Tag Archives: Pastor Rob

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24. Famous last words

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The famous last words of some of the world’s great people are an inspiration to us: –

  • Sir Walter Raleigh shortly before being beheaded is recorded as saying, “It matters little how the head lies if the heart is right.”

  • Joan of Arc, claimed to have seen visions and heard angels instructing her. She was condemned to death by burning. Amid the flames, she cried out, “Yes, my voices were from God. My voices have not deceived me – Jesus!”

  • The great Italian painter and sculptor, Michelangelo’s last words were, “Throughout life remember the sufferings of Jesus.”

Jesus’s life and ministry were rapidly drawing to a close. For a third time, He warned his disciples of his impending death (Matthew 20:17-19). With time running short, what important last words did Jesus have for His disciples?

During those last few days, Jesus told a series of five parables.  Our reading covers one of them.

Matthew 21:23-32

Image by Pexels from Pixabay

 AUTHORITY CHALLENGED

While Jesus was busy teaching in the temple court, “the chief priests and the elders of the people challenged Him, `By what authority are you doing these things and who gave this authority?'”

In Jesus’s day as in ours, people looked for an outward sign of authority—education, title, position, and connections. But Jesus’s authority came from who He was, not from any outward superficial trappings.

If Jesus had said that his authority came from God they would have accused Him of blasphemy. If He had said that He was acting under His own authority, the crowds would have believed in the Pharisees.

Jesus turned the tables on the Pharisees by asking a seemingly unrelated question, which exposed their real motives (Matthew 21:25). Whichever way they chose to answer His question, would put them in a poor light with the crowds, so they answered “We don’t know.”

Jesus saw this as an opportunity to tell another story.

TALE OF TWO SONS

The parable of the Two Sons is a very human story. We all know of children who have responded to instructions in a similar way.

There was a great deal of work to be done in a vineyard, so the owner approached his first son for help. He flatly refused to do the work, but had second thoughts later and got stuck in. Upon being turned down by the first son the man asked his second son, who very politely said, “I will sir,” but went away and forgot about his promise.

“Which of the two sons did what his father wanted?” Jesus asked.

CURIOUS RESPONSE

The answer to Jesus’s question may seem perfectly clear to us.  Although the religious leaders answered correctly, this was not the usual attitude amongst the Jews.

A missionary in Israel told this parable and then asked the question, “Who did the will of his father?”  To his great surprise, the crowd unanimously answered, “The man who said he would go and did not.”  When he asked them why, they said, “A day’s work in the vineyard is a little thing, but to say `No’ to your father’s beard is a grievous sin.”

The teaching of Jesus is the exact opposite. He maintained that lip service could never be a substitute for action.

MEANING

In this story, the first son represented the tax collectors and sinners such as Matthew and Mary Magdalene. Their lives at first indicated a direct refusal to have anything to do with God. Yet when Jesus came, they listened to Him and their lives were transformed.

The second son represented the very people who had questioned Jesus’ authority—the Scribes and the Pharisees.  They professed to serve God and obey His commandments and yet when He sent His Son they didn’t accept His authority.

Jesus was in effect saying to them, “All your lives you have been making a great profession of your love and devotion to God, but your attitude undermines your profession. The people that you brand as sinners have repented and turned back to God and been accepted into His kingdom but you choose to remain outside the Kingdom.”

ACTIONS BETTER WORDS

This parable underlines the saying actions speak louder than words. Neither son’s actions supported their words, but their actions did reveal the extent of their love for their father.

These two sons stand for different kinds of people. The second represents those who say one thing but their lives tell another story.

CHURCH HANDICAP

Open-air preacher Dick Sheppard once said, “the greatest handicap the Church has is the unsatisfactory lives of professing Christians.”

I heard it once said of a person who claimed to be a Christian, “I cannot hear what he says for listening to how he acts.”

  • Do you claim to love the Lord Jesus? Do you live up to it?

STRANGE TRUTH

The opposite is also true. There are people like the first son, whose actions are better than their  words. They make no claim to being a Christian and yet they live good clean lives.

I once knew a man who was a friendly, clean living, man of integrity. He would have nothing to do with shady deals, but he wasn’t a Christian.

UNSATISFACTORY SONS

The reaction of neither of the sons was ideal. Both of them caused their father heartache.

  • Having said “Yes” to Jesus are you doing what He wants you to do?

The son and daughter who really bring joy to their heavenly father are the ones who willingly hear and gladly obey the instructions He gives.

Amongst Jesus’ last words to His disciples were words of encouragement to be doers of His word. “Not everyone who says to me, `Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”  (Matthew 7:21)

In closing think about, what are you doing to grow the kingdom of God?

The words of this popular hymn remind us that we need to both trust and obey.

If you haven’t yet read the Introduction to Encounters with Jesus, please do. It will benefit you throughout this series of studies.

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23. Turning failure into success

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Do you rate yourself as a successful Christian or are your failures dragging you down?

 Several years back for the first time in many years a South African won the Comrades Marathon. However, he was disqualified days later for having used a banned substance.

Many have made great strides in politics, business, the theatre, society, and even in the ministry, only to have their success crumble as a result of something they’ve done or failed to do.

In our readings for this session, we read of a man who had great potential for success but whose life ended in failure.

Read the following two passages – John 12;1-6;13:18-30

Image by yogesh more from Pixabay

  • What determines success or failure?

A dictionary definition of Failure is ‘the non-occurrence, non-performance, neglect to do something’.

