Verses For the Week -- Verses From Luke

Luke 15:31-32 -- "My son the father said, you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.  But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found."

Luke 18: 7-8 -- "Will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?  I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly."

Luke 21: 27-28 -- "At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.  When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."

Weekend Sermon -- John 6:1-14

     Once again it is time to post the Weekend Sermon.  I hope and pray that all of you who read this blog are doing very well.  I always enjoy the opportunity to post these messages.
     This last week went very well.  I seem to be on more of a steady pace at work, and my health has been much improved.  Thank you all for your prayers regarding this matter.
     In prayer this week, please pray about the problem of poverty and homelessness around the world.  I just heard a report on the number of truly poor people in this world, and the numbers shocked me.  Let us all do what we can to help alleviate so much of the suffering that is in the world.  Let us also continue to pray for peace.  Pray for peace is Israel, Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq.
     Over the past few weeks, we have been praying for the message of Jesus to reach the nations of the world where there are few Christians.  In this regard, let us pray this week for Thailand, Mongolia and Senegal.
     Last week, we continued with our series dealing with the signs of Jesus' divinity found in the book of John.  We discussed the healing at the pool of Bethesda.  Today, we will discuss what is probably Jesus' most well-known miracle, the feeding of the five thousand.  This is an important miracle and a pivotal event in the life and ministry of Jesus.  This particular miracle is recorded in all four of the Gospels.
     As Jesus began to perform many miracles, crowds of people began to follow Him.  These people were looking for a miracle, and they also came to listen to Jesus' teachings.  One day, thousands of people had been listening to Jesus.  Jesus asked Philip where they would get the bread to feed all of the people. Philip said that it would take at least half of a year's wages to feed all the people just one bite of food.  Andrew then stepped up and said that he had found a boy who had five loaves and two fish.
    At this point, Jesus had the people sit down in groups.  Jesus then gave thanks for the bread and the fish and had them distributed to all the people.  Miraculously, all of the people were fed, and there were enough left overs to fill up 12 baskets.
     When the people saw this sign, they wanted to make Jesus king by force.  Jesus did not want this to happen, so He quickly withdrew to the mountains.
     This is an interesting miracle.  Let's explore some of the messages from this miracle and then look at how this miracle confirms the deity of Jesus.
     One of the main lessons from this miracle is that Jesus is the one who supplies all of our needs.  In the Lord's Prayer, we are taught to pray for our daily bread.  Jesus cares about us and wants us to have our needs met.  The Lord will supply our needs.  One of the main ways that the Lord uses to supply needs is when Christians see a need in the world and then work to meet that need.  If Christians would work together and have compassion on those around them, so many of the needs in this world could be met, and much of the hardship in this world could be eliminated.
     I know in my life that the Lord has met my physical needs.  Those of you who have read the blog for a few years know that I went through some horrendous economic struggles a couple of years ago that I am still dealing with.  During that time, the Lord met my needs in several ways.  One way He used to met my needs was through the food bank ministry of church about five miles from my home.  This ministry really helped me out in some of my times of real desperation.
     There were many times when I didn't know where the money was going to come from to get the bills paid, but the Lord provided.  Once, I had one week to get enough money to pay the personal property tax for my car.  Thankfully, the Lord provided enough writing work that I was able to get just enough that week to pay that looming bill.  Thanks be to God.
     This miracle also teaches us the lesson that God uses the little bit we offer to Him to do great things.  When that boy offered his loaves and fish, it didn't seem like much.  But Jesus used that little bit to perform a mighty miracle.  When we offer unto Jesus what we have, He will do great things with it.  All of us have some talent, gift or resource that we can offer to the Lord's service.  If we are willing to use these things for the Lord's service, He will do great things.
     One of the last lessons that I want to draw out from this miracle is the importance of giving thanks.  Jesus gave thanks for the loaves and fish.  We need to say thank you to the Lord when we receive things from Him.  Try to be thankful to the Lord everyday for the gifts that He has provided.  Tell Him thank you for the food you have to eat, your financial resources and the people that He has brought into your life.  In all things give thanks.
     Now, let us explore the deeper spiritual and doctrinal themes in this miracle.  This miracle was the turning point in Jesus' ministry.
     First of all, Jesus demonstrated His deity by feeding people miraculously.  Just as the people were fed in Moses' day by the manna from Heaven, Jesus is the bread that came down from Heaven to bring spiritual life to the world.
     However, Jesus is greater than this manna that came down from Heaven.  The manna was only sufficient for each day.  What was not used spoiled.  It was temporal.  Also, this manna only aided the people physically.  This manna only fed the people of Israel.
     On the other hand, Jesus the bread of life who has come down from Heaven provides eternal, spiritual nourishment.  Jesus provides eternal life for all who believe in Him.  Jesus' supply of love and life will never run out.  Jesus has come to provide life to whosoever will call upon Him and turn to Him in repentance and faith.
     God provided the manna.  God Himself in the form of Jesus Christ is the bread that has come down from Heaven to give life to the world.
     When the people saw Jesus' miracle, they wanted to make Him a physical ruler.  However, at that time, Jesus' kingdom was not of this world.  He came to make His kingdom in the hearts of those who would believe in Him as Savior and Lord.  Jesus eternal kingdom will only be established when He comes again in power and great glory.
     In order to be part of Jesus' kingdom now and in the future, Jesus said that we had to eat His flesh and drink His blood.  He did not mean this in a literal since.  Jesus was saying that in order to truly be a part of His kingdom, we must take Him into ourselves.  He must be the spiritual nourishment of our souls.  He must be our all in all providing His love and light as the source of our very being.
     When the great crowds heard these words from Jesus, the vast majority of them did not want to follow Jesus anymore.  They didn't like what His kingdom had to offer.
     So many people deserted Jesus at this point that He turned to His disciples and asked them if they wanted to leave as well.  At this point, Peter said, "Lord, to whom shall we go?  You have the words of eternal life."
     Jesus is the only one who has the words of eternal life.  He calls on each and every person in this world to hear His message of love, life, forgiveness and reconciliation and respond to it by accepting Him as Savior and Lord.  I hope that you will consider this day making Jesus Christ the Lord of your life.
     Next week, we will continue in our series in the signs of  John's Gospel.  I will post the verses on Monday and the review on Wednesday.  May God bless you all.  Amen.

