The Weekend Sermon -- "A Few Thoughts On John 13:34"

 John 13:34 -- " A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another."

     Thank you for reading the message this week. I am doing a lot better than I was last week in regard to my health. Thank you for your prayers. I hope and pray that all of you are doing well. 

     We are half way through our study in the book of Mark. We will pick back up next week with Mark, but today I want to pause and share a few things that I have been reflecting on from reading John 13:34.

     When Jesus was in the Upper Room with the disciples, they shared the Passover together before Jesus was crucified. In addition to this, Jesus gave instructions and teachings to those who were gathered in the Upper Room with Him. 

     In John 13, Jesus gave them His new commandment. In I John, the apostle John reiterates it bringing to mind to his readers that Jesus' command was to love one another. We are to love one another even as He has loved us. 

     I have been thinking a lot about this idea of loving one another over the course of the last few weeks. The first thing that came to my mind is that love is the most important and the central theme of the Christian faith. Sometimes I think we lose sight of that. Love is what this religion is all about. 

    God loved us even in spite of the fact that we rebelled against Him and decided to do what we wanted to do instead of following His way that leads to abundant life. Because of His great love for us, God made a way for us to be redeemed and forgiven while at the same time He did not violate His own demands of justice. By sending His Son the Lord Jesus to be the propitiation for our sins, God was both just and the justifier of those who call upon the name of the Lord and believe in their hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead. 

    Jesus came for us out of love. Love kept Jesus on the cross. Everything that Jesus did while He was ministering on this earth was done out of love. He taught us to love God and to love our neighbor. He even said that we are to love our enemies. 

     There can be no doubt that love is at the core of the Christian faith, and Jesus gives those of us who are His followers the command to love one another. 

     I have been thinking about loving one another. One of the things that came to my mind in regard to loving other Christians is helping. We show our love for our brothers and sisters in Christ when we are there and help to meet their needs in times of crisis and when they are hurting. When we can hold up and help our fellow Christians, we are showing that we have love for one another. 

    Another thing that I think about loving one another is we do this when we recognize that we are believers in Jesus across the world. It has distressed me to see many Christians speak in such derogatory terms about people from other countries when those same people are our brothers and sisters in Christ whom we are commanded to love. Love does not manifest itself in hateful words and actions. 

     Love does manifest itself when we seek the good of all those who are believers in Jesus. When we reach out with help, hope and healing to all those who call Jesus Lord. 

     Now, I think that Jesus with this command was not just calling on us as believers to love one another. He wanted us to love everyone because He was the man of love and the Christian faith is all about love. 

     We can live a life of love in this world. First off, I think we can live a life of love by sharing the message of Jesus' love and forgiveness with those who do not have a relationship with Him. Second, we show love for this world by caring about the sustenance of this world. Our actions that affect the climate and endangered species affect others in this world and can have catastrophic impacts on others. We act in love when we care about what God has made so that others can have a good life. 

     I also believe that we show love for this world and for one another when we do all that we can to meet people's needs. People all around this world need food, clothing, education, medical care and mental health care. As we have the ability, we can help meet these needs in love and in the name of Jesus who was and is the man of love. 

    Finally, I believe that we can fulfill and obey this command of Jesus by simply being kind. Kindness in our world is so lacking these days. People on all sides of an issue call people terrible things and act in very nasty ways to others. We can be kind to all. We can speak in love to all. By doing so, we can do what Jesus has called us to do. Amen.

Prayer Requests

     I am feeling a lot better as I mentioned. Please keep praying that I will improve and hopefully find a better job that is not so taxing. 

     Keep praying for an end to the Ebola outbreak in Africa. Pray that people will get the treatments that they need to recover and to prevent the spread of this disease. 

     We need to keep praying for peace. Ukraine, Sudan and the Middle East need to be the focus of our prayers. 

     Let us also pray for those who are facing tough times economically. Inflation is high here in the US, and many are having trouble. Let us lend a hand as we are able. 

    For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those in Djibouti and Yemen. Pray that many will come to know Jesus. 

     Next week, we will be back in Mark. I will post the verses on Tuesday. May God bless you all. 

Verses For The Week

       Hebrews 1:3 -- "The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of His being, sustaining all things by His powerful word."

     John 1:3 -- "Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made."

Weekend Sermon -- "Mark 8:38"

      Thanks for once again reading the message, and thank you all for your prayers. I hope that you are all doing well this week. 

     Today, we are going to finish our study from Mark 8 as we continue to go chapter by chapter and verse by verse through the book of Mark. We have taken our time going through this chapter as there was so much for us to consider in it. 

     The last verse of the chapter is what we will consider today. Jesus tells us that if we are ashamed of Him in this life, He will be ashamed of us when He comes again. This is a sobering thing to ponder. What does it mean?

