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon. 18They had come to hear Him and to be healed of their diseases, and those troubled by unclean spirits were healed. 19The entire crowd was trying to touch Him, because power was coming from Him and healing them all.
Thoughts: The crowds were coming to hear Jesus and also be helped by Jesus. This is important. He was not just another great teacher, professor, or rabbi- He taught with power. He not only taught, he cared for those who were in pain or hurting.
The sermon on the mount was preached to not just disciples, but to crowds. In the crowds were people from Judea to the south and the gentiles of Tyre and Sidon to the north. The good news was to all people. No one was excluded- whosoever wanted to come could come. The Gospel is for all the world. Whosoever will may come. We should invite others to come as well.
The sermon on the mount was preached by Jesus from the lake facing toward the mountain. The Sea of Galilee provided many natural amphitheaters. Jesus was conscious of using the resources of his day to reach people. We should use the technology available to us so that people can hear and respond to the good news of Christ.
Prayer: Lord, thank you that you care for us and call us to invite whosoever will to come to you.
Sunday, February 17, 2019
Saturday, February 16, 2019
The Ultimate Healing is Not Here
9Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews learned that Jesus was there. And they came not only because of Him, but also to see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead. 10So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, 11for on account of him many of the Jews were deserting them and believing in Jesus. (John 12:9-11)
Thoughts: Today we did a memorial service for a miracle lady. Ruth Palassis was healed from a melanoma 25 years ago (when they didn't know how to treat it well), and then from a Glioblastoma brain tumor. Glioblastoma is the kind of cancer Ted Kennedy and John McCain died from. The average life expectancy from diagnosis is 15 months. Ruth lived with it 14 years. The doctors at Duke said it was a miracle. Ruth and I did too. She ended up dying from a third type of cancer- Sarcoma. The Duke doctors had Ruth talk to others who were just diagnosed to give them hope.
Jesus raised three people from the dead by name: Lazarus, Jairus' daughter, and the widow of Nain's son. Each of these would die again. While Lazarus lived, he was a living testimony to the power and love of Jesus that reached even beyond the grave. It was a testimony that God could indeed raise someone from the dead. This gave people hope- and it should give us hope. But the ultimate healing is not found in this life. They tried to kill Lazarus (but couldn't Jesus just raise him again?). In the end, tradition tells us Lazarus went to Cyprus and became a bishop there before he died. But Lazarus' ultimate resurrection is in heaven. That is where our ultimate resurrection and healing is as well. All the people Jesus healed- the lepers, the lame, the blind, the deaf, the ones having seizures, eventually died. His healing shows He cares about our pain now but it also points to His power to overcome each thing in the end.
Prayer: Lord, help me to pray for healing to you here, but know my ultimate healing is not in this life.
Thoughts: Today we did a memorial service for a miracle lady. Ruth Palassis was healed from a melanoma 25 years ago (when they didn't know how to treat it well), and then from a Glioblastoma brain tumor. Glioblastoma is the kind of cancer Ted Kennedy and John McCain died from. The average life expectancy from diagnosis is 15 months. Ruth lived with it 14 years. The doctors at Duke said it was a miracle. Ruth and I did too. She ended up dying from a third type of cancer- Sarcoma. The Duke doctors had Ruth talk to others who were just diagnosed to give them hope.
Jesus raised three people from the dead by name: Lazarus, Jairus' daughter, and the widow of Nain's son. Each of these would die again. While Lazarus lived, he was a living testimony to the power and love of Jesus that reached even beyond the grave. It was a testimony that God could indeed raise someone from the dead. This gave people hope- and it should give us hope. But the ultimate healing is not found in this life. They tried to kill Lazarus (but couldn't Jesus just raise him again?). In the end, tradition tells us Lazarus went to Cyprus and became a bishop there before he died. But Lazarus' ultimate resurrection is in heaven. That is where our ultimate resurrection and healing is as well. All the people Jesus healed- the lepers, the lame, the blind, the deaf, the ones having seizures, eventually died. His healing shows He cares about our pain now but it also points to His power to overcome each thing in the end.
Prayer: Lord, help me to pray for healing to you here, but know my ultimate healing is not in this life.