Success is ‘the attainment of one’s object’

FALLING SHORT 

The Word of God is very honest in its record of the successes as well as the failures of its chief characters. Even some well-known Bible heroes have made the transition from success to failure. Both Kings Saul and David, come to mind. God chose them both to become king of Israel.

Initially, King Saul was God-fearing but he disobeyed God’s instruction to totally annihilate the enemy (1 Samuel 15:3,9). Then God told Samuel “Saul has stopped obeying me, and I’m sorry that I made him king.” (Verse 11)

King David had so much potential—an accomplished musician, poet, herdsman, and marksman, and chosen to replace Saul as Israel’s king. He had everything going for him, but in a weak moment or days, he sinned. He neglected his troops, committed adultery, and had his lover’s husband murdered.

Although Saul and David were chosen by God, they both fell short of God’s standard for living a God-glorifying life.

Paul reminds us that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23 ESV). That includes me, and it includes you.

  • Are you achieving your potential for God?

CHOSEN TO SUCCEED

Jesus did not make his choice of the Apostles lightly; he spent a whole night in prayer before choosing his twelve-man team. (Luke 6:12-16) One of the chosen twelve was Judas son of Simon Iscariot.

Along with the rest of the team, Judas was appointed to “announce that the kingdom of heaven will soon be here.  Heal the sick, raise the dead to life, heal people who have leprosy, and force out demons.” (Matthew 10:7,8 CEV) So not only did Judas hear Jesus’s amazing teaching, and witness the miracles that Jesus performed, but he actually experienced the wonder of being personally powerfully used by God.

Our first reading informs us that he was the treasurer of the group of Apostles and inclined to pocket some of the proceeds for himself (John 12:6). But the fact that he was appointed treasurer, indicates he started off well. He was a successful team member. Yet like so many other followers of the Master, he had a wrong concept of Jesus’s mission here on earth.

MISTAKEN

His final act of failure showed up at the Last Supper. When Jesus did not fall in line with his expectations, Judas tried to force the Lord into setting up a coup against Rome, by betraying him to the religious leaders who saw Jesus as a threat to their authority.

Jesus gave him every opportunity to turn from his godless plan, but he didn’t. His plan failed miserably. Instead Jesus was arrested, put on trial, and condemned to death. When Judas realised what a dreadful mistake he’d made, it was too late. And he committed suicide (Matthew 27:5). How sad. For a man who started out with such potential.

  • Are you achieving your potential for God?

FAILURE TO SUCCESS

Could Judas’s failure have been reversed? Yes! I believe it could. If only he had accepted the olive branch Jesus offered him at that last supper. If only he had repented and sought God’s forgiveness and returned the money. If only he had not betrayed his Lord.

Could God possibly still have work for David to do after his adultery with Bathsheba? Yes God graciously restored David after he pleaded for forgiveness in that wonderful Psalm of repentance: Psalm 51. Despite his failure, the shepherd, soldier, singer, sinner, and sovereign went on to become a successful, dedicated servant of God.

Of the twelve men Jesus chose, his right-hand man denied him, Judas betrayed Him, and nine of the others deserted Him—a 91% failure rate. Only John was present until the end. Yet after Jesus’ resurrection and the Pentecost anointing, eleven of them became a success in their witness for Christ, laying a firm foundation that has enabled the Gospel to be spread worldwide.

SUCCESS

Becoming a Christian does not automatically turn us into perfect people. We are all still sinners—forgiven sinners. We are banded together to try to serve God.

Perhaps you have tried to live a successful Christian life but find that so often you fall short. So often you lapse back into doing things your way, not God’s.

You only have one life to live here on earth. There is no second opportunity to serve the Lord. Click To Tweet

You need to make your life count for God. 

Admit your failures. Ask God through Christ’s sacrifice to cleanse you, and to show you what He wants you to do for Him today.

In closing let’s celebrate together that we can be successful Christians through the singing of this beautiful hymn: My Life is in You Lord!

If you haven’t yet read the Introduction to Encounters with Jesus, please do. It will benefit you throughout this series of studies.

 

 

Posted in Encounter

22. No longer empty

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  Life is full of special times and occasions.

Life would be empty without special events to celebrate:  Engagements, marriages, baby births, birthdays,  graduations, anniversaries, etc.

But life also has its setbacks that cause one to feel empty: Physical handicaps, debilitating diseases, marriage breakups, and death amongst a host of other problems.

In this session, we’re going to briefly look at an occasion when Jesus converted an apparent setback into a miracle

Read the story in  Matthew 14:13-21.

Photo by Leah Kelley:

EMPTY FEELINGS 

We all experience those times when, because of circumstances, life seems to be empty and meaningless.

  • What emptiness have you been experiencing lately?
  • Some may have lost loved ones. A brother or sister, a parent or child, a spouse or some other beloved family member or friend. The emptiness left by the one who has gone is traumatic.

I lost Arthur, my only brother, to cancer on 23rd December several years back. Christmas still holds an element of sadness for my wife, Shirl, and me. It’s hard, isn’t it? People try to comfort and say, “He/she has gone to a better place.” That’s true – but Arthur didn’t take me with him. He is no longer a part of my life and I miss him.

  • Many of you have had to say goodbye to your children as they’ve left the nest.

Shirl and I will never forget the day we said goodbye to our daughter Debbie who, with her husband Craig and two small children, took off for the mission field in Venezuela. That was hard. Knowing that it was right because it was the Lord’s will, didn’t make it any easier for us. We still felt that feeling of loss.