    I think that there are two meanings in this. There is a meaning for both those who identify as Christians and for non-Christians. For non-Christians I believe what Jesus is saying is that if a person does not recognize Him and want to follow Him in this life, He will not recognize them when He comes again. In other words, Jesus is saying that the time to acknowledge Him is now because when He comes again it will be too late. It is the same as what James said when he said today is the day of salvation. Jesus also said that when He comes it will be like a thief in the night. No one will know, so we need to be ready should He come at any time. 

     Now, I also think that there is something in this for the Christian. Let me qualify that. For those who claim to be Christians. There are those who say that they are Christians, but they deny the fact and are ashamed of Jesus in two different ways. 

     First of all, they show that they are ashamed of Jesus because they say they have faith but they have no deeds. It is just like James said, faith without works is dead. These are people who you might know for decades yet you would have no idea that they had a relationship with Jesus Christ. They want to remain a private Christian so to speak. 

     Also, there are those who show that they are ashamed of Jesus because they do boldly say they follow Him, but in reality they do the exact opposite of everything that He taught. Let me give you an example. 

     There are a lot of people in this world who talk about being a Christian. Then they go into the public sphere and advocate for everything that is the opposite of what Jesus said to do. They are against helping the poor, taking care of creation or making sure that people can even have what is necessary to live a decent life. 

     Jesus said that on the day of judgment there will be many who will come and say to Him Lord, Lord. His response will be, "I never knew you." 

     Let all of us who say that we are Christians be unashamed followers of Jesus and His teachings. Let people know by what you do and by what you say that you are a follower of Jesus and that He is the Lord of your life. If you don't know Jesus, come to Him today and then tell others what a difference Jesus has made in your life. Amen.

Prayer Requests

     Please keep praying for me in regard to my health and with regard to finding a job. I am having some really weird health problems. Also, please pray that the money I am expecting will arrive. I need it so that I can implement something I believe the Lord wants me to do. 

     Keep praying for peace. Pray for Ukraine, for peace in the Middle East and for peace in Sudan. Pray for peace wherever you know there is war. 

     Pray for and end to the Ebola outbreak in Africa. 

     For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those in the nations of Maldives and China. Pray that many will come to know Jesus. 

    Next week, we will start Mark 9. I will post the verses on Tuesday. May God bless you all. 

Verses For The Week and Prayer Request

  Prayer Request -- I am going to a new doctor today to try to get some help. Please pray that this visit will go well and that I can get on some type of treatment. Also, please pray that I can find a new job, and pray that some inheritance money I am expecting will come through like it is supposed to. 

Verses:

Hebrews 13:5 -- "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.'"

Isaiah 41:13 -- "For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; It is I who say to you; "Fear not, I am the one who helps you."

Weekend Sermon -- "Mark 8:36-37"

      It is once again time for the weekend sermon. I hope and pray that everyone is having a very good week. 

     As I am sure you know, we are in a study where we are going chapter by chapter verse by verse through the Gospel of Mark. Right now, we are studying chapter 8, and we have been in this chapter for quite some time because there is so much for us to learn from the Lord Jesus in this chapter. 

     In our message today, I want us to focus our attention on what the Lord had to say about "What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world yet loses his own soul." Jesus will go on to ask what could a person ever give in exchange for his soul. 

     This statement of Jesus boils down to what do people think is really important. We have so many people in this world who are only pursuing the things that pass away. They spend all of their time trying to accumulate wealth and possessions, and they don't care what moral or ethical laws they violate in order to do it. They walk over people and use and abuse people just to get what they want. In their minds, there is only the here and now and what they can obtain for their own comfort and gratification. They are in the process of forfeiting their own souls for earthly riches. 

     Jesus is saying that if a person could even gain everything in the whole world it was not worth it if it meant that a person would forfeit their soul. In other words, Jesus was saying you could become fabulously rich and famous, but if you end up separated from God in hell for all eternity, what good has it done for you. 

     People don't have the right perspective on eternity. The here and now in which we live is like one grain of sand on the beach. It is nothing compared to the entire beach that represents eternity. We get caught up in the right now and don't have an eternal perspective. 

     In another passage, Jesus put it this way. We need to lay up treasure in heaven where moth and rust don't corrupt and where thieves do not break in and steal. We should not lay up treasure on earth where things do become corrupted and can be lost or taken from us. 

     I want you to know this. All the money and fame and fortune in the world won't matter one bit when you stand before the Lord on judgement day. He will look to see if you have accepted Him as the Lord and Savior of your life. He will look to see if your name is written in the Lamb's Book of Life. If you have not turned your life over to Christ and your name is not written in the book, all the money and things in this world won't stop you from being cast away from God's presence for all eternity. 