Friday, February 15, 2019
The Value of Small Groups
12In those days, Jesus went out to the mountain to pray, and He spent the night in prayer to God.13When daylight came, He called His disciples to Him and chose twelve of them, whom He also designated as apostles: 14Simon, whom He named Peter, and his brother Andrew, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew, 15Matthew and Thomas, James son of Alphaeus and Simon called the Zealot,16Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor. (Luke 6:12-16)
Thoughts: Jesus built his first church around a small group of twelve (one apostle symbolically for each tribe of the Old Testament). The purpose of this was not merely to teach content but to exemplify lifestyle and leadership. The Presbyterian church is built around this concept too- we have elders ("presbyters" in Greek) who govern the church. It is not one person making all the decisions nor is one person pulling the full load. John Calvin in the Reformation purposefully went back to this- in recognition of the magnitude of the abuse of power in the papacy of his time.
At Lake Murray Presbyterian we have FEAST (Fellowship Eating and Sharing Together) Groups starting up this spring. Don't forget our many PW Circles, Men's group, Bible studies and Sunday School classes (not to mention Youth and WOW groups). In the fall we are implementing Missional Communities (similar to Parish groups that we have had in the distant past, but with a purpose and mission). I am particularly excited about the Missional Community Groups starting up.
It is also noteworthy that in this passage Jesus chose Judas. There is no such thing as a perfect small group. There seems to be always somebody who throws things off. Jesus knew this but he still chose his group- risking even betrayal to fulfill His purpose.
It is interesting that the largest church in the world in Seol, South Korea (Full Gospel Church) has over 500,000 members- all built on the idea of small groups. They purposefully grow their small groups- and when they reach 12 they automatically and purposefully split into two groups of six and start growing again. These are small groups with a purpose- exactly what Jesus did.
Prayer: Lord, help me to seek fellowship not only for myself but for others and your glory.
Thoughts: Jesus built his first church around a small group of twelve (one apostle symbolically for each tribe of the Old Testament). The purpose of this was not merely to teach content but to exemplify lifestyle and leadership. The Presbyterian church is built around this concept too- we have elders ("presbyters" in Greek) who govern the church. It is not one person making all the decisions nor is one person pulling the full load. John Calvin in the Reformation purposefully went back to this- in recognition of the magnitude of the abuse of power in the papacy of his time.
At Lake Murray Presbyterian we have FEAST (Fellowship Eating and Sharing Together) Groups starting up this spring. Don't forget our many PW Circles, Men's group, Bible studies and Sunday School classes (not to mention Youth and WOW groups). In the fall we are implementing Missional Communities (similar to Parish groups that we have had in the distant past, but with a purpose and mission). I am particularly excited about the Missional Community Groups starting up.
It is also noteworthy that in this passage Jesus chose Judas. There is no such thing as a perfect small group. There seems to be always somebody who throws things off. Jesus knew this but he still chose his group- risking even betrayal to fulfill His purpose.
It is interesting that the largest church in the world in Seol, South Korea (Full Gospel Church) has over 500,000 members- all built on the idea of small groups. They purposefully grow their small groups- and when they reach 12 they automatically and purposefully split into two groups of six and start growing again. These are small groups with a purpose- exactly what Jesus did.
Prayer: Lord, help me to seek fellowship not only for myself but for others and your glory.
Wednesday, February 6, 2019
When Unity is Not Valued
For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body--whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free--and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. (1 Corinthians 12:13)
When unity is not valued, love is not valued. Usually in the name of some kind of idealism or pure-thought unity is debunked. So those on the far right care little for the poor and do not wish to associate or be united with them; So those on the far left care little for the rich and those who have earned much with creative ideas and work- not wishing to be united or associate with them. When all the rich- who have the ability to leave- walk out then the poor are left with no one to help them.
In the early church everyone was welcomed- rich or poor; slave or free; male or female. The only people who were not welcomed were those who refused to follow Jesus which boiled down to the immoral or the self-righteous. The immoral degraded the holiness and purpose of the church while the self-righteous degraded the grace and mercy of the church as well as the purpose and mission of the kingdom of God.
Politically and religiously- unity is not valued when we forget to value love. Even words of unity or reconciliation cannot be heard by those who have their minds made up.