  • Perhaps severe illness has brought about emptiness in your life. You can’t do what you used to do before.
  • Some may be experiencing the emptiness of a broken relationship. Perhaps your marriage partner or the love of your life found someone else to love.

FAMISHED CROWDS

In today’s passage we encounter another form of emptiness caused by being without food for a long period.

It had been a long tiring day and it was getting late. Jesus’s disciples tried to persuade Him to send the people off to the villages to buy food. Jesus responded, “You give them something to eat. (Matthew 14:16 NIV) Five thousand people and Jesus expected the disciples to feed them all. Come on!

“But Master all we can muster is five loaves of bread and two fish. That will never feed this crowd.”

“Bring them here to me.” (Verse 17) Jesus said, “Bring me what you’ve got.”

The disciples could have reacted, “Forget it! No way. We’re not going to look like fools. We don’t have anything like enough food.” Then the crowds would have gone home hungry. And the disciples would never have witnessed an amazing miracle.

Jesus went on to feed that massive crowd of five thousand from the very tiny offering the disciples had to offer.

We all go through periods when we feel that we have nothing to offer, don’t we? Times when we feel empty—drained of joy, enthusiasm, strength. Empty. So what does He want us to do?

OFFER WHAT YOU HAVE

He asks us to bring Him what we have.

All the disciples could muster was in effect one person’s picnic lunch. John tells us that it was a lad’s lunch (John 6:9). Yet from it Jesus fed that massive crowd, with leftovers.

Have you ever stopped to wonder why Jesus over-catered?

Paul tells us that Jesus loves to do – far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! (Ephesians 3:20a – The Message)

The disciples only had “five small barley loaves and two small fish’ (John 6:9 NIV). Jesus not only fed the crowd of 5000 men (not counting the women and kids!) yet there were twelve baskets of left-overs.

Why?? Far more than we dare ask or imagine. (Ephesians 3:20 CEV)

FEELING EMPTY?

What area of your life feels empty today?

What can you bring to Him so that He can use it to work a miracle in your life?

  • Do you have an empty home?
  • Is your life lacking companionship?
  • Do you have lots of love to share but no-one to share it with?
  • Have you got time on your hands—through illness, or bereavement?

The disciples had no clue how Jesus would feed that large crowd with five small loaves and two tiny fish, but He used what they gave Him.

His (Jesus's) power at work in us can do far more than we dare ask or imagine. Ephesians 3:20b CEV Click To Tweet

You may not know what Jesus can do in your life. But if you don’t offer Him what you have, you may never know.

As we bring this session to a close, whatever the cause of your emptiness bring it to Jesus. Bring Him whatever you have, whatever you’re capable of doing.

Do what He shows you and may you experience many happy surprises seeing Him by means of his power working in you … do so much more than you can ever ask for, or even think of (Ephesians 3:20  GNB).

May you experience the joy of seeing how He uses what you offer Him in an amazing way. He may not do as you expect; He rarely does. But give Him what you have anyway.

Listen to this beautiful rendition of Give Them All by the Gaither Group.

If you haven’t yet read the Introduction to Encounters with Jesus, please do. It will benefit you throughout this series of studies.

Posted in Encounter

21. Moving mountains

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Have you noticed how mountains are often featured in scripture?

  • Can you name any biblical mountains and describe what took place there?

Our passage today is one of three in which Jesus gave his disciples the assurance that they would be able to move mountains.

Matthew 17:1-20

Imagine the chaos we would cause if we were to command Cape Town’s famous Table Mountain with its cable car,  restaurant, and everything else, to move into Table Bay.

Oil Painting of Table Mountain commissioned by my son and his wife

MOVING MOUNTAINS TRIVIA

To celebrate his defeat of the Parthians, King Herod the Great built a mountain palace called Herodium. Before he built it, there was no mountain.

How can you build a mountaintop palace without a mountain?

Simple, Herod had a mountain built. As the article Herodium, indicates, he took earth from another site to create his very own personal mountain palace/fort.

Jesus doesn’t call His disciples to shovel dirt around as Herod seems to have done. He was obviously not referring to moving mountains physically.

THE MOUNTAIN OF TRADITION

We find Jesus’ promise that if His followers have enough faith they will be able to move mountains in three verses from the gospels (Matthew 17:20;  21:21 and Mark 11:23). However we’re going to concentrate on the incident recorded in Matthew 17.

Briefly Matthew 21:21 and Mark 11;23 both relate to Jesus cursing of the unproductive fig tree. The People’s New Testament states, ’the cursing of the fig tree was a parable in action, illustrating how the fruitless Jewish nation should wither away. It had leaves, but no fruit.’

The Jewish religion with its temple sacrificial system was already in a state of decline. “This mountain,”- the temple, all that it symbolized with its collection of sacred furnishings would soon be destroyed. This happened as Jesus’ predicted in 70 AD.

But surely there is more to Jesus’ words than a declaration that the mountain of Jewish worship was about to be moved.

MOUNT HERMON ENCOUNTER

In our passage from Matthew 17 we have a different scenario to the other two references—Jesus was transfigured, probably on Mt Hermon, before Peter and the brothers, James and John. Coming down the mountain, Jesus urged them to secrecy until after His resurrection.