Book Review -- A Gift From Bob

     I have read and recommended two previous books written by James Bowen about his life with his cat named Bob.  These two books are entitled, "A Street Cat Named Bob" and "The World According to Bob."  For those of you who don't know the story, James Bowen was a recovering drug addict who was trying to make a living and avoid being homeless again by being a street musician.  One day, James came back to his apartment and found an injured cat.  James took the cat to the veterinarian and nursed the cat back to health.  James named the cat Bob, and the two formed a deep friendship.
     Bob began coming out on the street with James, and Bob often rode on James' shoulder as the pair walked around London.  Eventually, James became a "Big Issue" magazine seller, and with Bob's help, James' life improved greatly.
    One day, a literary agent spotted the pair, and the rest is book publishing history.
    This week, the new book by James Bowen entitled "A Gift From Bob" was released here in the United States.  This book is about a special Christmas that James and Bob spent together before fame and fortune came their way.
     James was prepared to spend Christmas as just another day, but this Christmas brought many surprises.  During the course of the book, James will realize that it is truly better to give than to receive and that the simple things in life make Christmas truly meaningful.
     This is another great book that details the continuing story of James and Bob.  I highly recommend this book.  It will make great Christmas reading.

Verses For the Week -- Verses From II and III John

II John 6 -- "And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands.  As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love."

II John 9 -- "Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son."

III John 11 -- "Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good.  Anyone who does what is good is from God.  Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God."