When unity is not valued, division- a basic part of human sin- will be the end result. Swallowing pride and respecting foundation based values is the negative side of unity. The positive side is love and being able to do good because you are united. When unity is not valued love and mission fail.
Prayer: Lord, help me to care for those who think differently than me.
When unity is not valued, love is not valued. Usually in the name of some kind of idealism or pure-thought unity is debunked. So those on the far right care little for the poor and do not wish to associate or be united with them; So those on the far left care little for the rich and those who have earned much with creative ideas and work- not wishing to be united or associate with them. When all the rich- who have the ability to leave- walk out then the poor are left with no one to help them.
In the early church everyone was welcomed- rich or poor; slave or free; male or female. The only people who were not welcomed were those who refused to follow Jesus which boiled down to the immoral or the self-righteous. The immoral degraded the holiness and purpose of the church while the self-righteous degraded the grace and mercy of the church as well as the purpose and mission of the kingdom of God.
Politically and religiously- unity is not valued when we forget to value love. Even words of unity or reconciliation cannot be heard by those who have their minds made up.
When unity is not valued, division- a basic part of human sin- will be the end result. Swallowing pride and respecting foundation based values is the negative side of unity. The positive side is love and being able to do good because you are united. When unity is not valued love and mission fail.
Prayer: Lord, help me to care for those who think differently than me.
Monday, February 4, 2019
After the Games are Over
At some point the games will be over. Yesterday was the last football game of the year. But some have already moved onto basketball. The powers that be have it set so one sport goes to another which goes to another. You can watch games every day.
But one day your ability to play will be over. It comes sooner for most than later. Then way down the road we won't care about games. At some point we will care about life. But if we have only cared about games it leaves little room to care about life. Games are more than distractions, they add fun and joy to life. God is not against fun or joy- He created joy and the ability to enjoy out bodies. In contrast to some- I believe that games are a part of the plan of God- to bring joy- even on a day of rest- a Sabbath. But there is a balance. The balance is found in making the things of God a priority over the things of play. If we play all day but make no time for God, then we have gone out of balance and God has been given a back seat.
I have come that they might have life and have it abundantly. John 10:10
Prayer: Lord, help me to remember you when I am young so that I can enjoy you and build good habits into my life.
But one day your ability to play will be over. It comes sooner for most than later. Then way down the road we won't care about games. At some point we will care about life. But if we have only cared about games it leaves little room to care about life. Games are more than distractions, they add fun and joy to life. God is not against fun or joy- He created joy and the ability to enjoy out bodies. In contrast to some- I believe that games are a part of the plan of God- to bring joy- even on a day of rest- a Sabbath. But there is a balance. The balance is found in making the things of God a priority over the things of play. If we play all day but make no time for God, then we have gone out of balance and God has been given a back seat.
I have come that they might have life and have it abundantly. John 10:10
1Remember your Creator in the days of your youth,
before the days of adversity come,
and the years approach of which you will say,
“I find no pleasure in them,”
2before the sunlight, moon, and stars are darkened,
and the clouds return after the rain,
13When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is this: Fear God and keep His commandments, because this is the whole duty of man. 14For God will bring every deed into judgment, along with every hidden thing, whether good or evil. (Ecclessiastes 12)
Sunday, February 3, 2019
More Important Than the Superbowl
Patriots Team Captain Matthew Slater said this: "This is not life and death. This is not the biggest thing that we'll do. The biggest and most important decision we'll ever make in our lives is what we do with the knowledge of Jesus Christ." Dwayne Allen, patriot's tight end and Clemson graduate, said, "I mean having a heavenly perspective helps me keep things in perspective and where they should be. This game is the pinnacle of my athletic career, and its supposed to be everything to me, but in the grand scheme of things, it's still a game." [CBN quote]. For every young person and parent out to get that scholarship or that stardom, let this be a lesson. Games are not the most important thing. At some time even Tom Brady will retire (he's 41 now). Our athletic ability fades, but our soul stays with us until the end.
"For what shall it profit a man to gain the whole world but lose his own soul." Mark 8:36
Dwayne Allen (83) gives five to Tom Brady
[Zimbio pictures Philadelphia vs New England]
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