At the bottom of the mountain, they were met by a crowd of people. As they approached, a man fell to his knees begging, “Sir, have mercy on my son! He is an epileptic and has such terrible attacks that he often falls in the fire or into water. I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him.” (Matthew 17:15,16  GNB)

Jesus ordered a demon out of the boy and he was healed. When the disciples had Jesus to themselves, they asked, “Why couldn’t we cast it out?”

Jesus response was, “Because you have so little faith. “Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move

On this occasion Jesus’ words followed on the disciples’ inability to cast out a demon from that young boy. Yet earlier on in Jesus’ ministry the disciples had been able to cast out demons. (Luke 10:17) Why not now?

The mountain Jesus appeared to be speaking about was the mountain of their failure because of their very little faith

MOUNTAINOUS PROBLEMS

Taking a step in faith and opening one’s life to Jesus for the first time is a truly wonderful experience. But being a follower of Jesus is by no means easy. We all face mountainous problems and difficulties.

Contrary to our human nature,

  • We are called upon to deny self, take up our cross and follow Christ.

  • To die to sin—put down those sinful lusts, words, actions, etc.,—a very difficult and painful task.

  • Obey God in all things.

  • Willingly forsake all for Christ and the gospel—that’s a really big sacrifice to make.

  • To top it all, in our effort to live a faith-filled life we are constantly hampered by our adversary, the devil.

  • And because we are deeply committed Christians does not free us from mountainous difficulties and hardships – relationship problems, health problems, financial problems, social problems, work problems, hurtful words, harmful actions, crime and violence, the list seems endless.

  • What mountains that you are facing at this moment?

MOVING MOUNTAINS

A closer look at those three passages where Jesus said we would be able to move mountains reveals a common phrase—’you can say to this mountain’ (Matthew 17:20; 21:21) or ‘if anyone says to this mountain’ (Mark 11:23)

In all three passages Jesus instructed His followers to speak to the mountain.

In 2 Corinthians 4:13 Paul wrote “The scripture says, “I spoke because I believed.” (GNB) In the same spirit of faith we also speak because we believe.

Jesus told the disciples to have faith and “say to this mountain”.  In a nutshell believe and speak to the mountain.

This concept has been grossly abused by the ‘name it, claim it’ movement. But we must take care that, because some abuse it, we don’t set aside an important biblical concept—believe and speak to those mountainous problems and needs.

Under Christ’s umbrella, we do have authority to move certain mountains –

  • A time consuming personal conflict;

  • The spiritual progress of a family member or friend being hampered by some obstacle;

  • Our being unable to fulfil a God determined plan by some form of delay.

  • The need for healing in order for God’s work to continue.

Whether we have the faith to tell a mountain to move or whether we actually ask God to move it is not the issue.

PRAYER MOVES MOUNTAINS

The same Jesus who told His disciples to say to this mountain ‘Move from here to there’ also taught them to ask for what they needed in prayer. (John 15:7)

In Mark’s record of Jesus’ response to the disciple’s question “Why couldn’t we cast it out?” he adds “This kind can come out only by prayer.”(Mark 9:29)

Our spoken Christ-centered prayer has the power to remove the mountains in our life. Click To Tweet

IMMOVABLE MOUNTAINS

What if despite fervent believing prayer and speaking boldly to that the mountain, it won’t move?

I think Beth Moore has the answer. So…if you pray that God will move a mountain and He doesn’t, or you have the faith to tell the mountain to move and it won’t, assume Christ wants you to climb it instead and see Him transfigured. (Believing God – Beth Moore)

Peter James and John went up with Jesus to a higher level and saw Jesus transfigured before them. Who knows what Jesus has for us if we are prepared to respond to His call to “Come up here” to a higher level of commitment to Him.

In closing please make this your sincere prayer: Christ Jesus, you spoke boldly to your disciples with the promise, If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you. (Matthew 17:20) Lord, develop in me the kind of faith that moves mountains by the power of your Holy Spirit.

If you haven’t yet read the Introduction to Encounters with Jesus, please do. It will benefit you throughout this series of studies.

Posted in Encounter

20. Agents for Change

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Have you ever wished that you could go back in time and change your life or even just a particular part of it?

Our passage this week is about someone who was able to make such a change.

Luke 19:1-10 The Message

Sycamore tree – Image by Hans from Pixabay

CHANGE ENCOUNTER

The name Zacchaeus means ‘pure’, but to the Jews he was ‘impure’ – a traitor to his own people.

  • He was employed by the despised Roman rulers to collect taxes from his own people.

  • According to the Easton Bible Dictionary, Zacchaeus was probably the collector of customs in Jericho. Jericho at that time produced and exported a considerable quantity of balsam. So Zacchaeus was an important man. He was also a rich man.” (e-Sword – Zacchaeus – Easton)

  • As the head tax collector he supervised the other tax collectors in the area. There was a lot of wheeling and dealing, and Zacchaeus doubtless extracted his ‘cut’ from whatever they brought in.

Jesus, the miracle man from Galilee, was approaching Jericho. Zacchaeus was keen to get a good look at this man. However, he had a problem—he was short. There was no way that his fellow citizens would allow him to push his way to the front in order to see Jesus.

So Zacchaeus came up with a plan. He worked out what route Jesus would take. He ran ahead of the crowd, and then—of all things—he climbed a sycamore tree!

Not the place one would anticipate encountering the taxman. It certainly reveals how anxious Zacchaeus must have been to see Jesus.

CHANGE OF HEART

Imagine his surprise when Jesus stopped at the foot of the tree and looked up at him. Imagine his embarrassment when Jesus said, “You silly little taxman what do you think you are doing up that tree?”

