Christian Home Week Fall, 2013 Wednesday

Give to God Your Very Best

(John 12:1-8)

See the film "The Gospel of John" Chapter 12 here

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This is the season of Giving and Thanksgiving. Today's reading reminds us of the motivation for giving thanks and the costs for giving. At FBC Killeen, we are in the middle of Christian Home week.

Click here for Daily Devotionals (Preview):
 

Sunday Day 1

Monday Day 2

Tuesday Day 3

Wednesday Day 4

Thursday Day 5

Friday Day 6
 

Some may disagree, but I believe that there is a parallel reading of this same account in Mark 14:3-9 and Matthew 26:6-13. There it says the anointing of Jesus’ feet by Mary took place in the home of Simon the Leper. Knowing Jesus’ healing power, perhaps it should read as “Simon theformer leper.” The anointing the feet was a common practice, one Jesus was not unfamiliar with (see Luke 7:36-50 for a separate event).

Mary is again (see Luke 10:39, John 11:32) at the feet of Jesus, and Martha serving. Mary is anointing Jesus’ feet with very expensive and fragrant oil. Other readings said she also poured it lavishly on the head of Jesus. Such an anointing was more than just simply cleaning the feet of an itinerant traveling preacher. It was an extravagant ceremony and one that put Jesus in an extreme place of honor.

Have there been times when you were extravagant and lavish in your giving or ministering to God? Being extremely honest, there have been relatively few times when my worship of God could have been so excessive that I was criticized for it or that it would have been deemed "extravagant."

Undoubtedly, Mary did such an act due to her appreciation of His raising her brother from the dead. But Jesus said that Mary had kept the oil for the day of His burial. Do you think she knew and understood that Jesus was about to die?

Yes or No

Sometimes God calls us to do something extreme without knowing the reason why. And as in Mary’s case, such giving can come with criticism. But what was the motivation for Judas’ criticism?

a) Care for the poor
b) Greed
c) Concern for Mary’s financial well-being

Doing the right thing, like Mary did, can bring criticism, even from fellow (or in this case "so-called") Christians. Remember the story of the widow who gave all that she had to God (Luke 21:1-4). Jesus did not rebuke her. He did not say, “No, you need that money more than God does.” Jesus praised the widow for giving out of her poverty. Judas’ criticism of Mary was shrouded with a ministerial covering; he appeared to be godly by saying he cared for the poor. Jesus’ response did not mean that giving to the poor was unimportant, but rather we can give to the poor at anytime (see Mark 14: 7).

What does God want us to give?

a) Our very best

b) Our leftovers

c) 10% of our income

Some are offended when "the preacher starts talking about money." But the Apostle Paul thought it was necessary to give instructions about giving (1 Corinthians 16:1-4). More instructions were given for two entire chapters in 2 Corinthians 8 and 9, where he encourages free and joyful giving. Paul, like Jesus, praises giving during hardship and rebukes criticism for lavish giving to God.

There is more to giving than just materially or financially. In 1 Cor.6:18-20 Paul says everything we have was bought by Jesus and we owe all to Him. What do you have to offer to Jesus?

Pray This Prayer To God: “Lord God, I give myself to you. I want all of my life to be a lavish gift to You. Help me to seek first the kingdom of God and Your righteousness. Everything else, I humbly receive as a gift from You. Amen.”

Christian Home Week Fall 2013, Tuesday

Loose him and let him go

(John 11:41-57)

This is Christian Home Week at FBC Killeen, a week in which we cancel all evening activities to encourage families to concentrate on our most important ministry: Our homes.

The past few days of devotionals, we've seen one of the few families in the gospels, the family of Mary, Martha and Lazarus. As we look towards Thanksgiving, it may be a time of reflection of those who have passed from this life into eternity. It is good to give pause, give thanks and as we saw yesterday, fall at the feet of Jesus in our loss of loved ones, knowing that for believers, we will be reunited with them in glory.

When Lazarus was raised from the dead, it was a symbol of Jesus’ power of resurrection and the power of new life. One day, all believers will be raised up from the dead. It will not matter whether our bodies "stinketh", are decayed, were cremated or were totally eliminated. The resurrection will be God’s work and God’s glory (verses 4 and 40). The hope of the resurrection should strengthen our faith every time we go to the grave or funeral of a believer (verses 15, 42).

Read 2 Corinthians 5:1-9. If we are absent from the body or in other words if we die, where are we, according to verse 8?

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But before our physical death, Jesus also gives us life. When people come to faith, it is as though they have died to their old way of life and born again (read Romans 6:4, 2 Cor. 5:17, Gal. 2:20).