Weekend Sermon -- John 5:1-18

     Today is a good day because I get to post another addition of the Weekend Sermon.  Thank you to all of you who read this blog.
     This last week was very eventful.  As I have mentioned before, I haven't been feeling well for awhile.  I had an incident at work the week, and I was very sick.  I went to the doctor, and they discovered that I have a kidney problem.  I am now on medication to help with that, and I am on a special diet.  I am feeling quite a bit better.  Please pray that I will continue to recover and do better now that we know what has been going on.
     In prayer this week, please pray for those affected by the heavy rainfall and flooding in North and South Carolina.  Also, let us pray for peace in Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya.  In prayer, let us also remember to pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ who face persecution.  Please continue to pray that the message of Jesus' love might reach those in Malaysia, Singapore, Maldives and other nations where Christians are in the minority.
     For the past few weeks now, we have been in a series of messages studying how John presents the divinity of Christ is his Gospel.  John presents seven signs to Jesus' divinity.  We have looked at Jesus' miracle of changing the water into wine and Jesus' healing of the nobleman's son so far. Today, we will turn our attention to another sign and miracle of the Lord Jesus.
     One day, Jesus was in the city of Jerusalem and passed by the pool of Bethesda.  This pool was surrounded by five covered porches where sick people used to come in order to be healed.  The reason they came to be healed was because at certain times, the water in the pool was stirred and the first person in the pool would be healed.
     Some versions of the Bible state that an angel came and stirred the waters.  Most of the older manuscripts don't contain these verses, so many newer Bible versions leave them out.  I think it is possible that an angel came and stirred the waters,  I don't really know.
     Whatever was happening, Jesus came by one day and saw a man who was there trying to get healed.  This man had been paralyzed for 38 years.
      When Jesus was informed about this man's situation, He asked the man if he wanted to get well.  Now let me focus on this for just a moment.  Some ministers make a lot out of this statement by Jesus.  They make it out as if the man did not want to get well, so Jesus had to ask him.  They speak as if the man was sick so long because somehow he wanted to be that way.
     The text does not really support that.  It seems to me that Jesus just asked the man that question as a way to start a conversation with the man.  Jesus was full of compassion and mercy.  He felt bad for this man who had tried to get well but was in such a bad way for so long. Jesus in His mercy and love told the man to pick up his mat and walk, and the man immediately arose completely cured.
     Now the day that Jesus healed the man was on a Sabbath, and the religious leaders were so bound by their rules that they couldn't rejoice and give God glory that a man who was in misery was made well.  They saw the man carrying his mat and inquired who had healed him.
     The man did not know that it was Jesus who had healed him.  However, Jesus later saw this man in the the Temple.  Jesus said to him, "See, you are well again.  Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you."
     Once again, I think the wrong application is made from this verse.  I don't think that Jesus is saying here that the man was sick all those years because he was a sinner or had committed a sin.  Some ministers like to say that people are sick because they have sin in their lives.  Jesus actually says the opposite in another miracle that we will examine in a few weeks.
     What Jesus is saying to the man is that as bad as it was that he had been paralyzed for 38 years, that is not the worst thing that could befall him.  If a person, this man included, continued in sin without coming to trust in Jesus as Savior and Lord, that individual would be eternally separated from the Lord.  That is worse than any disease or affliction that might beset us in this world.
     Someone may have the best health possible, and they might have all of the success and wealth the world can provide. However, without the life, forgiveness and love of Jesus, all that is worthless. As Jesus said, "What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and yet lose his own soul."  Eternity is a long time.  Each person needs to make sure that their heart is right with God.
     Later, when the religious leaders found out that Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, they began to persecute Jesus intensely.  Jesus told them that His Father was always working and He was working as well.  The religious leaders then wanted to kill Jesus because they recognized that Jesus was stating clearly in word and deed that He was God come in the flesh.
     This sign that John records demonstrates the divinity of Jesus in three ways.  First of all, Jesus was able to heal a man with a long standing physical problem.  Having been paralyzed for so long, this man's muscles would have atrophied.  However, when Jesus told him to get up, the man was perfectly restored.  It was as if all of his muscles were recreated.  Only God can do something like this.
    The second way that this sign demonstrates Jesus' divinity is by the fact that Jesus healed on the Sabbath.  God was the one who had instituted the Sabbath.  By healing on the Sabbath, Jesus was showing that He was Lord over the Sabbath.  Since He is the one who made the Sabbath, He was the one who had the authority to say what could and could not be done on that day.  Jesus showed us that it is always right to do good on the Sabbath day.
    The third way that this sign demonstrates Jesus' divinity is by His words to the religious leaders.  Jesus clearly said that God was His Father.  This was saying that He was equal with God.  The religious leaders clearly comprehended Jesus statement.  In the remainder of chapter 5, Jesus and the leaders will debate the fact of who Jesus is.  In chapter 5, Jesus makes it very clear that He is God.  One day He will return to judge the living and the dead.  Only those who look to Jesus for redemption will have eternal life with Him forever and forever.
     It is my hope and prayer that if you have not come to Jesus and made Him your Savior and Lord that you will do so today.  Jesus loves you, and He wants to welcome you into His kingdom which has no end.
     Next week, I will post the verse on Monday.  On Wednesday, I plan to post a review.  The sermon will appear next Friday as usual.  May God bless you all.  Amen.

Book Review -- Notes From the Dog

     As I mentioned in last week's book review post, one of the author's I like is Gary Paulsen.  Mentioning that got me thinking that I hadn't read any of his newer books lately, so I checked a couple out at the library.
    "Notes From the Dog" is an excellent book for young and old alike.  In this book, a 14-year old boy named Finn is living with his Dad and their dog Dylan.  Finn's friend is staying with them for the Summer.  Finn plans on an uneventful Summer, but that all changes when Johanna the new neighbor moves in next door.
    Johanna has cancer, but she is not letting it get her down.  During the course of the book, Johanna helps Finn connect with others around him, she helps him plant a garden, and Finn and Matthew help Johanna by collecting donations for Johanna's triathlon competition to fund cancer research.  The two boys also help Johanna when she is very sick from her chemotherapy treatments.
    Throughout the book, people keep making connections with one another, and every character in the book experiences significant life changes.  Also, Dylan the dog plays a significant role in the book per the title, but I won't give that part of the story away.
     "Notes From the Dog" is a well-written book by a great writer.  I highly recommend it.
   

Verses For the Week -- Verses From Zechariah

Zechariah 7:9-10 -- "This is what the Lord Almighty said:  Administer true justice, show mercy and compassion to one another.  Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor.  Do not plot evil against each other."

Zechariah 9:9 -- "Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!  Shout, Daughter Jerusalem!  See your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a a colt, the foal of a donkey."

Zechariah 14:20 -- "On that day Holy to the Lord will be inscribed on the bells of the horses, and the cooking pots in the Lord's house will be like the sacred bowl in front of the altar."