Is that what Jesus said?

No! “Zacchaeus, hurry down. Today is my day to be a guest in your home.”

This stunned Zacchaeus. He wasn’t used to being treated with respect by a fellow Jew. What was more amazing Jesus wanted to visit his home. This is a wonderful thing about Jesus. No matter who we are, what others think of us, or even what harm we may have done to others, Jesus wants to be made welcome in our lives.

Jesus’s acceptance of Zacchaeus had a life-changing effect on this man. There and then this tax collector decided to change his attitude towards his job and the people.

“Master, I give away half my income to the poor–and if I’m caught cheating, I (will) pay four times the damages.”

Note that Jesus hadn’t pointed out his faults! By merely being in Jesus’ presence, Zacchaeus saw the need to change.

He committed himself that in the future he would claim a fair tax. He even went so far as to say that if he erred in his assessment, he personally would reimburse the person he wronged.

Jesus wants to be an important part of your life. Jesus not only wants to make a difference in your life, He wants to transform others through you. How Zacchaeus handled his customers from then on would have had a major influence on their lives. How we handle the people around us can make all the difference in their lives too.

Image by David Mark from Pixabay

A CHALLENGE TO CHANGE 

There is a well-known fictional story about a boy called Teddy Stoddard. I encourage you to read the  story here, but  basically the story is about a little boy whose life is turned upside down by the death of his mother while he was in Junior School.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Teddy Stoddard’s teacher found him to be a major challenge to teach. He arrived at school shabbily dressed and unkempt. His fellow classmates tended to laugh and jeer at him. He sat with a sullen expression on his face and showed no interest in what the teacher was teaching. There was no way he would pass at the end of the year.

His teacher Miss Thompson was at her wits end, until she read the reports of his previous teachers and discovered that he was actually a bright lad, but the passing of his mother had brought about a deep depression. She decided to put all her effort into encouraging him and helping him to cope. By the end of the year, Teddy had caught up with the majority of the class.

From then on, as he continued his schooling, from time to time she received a short note from him giving an account of his progress. Eventually, years later, she received a longer letter to inform her that he had graduated from university as Theodor Stoddard M.D. He had met a lovely girl whom he was about to marry. Theodor invited Miss Thompson to attend the wedding and sit where his mother would have sat if she were alive.

What an honour! All because she had been an agent of change and made an amazing difference in Teddy’s life.

JESUS BRINGS CHANGE

That’s what Jesus does for you and for me. Jesus makes the difference.

Zacchaeus decided to take Jesus at His word, and welcomed Him into his home. When Jesus came into Zacchaeus’s life that day, He made a difference. He transformed that little man’s attitude towards all those around him.

As we mix with people God will give us—you and me—many opportunities to become agents for change

There will be those who are easy to like. There will be others who are oh so difficult. But in each case, God is giving us a chance to make a difference.

In closing, won’t you ask God to help you spot the opportunities He brings your way today? Openings where you can make a difference in someone’s life.

If you haven’t yet read the Introduction to Encounters with Jesus, please do. It will benefit you throughout this series of studies.

 

 

 

 

Posted in Encounter

19. An Unlikely Missionary

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What are the requirements of a missionary?

  • Who are some of the individuals Jesus called to be missionaries?

Who did you think of?

Maybe the 12 Apostles – Jesus sent them out two by two (Mark 6:7-13; Luke 9:1-6).

Or the 72 disciples that Jesus also sent out in two’s some time later (Luke 10:1).

Perhaps Paul was the first individual who came to mind?

Today’s story tells of the most unlikely missionary.

Read about him in Mark 5:1-20

Photo by Brett Sayles:

DERANGED

Jesus met this future missionary in a cemetery—he was a lunatic!! A deranged man living in a graveyard. Did this man have the wherewithal to become a missionary? Surely not!!!

Isolated from family and friends by his animal-like behaviour.  So violent, the authorities didn’t know what to do with him. They tried to restrain him, but he broke the chains—tore up his own clothes—lived in burial caves—and cut himself with jagged rocks.

In fact, here in South Africa and I’m sure in most countries, those who display such anti-social behaviour are institutionalized. They may undergo professional analysis and expensive treatment, which over a period of years may curb this anti-social destructive behaviour. On the other hand, it may not.

TRANSFORMATION

Immediately Jesus and his disciples beached their boat near the town of Gerasa (the KJV has Gedara) near a graveyard with a large herd of pigs in the vicinity. they encountered this naked wild man.

Horrified at this apparition, I imagine the disciples were ready to get back into their boat. However seeing Jesus, this man ran up and fell at his feet. Jesus ordered, “Come out of that man, you unclean spirit!” (Mark 5:8 NET) To which the man shouted back, Jesus, Son of God in heaven, what do you want with me? (Verse 7)

Jesus wanted to deliver him from his demonic bondage.

  • Is there perhaps some form of wrong behaviour that has you under bondage? Do you feel unworthy of working for Jesus?

A form of addiction?                                                                                                                                                                            An unhealthy relationship?                                                                                                                                                                Underhand business practices?                                                                                                                                                          A deep-seated lust?

Whatever your bondage, it doesn’t scare Jesus. If he could deliver that demon-possessed man, He can free you as well.

DELIVERED 

As his disciples looked on helplessly, and probably not a little afraid, Jesus went into action. He delivered the lunatic from his evil occupants. Despite being possessed by ‘lots” (several versions say ‘a legion’ – verse 9) of demons they were no match for Jesus. They were powerless in Jesus’ presence.

