The Sending - Matthew 9:35-10:20 - Third Week after Pentecost

 

Matthew 9:35-10:20 NIV

³⁵ Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. ³⁶ When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. ³⁷ Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. ³⁸ Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

10 Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.

² These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; ³ Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; ⁴ Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

⁵ These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. ⁶ Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. ⁷ As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ ⁸ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.

⁹ “Do not get any gold or silver or copper to take with you in your belts— ¹⁰ no bag for the journey or extra shirt or sandals or a staff, for the worker is worth his keep. ¹¹ Whatever town or village you enter, search there for some worthy person and stay at their house until you leave. ¹² As you enter the home, give it your greeting. ¹³ If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. ¹⁴ If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet. ¹⁵ Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.

¹⁶ “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. ¹⁷ Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councils and be flogged in the synagogues. ¹⁸ On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. ¹⁹ But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, ²⁰ for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

The Sending

Jesus’ message and teaching for His day and today, is to all the people. He doesn’t limit His message, teaching, healing and grace just to certain individuals or groups of people.

This was prophesied in Isaiah…

Isaiah 9:1-2 NIV

9 Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan—

² The people walking in darkness
    have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
    a light has dawned.

 

Jesus, would of course, teach, in the synagogues. This was a center for the Jewish people to learn and worship. But Jesus’ teaching reached beyond the Jewish nation as well. And Jesus would make it clear that God was here and now, to draw ALL people to Him in forgiveness and salvation. Yes, Jesus would make it clear that He was the Messiah and the Kingdom of God had come through Him into this world.

 

But, would we be able to hear this message?

As Jesus moved about the crowds, He saw the need. And not only did He see the need, He had love and compassion for the people. Jesus loves us and cares for us and comes to us to heal us in more than just body, but spirit as well. It’s amazing to me that He shows and gives a love that transcends the here and now, and gives us a forever, in His Kingdom with Him.

 

And as disciples of Jesus, we are also sent to emulate His compassion and love for one another. We are to hear and see Him in action, so that, we too will love one another, in action.

 

This is the way Jesus trains His disciples then and today. Love and compassion, backed up with action. Not just words, but love for people in horrible situations, that can truly help them. With this, the world knows Jesus and his disciples love. You can’t be a phony-bologna, just talking the words. We are called to “be real.”

 

And in this “being real,” we are called to Go out into the field of the needy people in actions of love, healing, teaching and compassion. It may get ugly at times, but being a disciple of Jesus is not about ease for self. And as we go, we pray, for help, guidance and the wisdom to understand the will of God in our going.

You see how Jesus calls His disciples to Him? Jesus is intimate and close to those who are close to Him. Jesus makes this call personal, both individually and as a group of twelve men. And in this intimate call of love and caring, Jesus grants these men the power and authority that they will need to carry out what Jesus is next going to send them to do.

And Jesus calls them, apostles. So, what’s the difference between an apostle and a disciple? The apostle is chosen by Jesus to go on a specific mission as directed by Jesus. A disciple is also sent, but a disciple is a follower of Jesus, paying attention to Jesus’ teaching, learning from Him and hearing His Word. There are many disciples, but fewer apostles.

Jesus sends the apostles out to the Jewish nation only. Later, Jesus would come to include Samaritans as well. So, who are Samaritans? They are a mixed race of people, Jews who married into Gentiles. That’s why they were so hated by the Jews and the Samaritans hated the Jews as well. Two peoples at odds with one another. Go figure! Sounds pretty typical by today’s standards as well. We sure love to hate one another. But God doesn’t exactly see things this way.

But even with the command to go to the Jewish people, Jesus sends the apostles to the “lost sheep.” So, even in manners of like race, there is a division as well. These “lost sheep,” are the people who have strayed away from God.

And the message? The Kingdom of God is nearby. How’s that? Well, the Messiah, Jesus, had come to earth to save His people. Get yourself ready to be spun around to face God!

Then Jesus tells the apostles to do what they have witnessed Him doing. Heal, cast out demons, have compassion and love all of the sinners… the “lost sheep.”

Apostles sent. Sent with little means, but with great means as well. How’s that? Well, taking little along, brings forth a great dependence on God’s provisions. God has given the apostles then and ourselves today all we need to live.

Remember the “Daily Bread” of the Lord’s Prayer. Well, that giving of “Daily Bread” includes everything we need to live life here now and into eternity with God.