     Thanks be to God, no one has to go to hell or be separated from the Lord. Jesus invites anyone and everyone to turn to Him and receive forgiveness and pardon today. That includes you. I hope that you will put your faith and trust in the finished work of Christ on the cross today. Amen. 

Prayer Requests

     Please keep praying in regard to my health. I am going to see a new doctor next week. Also, keep praying about my job situation. 

     Remember to keep praying for an end to the Ebola outbreak in Africa. Pray that those who are sick will make a full recovery.

     Keep praying for peace. Ukraine, the Middle East, and Sudan all are in need of our prayers. 

     For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those who live in the nations of Myanmar and Malaysia. Pray that many will come to know the Lord Jesus. 

     Next week, we will continue in Mark finishing up chapter 8. I will post the verses on Tuesday. May God bless you all. 

Verses For The Week

 Hebrews 11:16 -- "But they were looking forward to a better home in heaven. That is why God wasn't ashamed for them to call Him their God. He even built a city for them."

Philippians 3:20-21 -- "But we are citizens of heaven and are eagerly awaiting our Savior to come from there. Our Lord Jesus Christ has power over everything, and He will make these poor bodies of ours like His own glorious body."

Weekend Sermon --"Mark 8:34-35"

      Thank you for reading the message, and thank you to the Lord for the chance to bring it. I pray that all of you are doing well. 

     It was my plan to finish up chapter 8 in our continuing study of the Gospel of Mark, but I think I will actually have this message and maybe two more out of this chapter. It really doesn't matter at what pace we proceed through the Gospel. What is important is that we understand and apply to our lives the teachings and the example of Jesus found there in. 

     In our passage today, Jesus speaks to those who are following Him about taking up their cross and following Him. That is what I want to focus on today. What does it mean to take up one's cross and follow Jesus?

     First of all, the cross means death. To take up one's cross means to die, and I believe as we begin our examination of this phrase we have to focus on the fact that following Jesus means dying to sin and rebellion against the way of God. In order to get on the path that leads to life, a person needs to be convinced that they are a sinner who is in need of a Savior. They have to repent of their sins and ask Jesus to be the Savior and the Lord of their life. That is the only way that a person dies to sin and becomes a new creation in Christ with the old passing away and all things becoming new. 

     Following the way of the cross, taking up one's cross, also means dying to self. People are selfish and self-centered as a general rule. They want to think about their own needs, wants and desires and they care very little, if at all, about others who are in this world. Taking up one's cross and following Jesus means that we have to give up and die to ourselves in order to become like Jesus who was the man for others. 

     Jesus came into this world to serve and not to be served. He came to give His very life as a ransom for sin. He didn't think about what was just for Him. In fact, in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus like any person, wanted to avoid a painful death. However, in the Garden, Jesus prayed not my will but Thine be done. He was willing to set aside Himself for the sake of others. That is part of what taking up the cross and following Him means. 

     Taking up the cross also means following Jesus' path. Jesus' path involved at least two aspects. First off, He came to give His life on the cross for the salvation of all those who believe. His life from birth was leading to a cross. We also have to think about this way, the way in which He lived led to the cross as well. Jesus went against the establishment. He antagonized the religious and political leaders to the point they wanted Him dead. He preached the radical love of God and it cost Him His life. 

     When we take up the cross and follow Jesus, we are committing to follow His path of love, goodness and caring in this world. We are following in His footsteps of doing unto others as we would have done to us. We are committing to loving God with all we have within us. And we are committing to love our neighbors as we love ourself. 

    Finally, taking up one's cross entails suffering. There is a cost to following Jesus. That cost will manifest itself in different ways for different people. Some people follow Jesus and they are physically assaulted or martyred. Others suffer financial repercussions or interpersonal difficulties. For some, following Jesus will mean being ostracized by family and friends. 

    Jesus asks us to count the cost, and then make the decision to follow Him. I hope that you will follow Him. I hope that in spite of whatever cross you must bear you will follow the Lord Jesus wherever it is that He may lead you. Amen. 

     Prayer Requests

     Please keep praying in regard to my health. I must say I am not doing well at all. I actually to be honest have to tell you I don't know that it might be almost time for me to once again see my friend Toby. However, please pray that I will recover from what is ailing me if it be the Lord's will. Also, please pray that I can find a job that will be better. This place I work is really getting me down. Thank you all for all of your prayers. 

     Keep praying for peace in Ukraine. That is really on my heart this week. 

     Remember to pray that Ebola will come to an end in Africa. I heard there were more cases. 

     For our prayer focus countries this week, pray for those in Burkina Faso and Sierra Leone. Pray that many will come to know Jesus. 

     Next week, I will post the verses on Tuesday. We will continue in Mark 8 with the message. May God bless you all.