The Good News Bible puts their appeal to Jesus in this way; they begged Jesus not to send them away (verse 10) .Send us into those pigs! Jesus consented and the whole herd of two thousand demon-possessed pigs plunged into the lake and drowned.

The pig handlers took to their heels and ran into the town and to the neighbouring farms to report what had happened. On the one hand, their ‘bread and butter’ had vanished into the lake. On the other hand, the fearful demoniac was set free from bondage. They certainly had an amazing and unlikely story to tell.

CROWD REACTION

Very soon, crowds began to gather in the cemetery, not for a funeral, but to witness the transformation of a mindless madman into a perfectly normal human being –”They saw the man who had once been full of demons… sitting there with his clothes on and in his right mind” (verse 15b GNB).

  • Had you been there at the time, how would you have reacted?

Let’s bring it nearer to home.

A special friend or a family member is institutionalized due to a weird pattern of behaviour. After a period of medical treatment that person is discharged. The treatment is proclaimed to be a success. How do you react?

Note the reaction of people to that man’s deliverance. They were terrified (verse 15b). The man’s previous destructive behaviour had indeed been terrifying, yet they seem to have been equally terrified at his perfectly normal behaviour!

Instead of being overwhelmed at the miraculous change in the man and thankful for the man’s deliverance, the people begged Jesus to leave their part of the country (verse 17).

  • How ready are you to acknowledge the hand of God in the unexpected things that happen in life? Do you say that you have been lucky, or do you accept that it has been a miracle of God?

MADMAN BECOME MISSIONARY 

Seeing as the poor man had been a social outcast it’s not surprising that he wanted to be with the person who had rescued him from his past violent lifestyle. Yet Jesus wouldn’t let him join the other disciples in the boat. Jesus had a different plan for this man. “Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you and how good he has been to you” (Mark 5:19b).

Commissioned by Jesus to become a missionary to his own community, the man went away into the region near the ten cities known as Decapolis and began telling everyone how much Jesus had done for him. We read how amazed everyone was (Mark 5:20).

We hear no more about this madman-become-missionary, but two chapters further on we read something amazing.

ATTITUDE CHANGE

Sometime later Jesus and his disciples returned to the area of Decapolis. Some people brought to him a man who was deaf.  Jesus looked up toward heaven, and said, “Effatha!” which means “Open up!”  At once the man could hear clearly.

Jesus told the people not to say anything about what he had done. But the more he told them, the more they talked about it. “Everything he does is good! He even heals people who cannot hear or talk” (Mark 7:31,32,34-37).

What an amazing change from Jesus’s first visit to the area when the people begged him to leave that part of the country.

It is likely that the transformed madman was behind the change. He had no university degree, no bible college training, no discipleship training; he simply followed Jesus’s instructions and shared what He had done in his life.

In closing, prayerfully think about how you can make an impact for Christ in your community.

You will be amazed at the way you can influence people when you simply share what the Lord has done and is doing in your life.

Watch this short but vivid encounter between Jesus and the madman.

If you haven’t yet read the Introduction to Encounters with Jesus, please do. It will benefit you throughout this series of studies.

Posted in Encounter

18. Darkness to Light

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Can you imagine what it must be like to be born blind?

  • Unable to see the features of family and friends.
  • The beauty of the world in which God has placed us.
  • To miss out on the colors of the rainbow.

Dr. Sangster tells of the effect of the first successful cornea transplant in the 1940s.

He accompanied two people – a lady who had been born blind and her eye surgeon – to the Surrey Downs in England shortly before sunrise.

Gradually as the layers of bandage were peeled off the blind lady became sensitive to the light and got excited. Moments before sunrise, the last remaining bandage was removed, and she began to witness the glory of a sunrise for the first time.

“With tears streaming down her cheeks she exclaimed: ‘You’ve tried to describe it to me but I never imagined that anything could be so wonderful!’” (Your Quest for God’ by Richard A Bennett – pages 113,114)

The focus of this week’s session is on Jesus’ healing of a blind man.

We find the story in  John 9:1-11, 24-41

Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko:

One day Jesus and his disciples encountered a man who had been blind since birth. Seeing him prompted the disciples to ask, “Teacher, why was this man born blind? Was it because he or his parents sinned?”

They saw his impediment as God’s judgment upon either the man himself or more likely his parents for some sin committed.

CLAIM EFFECTED

In responding to their question Jesus put into effect his claim from the previous chapter. “I am the light for the world! Follow me, and you won’t be walking in the dark. You will have the light that gives life.” (John 8:12b CEV)

Jesus answered, No, it was not punishment for sin but rather an opportunity for you to witness a miracle.”

Jesus went on to point out that while here on earth He had to bring light into those areas of darkness. “While I am in the world, I am the light for the world.” (John 9:5 CEV)

They were about to witness Him bringing light into a life that had been clouded in darkness.

BLIND CURED

The cure for this man’s blindness was in Jesus’ actions. After Jesus said this, he spit on the ground. He made some mud and smeared it on the man’s eyes. Then he said, “Go and wash off the mud in Siloam Pool.” (John 9:6,7 CEV) Out of the dust of the ground and his saliva, Jesus formed clay which He placed on the man’s eyes.