Once again, the theme seems to be GO! GO where you are welcome and leave where you are rejected. Seems awful simple. Yet in reality, it gets complicated.

When you arrive, be compassionate and loving. Greet one another with the love God has given you, so that, you give that same love to those you meet. And that’s for each and every person. That gets tough, when the people reject you. But, do it just the same. When you are rejected for giving the love of God that God has freely given to you, well then, move along. God doesn’t send us out to brow-beat people.

Don’t get all wrapped up in judging those who refuse you. This may not just be “their time” yet. Their time may come later or not at all. That’s not up to you to get all wrapped around the wheel with.

And this sending comes with a truthful warning. You will be rejected. Your feelings will be damaged. But remember, this is not about you. This is about obedience to the command from God to GO!

So, don’t even worry about what you can say to convince those who reject you. It’s you they reject, sure, but it’s also the gift of the grace of God that they leave behind. So, if any words need said, let the Holy Spirit speak through you and move along.

We are called by God to obedience. We are called by God to GO and do what He commands. So, act out in response to what God has done for you, in love towards your neighbor. And you neighbor includes even those you don’t like or disagree with or are appalled by. God doesn’t “sugar coat” His message.

God draws us to Himself and makes us one with Him. What a joy this is! So, shout about it to all the world. Shout it out loud!

There’s a whole world out there filled with demons and evil. We are called, like the apostles to GO out into that world, with the gifts of the Holy Spirit and witness to people, just like you and I, that are sinful and in need of forgiveness and salvation. That’s something that God did for His Children through Jesus. So, GO, and tell all you see day after day, what God has done FOR you and FOR them as well. Some will hear, some will not, some will turn to God later on, some will run away. That’s just how it is. Yet the offer from God stands… today… tomorrow… and forever.

This past week, I have spent a bunch of time on a small QRP radio. That’s a radio that only uses about 5 watts to send out messages. This radio uses CW or Morse Code and only on one band of frequencies, that is the 40-meter band.

So what?

When this radio works, I GO out into the airwaves to contact like enthusiasts using Morse Code to make contacts, to greet another soul in this world with good-will and a message of “Best Wishes.”

I GO without much power or prestige. I GO with a simple antenna. I GO with a small radio to send greetings. I don’t expect much. I know my contacts will be few and far between, and only at certain prime times of the day. But I GO. And in the GOING, I find joy.

Likewise, as you go to work, to school, to family and friends, GO knowing that God has given you all you need to GO. And even when it gets hard to reach out, even when you fail, know that God is with you, giving you all you need to GO.

In the GOING, you will see God, in others, in your struggles, and by your side; as you GO!

So, GO loving God and Neighbor. That’s why…

Thanks be to God!

Permit me to Geek out a bit… I listened to this favorite of mine, the “CQ Song.”

Thinking of sending 73… meaning “Best Wishes” or “Best Regards”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52NGdr1QE7k&list=RD52NGdr1QE7k&start_radio=1

Willow - Matthew 9:9-13 - Second Week after Pentecost

 

Matthew 9:9-13 NIV

⁹ As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.

¹⁰ While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. ¹¹ When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

¹² On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. ¹³ But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Willow

So, in the context of these past few reflections, we have backed up in time a bit. We are back to the midst of Jesus ministry. This passage begins with Jesus moving on from there. Well, where is there? In this case the there is Capernaum. Capernaum is on the northwestern shore of the Sea of Galilee. This is a place where Jesus was active in His ministry. It’s the hometown of Peter, Andrew, James, John and Matthew as well. Here Jesus taught, healed and cast out demons. In some ways you could say that Capernaum was home base for Jesus’ ministry.

Jesus spots Matthew at work as a Tax Collector. You can see how Jesus is intentional with connecting to people. And Jesus connects with those you may not expect Him to connect with. He doesn’t look at the qualifications for being a disciple as the world would consider.

Even in Matthew’s own name is some meaning. Matthew means “gift of God” or “gift of Yahweh.” And for Jesus, I can see Him seeing Matthew as a gift. Even though considering Matthew’s occupation, most people would not see Matthew as a gift, let alone a gift of God. Most people would see Matthew as a nuisance, perhaps a swindler of money, to gain from taxes that were due for the government, skimming additional money off the top for himself.

Yet, Jesus calls Matthew anyway. And Matthew responds!