‘The clay which the man found suddenly applied to his eyes awakened wonder, hope, expectation, and faith. It was a ladder by which he climbed from the pit of despair to the mount of joy.’ (F B MEYER) Click To Tweet

Jesus had done his bit but the man still had a part to play in his healing. He was still blind and had to make his shaky way or be assisted to the Pool of Siloam.

As F B Meyer put it, ‘The walk to Siloam was a further venture of faith.’ Only once he had washed his eyes was he able to see.

Often when we present a need to Jesus it is only when we play our part in faith do we receive the complete answer.

CONFUSION

The miracle had taken place but the man was faced with confused unbelief.

For years his friends and neighbors had witnessed him sitting alongside the path begging for a living. Now unexpectedly he was walking unassisted and they, “wondered if he really could be the same man.”

A discussion ensued. “Some of them said he was the same beggar. . . others said he only looked like him.”

  •  Try to recall an experience you had of looking at a person and thinking “I am sure I know you?”

CYNICAL

The witnesses to his healing were cynical. They couldn’t agree on whether this indeed was the former blind guy or not. He, spoke up “Come on folks, of course, I am that man.”

They responded, ‘You must be joking! Then how can you see?’

“Someone named Jesus made some mud and smeared it on my eyes. He told me to go and wash it off in Siloam Pool. When I did, I could see.” 

Unfortunately, this was not the only opposition this man would encounter. Later on in the chapter, we discover that the Pharisees cross-questioned the man about his healing.

They would not accept that healing had occurred, so they asked the man’s parents whether their son had been blind.

This is so often the case. When we experience a great blessing, our adversary immediately tries to rob us of that sense of blessing. He often uses others to sow seeds of doubt.

None so blind as those who will not see. Click To Tweet

The above phrase has its roots in the prophecy of Jeremiah. “Hear this, O foolish and senseless people, who have eyes, but see not, who have ears, but hear not” (Jeremiah 5:21 ESV).

CONFRONTATION

Getting no satisfaction from the parents, the Pharisees once again confronted the man formerly blind.

“Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner” (John 9:25 ESV). Again, we have this focus on sin.

The man’s response was along the same lines as Jesus’s response to his disciples, ‘The issue is not about sin it’s about the miracle of healing, ‘I used to be blind, but now I can see!'” 

When they pressed him for details of what had happened, he put them on the mat, “Why do you want me to tell you again? Do you also want to become his disciples?”

That shook them and put them on the defensive. “You are that fellow’s disciple, but we are Moses’ disciples. We know that God spoke to Moses; as for that fellow, however, we do not even know where he comes from” (John 9:28b,29 GNB)!

Unfazed, by these religious hypocrites the man pointed out, “We know that God does not listen to sinners; he does listen to people who respect him and do what he wants them to do. Since the beginning of the world, nobody has ever heard of anyone giving sight to a person born blind. Unless this man came from God, he would not be able to do a thing” (John 9:30-33 GNB).

His opponents had no answer to this truth and shrugged it off with, “You were born and brought up in sin—and you are trying to teach us?” And they expelled him from the synagogue (John 9:34 GNB).

Isn’t it amazing? The man has just received the most amazing healing—and he gets expelled–excommunicated! Do we ever turn our backs on someone when they have received a blessing from God? My wife and I have both experienced times when we have been blessed, and our fellow Christians have rejected our experience. How about you? How sad. Let’s be on guard that we don’t fall into this trap.

COMMITMENT

But Jesus did not come into our world to merely bring physical healing. Yes, the man had been healed physically but he still needed spiritual healing. Jesus found the man and asked him, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” 

“Tell me who he is, sir, so that I can believe in him!” 

“He is the one who is talking with you now.” 

“I believe, Lord!” the man said, and knelt before Jesus. His healing was complete.

COMPLETE CURE

Having cured the formerly blind man both physically and spiritually Jesus then stated his mission on earth. “I came to this world to judge so that the blind should see and those who see should become blind.” 

Despite having been put in their place, some Pharisees challenged Jesus’s statement. “Surely you don’t mean that we are blind, too?” 

Jesus answered, “If you were blind, then you would not be guilty; but since you claim that you can see, this means that you are still guilty.” 

“None so blind as those who will not see”.

Jesus is still in the business of healing – physically, psychologically, mentally, and emotionally. But most definitely His greatest desire is to bring spiritual healing. To bring each of us into a relationship with the Father through belief in Him as our Saviour and Lord.

Paul reminds us, “You yourselves used to be in the darkness, but since you have become the Lord’s people, you are in the light. So you must live like people who belong to the light,..” (Ephesians 5:8 GNB) He (God) rescued us from the power of darkness and brought us safe into the kingdom of his dear Son, (Colossians 1:13 GNB)

Wherever there is an area of darkness in your life, Jesus wants to shed His light. Trust Him, follow His instructions and enjoy living in the light. Reflect on the words as you listen to the song Lord the light of your love is shining.

If you haven’t yet read the Introduction to Encounters with Jesus, please do. It will benefit you throughout this series of studies.

Posted in Encounter

17. Was Martha a Workaholic?

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We have a saying, ‘Never judge a book by its cover.’

By this, we mean that what is observed on the outside does not necessarily give a clear picture of what is on the inside. Our passages in this session are about Martha a woman who on the outside was something of a workaholic, but where was her heart?

Read about it in Luke 10:38-41; John 11:1-7,17-27

Photo by Monstera

We look at two incidents in Jesus’ ministry involving Martha to try to see them from another perspective.

MEAL INVITATIONS

Jesus and His disciples did a fair amount of travelling around Galilee. They also made several trips to Jerusalem. On one occasion a teacher of the law offered to become a follower of Jesus. Jesus responded,  “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head” (Matthew 8:20; Luke 9:58 ESV).

So when folk like Matthew and Simon the Pharisee invited them to dinner, that was a very welcome gesture. In addition, there seems to have been a home in Bethany that served as a watering hole for the group as well.

MARTHA THE HOSTESS

In Luke 10 we read, “The Lord and his disciples were traveling along and came to a village. When they got there, a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home” (Luke 10:38).

Martha immediately busied herself in the kitchen preparing the meal while her sister Mary settled down near Jesus to hear what he had to share.

Things were getting on top of Martha, yet her sister seemed oblivious to the difficulties. Eventually, she could take it no longer and she stormed into the room, “Lord, doesn’t it bother you that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her to come and help me!” (Luke 10:40b)

Jesus’ response was unexpected, “Martha, Martha! You are worried and upset about so many things, but only one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen what is best, and it will not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:41,42).

In effect, Jesus said, “Martha your focus at the moment is wrong. Now is not the time to focus on material food but on spiritual food.” Jesus was not accusing her of being unspiritual but that she was missing out on the best. She was opting for second best.

Who can blame her? We all face situations where we opt for what we think is best when we should be checking out what the Lord has to say on the subject.

Are you opting for God's best for your life or going along with what is really second best? Click To Tweet

MARTHA’S CONCERN

The opening verses of John 11 inform us that; “… Lazarus was sick. … So the sisters sent word to Jesus, ‘Lord, the one you love is sick’” (John 11:1,3).

Having witnessed Jesus’s miracles, Mary and Martha believed Jesus could heal their brother. They knew He loved this family and understood the anxiety of the sisters Yet … “he stayed where he was for two more days” v6.

That seems so uncaring, Why the delay?

       1. Jesus’ life was in danger. Opposition from the religious leaders was growing in intensity. Jesus  and His disciples had withdrawn to an area on the eastern side of the Jordan River.

Bethany, the village of Martha, Mary, and Lazarus was just over 3 km east of Jerusalem, near enough for Jesus and His disciples to be in danger. When two days later Jesus announced “Let us go back to Judea,” His disciples reacted, “But Rabbi, a short while ago the Jews tried to stone you, and yet you are going back there!”

So Jesus could have sent back the message, ‘Sorry! But our lives are in danger we can’t take the risk.”

  1. Jesus knew what the sisters didn’t know. Jesus’ response to the news was, “This sickness will not end in death … it is for God’s glory.”

He told his disciples two days later “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up. When the disciples failed to grasp what he was saying “He told them plainly, ‘Lazarus is dead’” (John 11:14).

TIME SEQUENCE

It seems that Jesus knew that He would be too late. Think about the time sequence:

  • Jesus received the message of Lazarus’ illness.

  • Two days later Jesus said, “Let us go back to Judea.”

  • Yet when they arrived in Bethany, “Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days.”

The distance between the Jordan and Bethany was in the region of 30 km, a journey on foot of a day or more. Simple arithmetic shows that by the time that Jesus received the message Lazarus may have already died.

MARTHA’S FAITH TESTED

When Jesus and His disciples arrived in Bethany, he showed His caring concern for both sisters. But we will focus on Martha.

Martha took the initiative, “When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him” v20. 

Although practical and down-to-earth, as we have seen, Martha was also a woman of faith. “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” She sincerely believed that Jesus would have healed her brother, more than that she believed that there was still hope,  “I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask” ( v21, 22.)

RESURRECTED

“Martha, do you believe that Lazarus will be raised to life?

Martha’s faith seemed to waver, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” 

That gave Jesus the opportunity to test whether she really believed in the resurrection. “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

She responded with a profession of faith, “Yes Lord, I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who has come into the world” v27.

To the amazement and joy of everyone, Jesus raised Lazarus back to an extended period of life. We too enjoy a period of life here on earth, but through faith in the resurrected Christ, we have more to look forward to—life eternal.

MARTHA THE SERVER

One last thought. In John 12:1,2 we read, “Six days before Passover Jesus went back to Bethany, where he had raised Lazarus from death.” A meal had been prepared for Jesus. Martha was doing the serving, and Lazarus himself was there. We once again find Martha serving a meal.

This indicates that Martha’s God-given gift would seem to have been service—In his list of the Motivational Gifts Paul wrote, “If we can serve others, we should serve” (Romans 12:7 CEV). And serve is what Martha did—par excellence.

Jesus really cared. Martha needed to be encouraged in her faith, while her sister Mary needed to be comforted in her sorrow. As Jesus’s representatives, when tragedy strikes we need to come alongside and give whatever support is needed. We also need to remember that people are different and their needs differ. Very often, if we are gifted in one area, we expect the same level of involvement from others. Martha was a server. Mary was not.

Do you know what gift or gifts God has given you for the building up of His Kingdom here on earth? Then concentrate on perfecting them. But don’t expect others to do the same. We need to help and serve one another, but not expect the same standard from others when operating in our gifts.

If you’re not sure, I strongly recommend you look for the book by Don and Katie Fortune,  Discover Your God-Given Gifts. It transformed my life and ministry as well as my wife’s.

Sing along with the choir, praying the words as you go.

If you haven’t yet read the Introduction to Encounters with Jesus, please do. It will benefit you throughout this series of studies.