So, if you think about your own life as a disciple, especially if I ponder my own; we can be assured, at some point, Jesus comes even to sinners like me, and calls us to follow Him. I’ve related my experience in the past of a dream of Jesus coming to my door and calling me “Out to Play.” I didn’t understand it, at the time, but my life has wrapped itself around this saying from childhood to today. Jesus calls all disciples to “Follow Him.” Some calls may be more visual than others, and other calls may be subtle hints; but the point here is to follow the example of Matthew and get up and GO! And that in itself, takes trust and faith in that God IS involved. For some, like Matthew, it’s a quick response, but I think, for most, it’s a pause for consideration, prayer, thought, and discernment. But, in the finality of it all, we as disciples, GO and follow Jesus.

So, just in one verse, we see the power of Jesus on display, as He comes to sinners, and sinners respond. There is power in the personal touch of God, in the life of Matthew, and the life of us as well. So, likewise, as we work in the Kingdom of God, be bold to reach out in a personal way to ask for help from others, in Kingdom work here on earth. This personal touch is powerful.

Next is a wonderful celebration of Matthew’s new call and life change. Jesus gathers at the home of Matthew with all the sinful people. This wasn’t a dinner to impress the mighty and holy religious leaders. This was Jesus in communion with sinners and the common people of the day. This was Jesus, once again, coming to all those for whom He came to forgive, to save, and to call into the Kingdom of God.

Not only did Matthew break the common barriers of society, but Jesus, more importantly, broke all the barriers of, what was believed to be an unclean action, by communing and breaking bread with sinners. Jesus came to touch the unclean, not to justify the pious religious people of the day.

Think about it. If God wants to forgive sinners, He must be with the sinners. SO THAT, me and you, as well as ALL sinners, can repent and be turned around by Jesus’ presence to receive God’s forgiveness. Once again, do you see WHO is taking the initiative to act FIRST? God acts and we respond. How great is that!

Jesus comes into a relationship with us sinners to build us up into His image, to make us righteous, through HIM, rather than through our continual failures to be obedient to God’s will. God acts and we respond, in love to Him, and in love for one another.

As the Pharisees observed this dinner with sinners and the unclean folks of the day, they judged Jesus. How weird is that? Sinners, the Pharisees, judging God. Well, I’m not sure the Pharisees would think of themselves as sinners, just like many self-righteous Christians of today, tend to elevate their own moral standards beyond the common people of society; and judge those outside of their own particular beliefs or denominations.

We can get caught up in judging others. This alienates people. This doesn’t work like God would have it work. Remember, God comes to us. We too, as disciples, must GO… like last week’s message, TO those God gives to us, to love them and proclaim the Gospel of God’s forgiveness and salvation and eternal relationship.

That’s a TALL order. That’s an act that takes a life-time. That’s a call of the Church, here on earth to GO! And along the way we will be sure to stumble. But we are called to a change that only God can bring about in us and in His Church, that will be perfected by God in eternity. That’s a change! That’s a journey! That’s relationship WITH God!

So, don’t look down your nose! Rather turn to God and seek His will and His way, with a humble, joyful, thankful heart, for all that God has done for you.

Now Jesus speaks of “healthy” and “sick” people. Well, just who are these people?

The healthy people are those who “Think” they are healthy. People who place themselves above or beyond other people that, THEY decide, are sick. So, who does this deciding?

The healthy people decide this about themselves. But guess what? There are really NO healthy people on this earth. All of us are sin-sick. All of us sin against God AND one another. So, if you think you are one of the “Healthy,” don’t get ahead of yourself. It’s NOT your place to decide! We are ALL unclean. Get over it!

So, Jesus is coming to ALL of us, especially the “Sick” among us. And we’re all SICK! But if you don’t believe you are SICK, then you don’t think you need to be healed. Or maybe another way to put it is, you don’t think you need to be healed to become healthy.

This is the place that Jesus makes plain the LAW. We all fall short of fulfilling the LAW of God. In fact, the only one that was able to fulfill the LAW completely was Jesus. And Jesus makes it plain that He IS God. So, it’s only through Jesus, the Physician, that we can be healed. All others, that make this claim as our Healing Physician, are imposters.

So, as the Church, we are sent to reach out to the “Sick.” And that includes everyone. But reach out with what? Well, this is where Jesus teaches through Word and example. Jesus reaches out to the “Sick” by making the sick know they are sick, and He reaches out in active love for the “Sick” by communing with them, teaching them, healing them and bringing each of the “Sick” into communion with Him into eternity, SO THAT, the “Sick” may be turned around and away from sinfulness to a new life with God.

And yea, the “Sick” include the Pharisees, and all those pious Christians who claim to be so much better than the rest of this world, only through their own decision, that they are better, or above the other.

Now, the end of this passage, Jesus sends us all back to dig into God’s Word. To dig and discover true meaning. To dig into the Word and attempt to understand the message. This is a tall order. One, that for me, takes a lifetime of digging, and still, I don’t always “get it.”

Listen to just a couple of Old Testament prophets:

Hosea 6:6 NIV

⁶ For I (God) desire mercy, not sacrifice,
    and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.

 

Micah 6:8 NIV

⁸ He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
    And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
    and to walk humbly with your God.

 

Just as Jesus has come to the sinners, then and today; we learn, by His examples, that He is showing us mercy and compassion and love. Not because we deserve such a response from God, but because God can do what He wants, and He does do, what He wants.

 

So, likewise, when we receive such a great gift from Jesus, what is our response?

 

It’s NOT to overpower or over-lord other people. It’s to show one another mercy and compassion and love, no matter how filthy, or sinful, or hateful that other person is, or that other group of people are. We aren’t called to “Rule Over” one another. We are called to an obedience to God to love one another with mercy and compassion. Even those we hate. Whew! Lord, teach us and guide us and correct us along the way as we respond to Your call to love you, and one another!

Sometimes God catches us off guard when He calls us to do something in His Kingdom. Sometimes when we hear the call from God; God is the farthest thing from our minds. Sometimes He calls us right when we are in the midst of our sinfulness, even in the act of sinning. But God sees something different in us. God has the power to initiate and carry out significant life changes. And I think it’s important to be humble in His presence and fully acknowledge His power to change us into something we couldn’t imagine. And this is when trust and faith play out through what God calls us to do.

When I think of Abraham’s response to God’s call to GO, I think of how it wasn’t about how Abraham had any more fortitude than the rest of mankind. Rather Abraham, decided to place his trust in God’s call. Abraham wasn’t any better than any one else. Yet, God still called him to GO. And Abraham, or his descendants, for that matter, are no better than anyone else. But Abraham did recognize that trusting God, in God’s actions, rather than his own actions, would lead him to a better place. A place that God wanted him to go to. Abraham accepted God’s call with hope and faith that God would take care of him all along the way. So, Abraham didn’t go, or accept God’s call because he felt he was better than anyone else. I think Abraham accepted God’s call through trust, hope and faith that God gave him to go and follow God’s lead in his life.

Help me, Lord Jesus, as I listen to your word and your command. Teach me Your ways and set my heart straight.

When I think back on this past week, for myself; there was a knock on the door of my daughter Sarah’s house, early one morning. Two females from a horse farm across the road were at the door. They were looking for Willow, a horse that was in the pasture the previous night that went missing. I looked at all three of the cameras at the house, and could find no evidence showing what had taken place. The female ranch hands figured that Willow was stolen during the night.

Of course, the local authorities were notified. As the day went on the ranch hands continued to search. Then someone had the idea to search from the other side of the fence around the pasture. And yes, they found Willow, stuck in a creek by where the creek passes under the nearby road.

So, what happened? The fence was never compromised, but due to recent rains a sinkhole next to the creek had developed. Since Willow wandered close to the fence, she fell through the sink hole and crawled through a small cave like feature, and became stuck in the creek.

With this, I thought of how Jesus comes to us to call us. Even in the midst of our sinfulness, as we fall into sink holes and get stuck in our sin, Jesus hunts us down to find us where we are.

That’s just like my life with Jesus. Jesus comes to me and finds me. Jesus finds me, a sinner, and rescues me, but not only does He rescue me, He calls me into a relationship with Him and changes me. He calls me to tell the story of His rescue, to ALL those around me, and with me, in my life. He pulls me out of the mud of my life and the waters of my “creek,” to teach me His ways, to show me His love, and to send me out in His grace.

So, yea, you and I, likewise, like Willow, respond with joy and thanksgiving for all God does for us in our lives to bring us from the brink of death to new life, in, and with, Him.

And yes, that’s for today… tomorrow… and forever. Thanks be to God!

I leave you with a couple of videos…

First is the “Willow” rescue… (You may need Facebook to see this)

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1EAneaF5kn/

Finally, this YouTube Music Video that spoke to me this week…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rAbbdEGwq4&list=RD7rAbbdEGwq4&start_radio=1

 

GO! - Matthew 28:16-20 - Holy Trinity

 

Matthew 28:16-20 NIV

¹⁶ Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. ¹⁷ When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 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.”

GO!

Sort of back to the start for Jesus and His now eleven disciples. How’s that? Jesus had pre-arranged this meeting with His disciples, to go to Galilee. This is back to where Jesus’ ministry began and where He first called some of His disciples. It’s almost like an extension of His ministry after His resurrection. So, this is a connecting place for ministry to continue into this world, even after He returns to heaven. And on a mountain to boot. God seems to go to mountains to meet with His people.

I think that is why I like mountains myself. Mountains, to me, mean peace, fresh air, and spectacular views. Thin places, I’ve heard others refer to them as, thin places close to God. So, think back on mountains that you have been to. Think back on the mountains that God mentions in Scripture and give all of that some thought.

So, here in this one verse is a call to obedience in following Jesus pre-arranged instructions and a spiritual connection with God. For the disciples, this was a journey that is faith-filled and a journey that will move ministry into the future through them.

Reflect on your own walk with God and think of the times and places that God has called you to go to that are unknown. Give thanks to God that you are called and permitted to serve Him in your life in your present life journey.

We see God and worship Him. Here the disciples see Jesus and worship Him. It’s a sign of faith and belief that Jesus IS who He says He is… God. But some of us still doubt. That’s not only then but for disciples today. I fall to doubt at times. This is unfortunate, but really natural. In the midst of my doubt, I tend to dig deeper into God’s Word. I think that may be a good thing. In the midst of my doubt, I pray. In the midst of my doubt, I look to see God. So, here, it seems to me in the seeing and believing or doubting, all is a walk with God that leads to faith, trust and hope.

So, as we all walk out our lives, let’s live in faith and doubt, and not judge the other person that is wavering from one to the other. For in faith or doubt, God is still present looking for each of us to be with Him.

And then Jesus makes an amazing move and declaration. First off, He comes to the disciples. He comes to you and me as well. He doesn’t wait for us to come to Him. Next, he declares His authority that exists not only in the physical realm of earthly creation, but in the spiritual realm of heaven. Think about it… He came to earth from heaven. So, Jesus in God exists not only as flesh and blood but Holy Spirit. And now we tie it all back to the Trinity of Father, Son and Spirit. Yea, Holy Trinity!

So, what about this authority that Jesus speaks of? Well, it’s a given. God is always giving. God even gives His authority. Jesus gives His life. The Spirit gives His church on earth, and the saints within it, gifts to carry out what is coming next, in these few verses of Scripture.

Now, with Jesus having established His authority in this world and in heaven, He issues a command for the disciples then and now. Go! An action command. Jesus has been teaching us, and them, all along. Even through the winter and spring months with this very series of Reflections, we have heard Jesus’ teaching. Teaching that points to Him and the Father’s plan of salvation for all people. A plan that now will involve the guidance of the Holy Spirit at work not only in disciples, but in the catholic church as well. Catholic you say? Sure! Not just Roman Catholic, but ALL the church here on earth made up of ALL believers from various Christian practices, theologies and callings to GO. Go and do what? Tell of what God has done! Tell of how God has acted in your own life by forgiving you and saving you and giving you a new life through what Jesus has already done. Yea, sure, GO! This is not the first time God has issued this command. So, even to the people of Jesus’ day, it should sound familiar. Maybe they even have the passage of Scripture memorized.

Genesis 12:1 NIV

12 The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.

This GO command uses all the teachings and examples that Jesus has been letting us in on all along. This GO is a GO of trust, hope, faith and the belief that God has our backs. But again, GO and do what?

Well first, tell the Gospel to the people, then baptize, baptize, baptize. Remember that your baptism is a gift from God. Your baptism is an action of God. Your baptism is God claiming you! And from your baptism you become a new creation, powered and gifted by the Holy Spirit, through all that you have witnessed God do through Jesus to forgive you, to free you from sin, death and the devil. No longer are you held captive. You are too, as a newly baptized child of God called to GO! GO and proclaim all that God has done, TO all those God places in your life, day after day after day, place after place after place. This is an exciting new eternal journey, full of risk, danger, and ultimate joy living with God as you GO!

Now Jesus has set the Trinity in the center. Baptize in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. All God. All unique. All different, yet ALL God.

Think of it!

Revelation 7:9 NIV

⁹ After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.

That there, IS, what this GO results in at the end of time! This is the fulfillment of the command of this “Great Commission.” This “Great GO!”

And as disciples GO! We recall the teachings of Jesus. We “Point to Jesus” and tell of His Word as recorded in Scripture, and TEACH, TEACH, TEACH. Thinking and witness in Word how Jesus has taught disciples all along. For in Word and through the Holy Spirit we can be assured that Jesus IS WITH us all along the way we GO!

Revelation 21:1-4 NIV

21 Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. ² I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. ³ And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ⁴ ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

WOW!

Back to the start we go with Jesus, in this passage. Remember how He was present at Creation? Now He is present at the beginning of the ministry given to His disciples. Jesus came to earth in the flesh and blood of a divine intervention, and now He draws us into this divine intervention to be at One with Him, to be at One with the Father, and to be at One with the Holy Spirit. Why? Tag your it. Tag I’m it. Listen to Jesus, and be obedient to His call and the gift of the Holy Spirit to guide His church, here on earth and finally in eternity, when all will be made new and perfect, once again. So, yea, back to the beginning we go, with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

The power of the Trinity is evident in creation. And not just the creation of what is physical. The power of the Trinity is evident in the spiritual. So, seen or unseen, God shows His awesome power and majesty.

2 Corinthians 4:18

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

The disciples can see Jesus. Jesus in the flesh. He is, without a doubt resurrected from the dead and alive. Yet, Jesus is leading us to not just trust our eyes, but to also trust in the Holy Spirit, which He is giving to us on the mountain tops of our lives. The Holy Spirit that will lead us and guide us and provide for all our needs. So, once again, Trinity, the Father sent His Son to us, and the Son leaves, or better yet, gives us the Holy Spirit to bring us back to God… Father, Son, Spirit… here with us.

So, guess what? We will die, unless you are one of the few that are alive when Jesus comes again. But we know that since Jesus lived, suffered, was crucified, and buried, and rose again; He has led the way for us to eternal life. How? In His death, He forgave us and released us from the bondage to sin. Sin holds no eternal power over us. And since He rose again, just as the Father had planned, He rose again FOR us that the power of death would be defeated. So, rejoice in what God has done. He forgave our sinfulness, put it to death, and leads us to new life by overcoming death. Why? So that we could live with Father, Son and Spirit, forever in unity into eternity. Wow! How mighty is that? How majestic is the power of God!

So, this is an eternal thing here. We GO! We look to the teachings of Jesus. We GO and tell the story. We GO and teach the teachings. We GO to all the places and people God calls us to not only teaching, but living out the Gospel of love God places in our hearts through what He did to bring us into Him, and to one another, forever.

Yep… Today… tomorrow… and forever… GO! Thanks be to God!

I love this song. Enjoy this YouTube Music Video…

“Come to Jesus”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGy2VHlj0qY&list=RDqGy2VHlj0qY&start_radio=1

 

Rivers Within - John 7:37-39 - Pentecost

 

John 7:37-39 NIV

³⁷ On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. ³⁸ Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” ³⁹ By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.

Rivers Within

This short Gospel passage of Scripture takes place during the Feast of the Tabernacles. A feast to remember the wanderings of the Israelites in the wilderness. A central theme of this feast is “water.” Water is a big deal. Think of the needs of water in the wilderness. Water was not only needed to refresh the body, but symbolically it was a spiritual refreshment, as well.

When I take a shower, water washes over my body and also refreshes my spirit. Water makes us feel good. And God gives us these waters in our baptism as well. Water combined with God’s Word, raises us up, through the gift of the Holy Spirit, to a new life, to be a Child of God, accepted and loved into eternity.

Water quenches our thirst. And as Jesus invites us here to come to Him and drink. Why?

Because it is through Jesus that we are fed with not just H2O, but life-giving eternal water of salvation and grace. Well, hold on a minute, that seems to be taking this too far. But it’s not a stretch at all, take Jesus at His word and believe! Jesus invites us to come to Him.

Listen to the prophet Isaiah…

Isaiah 55:1 NIV

55 “Come, all you who are thirsty,
    come to the waters;
and you who have no money,
    come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
    without money and without cost.

And here we are once again, back to gifts from God. An invitation from Jesus to take in His life-giving water, free! When we come to Jesus, we come in faith, we come for refreshment and we receive what Jesus alone can give, life and life abundant, life full of His life-giving water, His eternal water, His grace.

So, yes, this is a time to celebrate! The Festival of Booths, when the Israelites were wandering in the wilderness, while approaching the waters of the Jordan, to cross over into the promised land through those refreshing waters of promise and hope of a new life with God.

Now Jesus invites us to His gift of endless water, to cross over into life eternal, through Him and with Him. Abundant water that never ceases to flow. I think of Jesus at His baptism

by John, and how Jesus Himself was washed over by the waters of the Jordan, to have heaven open up, and the Holy Spirit descend upon Him. At this He was called by the Father, gifted by the Spirit, and began His ministry in earnest to save ALL people.

So, come to Jesus and let that water flow!

Revelation 22:17 NIV

¹⁷ The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.

Jesus issues an open invitation to believe in Him. Believe what? When you consider the rest of His statement,” that streams of living water will flow from you,” it becomes clear, that when you believe in Jesus, you receive eternal life. Life is in the water, and the Word, which IS Jesus.

Think of the water that flows from the throne of God, as mentioned in Revelation and other places. This is life giving water that sustains everything it contacts. So, to believe, is to use the faith and gifts God has freely given to you, SO THAT, you place all your hope and trust in what Jesus has done, and what the Spirit has freely given to you, each and every day of your eternal life with God.

So, as the prophet Joel states…

Joel 2:28 NIV

²⁸ “And afterward,
    I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
    your old men will dream dreams,
    your young men will see visions.

So, this pouring out of the Spirit, is like the ever-flowing water of living water streaming from God.

And with this Jesus tells us about the Spirit of God that will come over His believers. The Spirit that will show us our sin and lead us to the gifts from God that flows freely from God in water, fire and the conviction to do the will of God. As believers live by the Spirit, as God’s work is done in this world, in forgiveness, love and salvation.

God places His Spirit upon His people. Moses wished that ALL the Lord’s people had the Spirit placed upon them…

Numbers 11:24-30 NIV

²⁴ So Moses went out and told the people what the Lord had said. He brought together seventy of their elders and had them stand around the tent. ²⁵ Then the Lord came down in the cloud and spoke with him, and he took some of the power of the Spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy elders. When the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied—but did not do so again.

²⁶ However, two men, whose names were Eldad and Medad, had remained in the camp. They were listed among the elders, but did not go out to the tent. Yet the Spirit also rested on them, and they prophesied in the camp. ²⁷ A young man ran and told Moses, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.”

²⁸ Joshua son of Nun, who had been Moses’ aide since youth, spoke up and said, “Moses, my lord, stop them!”

²⁹ But Moses replied, “Are you jealous for my sake? I wish that all the Lord’s people were prophets and that the Lord would put his Spirit on them!” ³⁰ Then Moses and the elders of Israel returned to the camp.

And as David did in times past, we too, seek the guidance, the forgiveness and the ways that God would call us and teach us to go. In this day, the day of Pentecost, God sends His Spirit upon us to teach us, to lead us, to guide us, and to call us out, to do His will for ALL the people.

As we celebrate the day of Pentecost, we see how the Holy Spirit, calls, enlightens and gifts all believers to be fruitful in living out God’s love throughout the life of the Church on this earth. A love that will flow like rivers of living water until Jesus comes again and all those believers will see the source of that stream of water from God. What a vision! What power God has shown through creation, redemption in Jesus, and gifts of life in the Holy Spirit.

So, as disciples of Jesus, GO! Go out in Spirit and Word, to boldly proclaim the forgiveness of sin, the salvation of God brought to earth for ALL. Go and speak the Gospel Word not only vocally, but in actions of love and forgiveness for one another. Go, in obedience to the call that God has placed on you, that the Holy Spirit has given all the needs you need, to tell the world, all that God has done… today… tomorrow… and forever. Thanks be to God! Be on fire full of life-giving water for all the world.

I leave you with this YouTube Music Video that spoke to me about “Living Water” this past week… relax and enjoy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LA9UfBEHciY