We are to consider ourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God. How does that apply to Lazarus being bound hand and foot with grave clothes, his face wrapped with a cloth?

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If you have been spiritually raised from your sins, from what “grave clothes” should you be loosed from?

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Caiaphas, the High Priest, made a prophetic utterance that revealed the real reason why the Jews were so determined to suppress Christ. They were afraid of Romeand what it would do if someone like Christ would see to set up a different kingdom.

But in fact, one man did die so that the whole world would not perish. It was not the Jewish leaders who put Christ on the cross. It was all the sins of the world and according to the “determined purpose of God.” (Acts 2:23).

Pray This Prayer To God:“Our Father in Heaven. Give me faith to believe that you have raised me from spiritual death and that when I face physical death, you will still be with me. Loose me from my sinful nature and help me to walk in the liberty you have given me to live for you. Amen”

Christian Home Week Fall 2013, Monday

At the feet of Jesus

(John 11:28-40)

An interesting study is one of Mary and Martha. Mary is frequently pictured at the feet of Jesus, while Martha is shown as busily working. John identified Mary in verse 2 to the future event when Mary would wash the Master’s feet. There was another time when Mary was at the feet of Jesus…

Read Luke 10:38-42. Which does Jesus say is more important, hearing from Him or doing for Him?

Which of the following is true?

A) Serving God is bad

B) Business can distract us from hearing from God

C) People should only listen to God.

While both serving God and listening to God are both important, oftentimes we want to work for God rather than taking the time to listen to Him.

In John 11:21and 32, both Mary and Martha said the same thing. It is likely that they had been complaining about Jesus’ delay. Martha “the doer” went to talk to Jesus. Verse 20 says, “But Mary stayed seated in the house.” Describe the emotions that Mary must have felt?

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Mary did not go out to meet Jesus. It wasn’t until He called for her did she go out. Mary’s complaint also indicates that she may have come to the end of her faith. While Martha professed her faith in verse 22, Mary’s grief led Jesus to groan, weep and be troubled. If Jesus knew Lazarus was going to rise again, why did He weep by what He saw?

If Jesus was able to weep, surely God understands that we too will mourn when we lose a loved one in death, even though we know they are in heaven. Jesus says clearly in verse 25 that He is the Resurrection and the Life and that faith in Him is all we need to have life after death.

Read 1 John 5:13. “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.”

What is it that gives the Christian the confident assurance that he or she is going to heaven?
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If you have come to the end of your faith, as Mary may have been, there is only one place to go. Fall down at the feet of Jesus. It was at His feet we learned of faith. At His feet is where we declare our love, as Mary will do in the following chapter. And it is at His feet where we fall when we have nowhere else to turn.

It’s one thing to profess your faith in Christ. But as Martha found, it is another thing when Jesus tells us to move the stone. Has God ever asked you to put your faith in action and actually do something for Him that might raise a stink? If you want to see the glory of God, move that stone!

Pray This Prayer To God:“Dear Jesus, like Mary I fall at your feet today and seek to do your will. Be glorified in my life today. Help me trust when I have little faith and help me in my unbelief. Amen”

Christian Home Week Fall 2013, Sunday

He’s an On-Time God

(John 11:1-6)

Watch the story of the family tragedy and triumph from the Gospel of John here
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Today, we begin Christian Home Week centering on the Home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. Last Friday, all the news agencies were focusing on the 50th Anniversary of President John F. Kennedy. The untimely death of anyone, but especially a young president full of charisma and hope, makes even the firmest of believers questioning the presence, power, and compassion of God and His timing. A new book states that a series of events could have prevented Kennedy's death; how much more could so many seemingly senseless deaths and tragedies be prevented if only God would intervene?

When Jesus left Jerusalemin John 10, verse 39 says that again the leaders sought to take Jesus, “but He escaped out of their hand.” Jesus had previously said He was not going to Jerusalem (John 7) and for good reason. After the Feast of the Dedication of the Temple (Hanukah), Christ went east, to the other side of the Jordan River, where John the Baptist had earlier worked.

Even though John did not perform miracles, many believed his prediction that a greater Person was coming after him. John’s witness of Jesus was proven true by Jesus words and miraculous works. John 10:42 says that many believed on Jesus there.

What is it about the Christian message that leads you to believe it is true?

THE MIRACLES OR THE MESSAGE

In Jerusalem, Jesus was rejected and was even wanted dead, yet, just a few miles away, many were coming to salvation. Jesus knew His time on earth was short, and many were trusting in Him and responding positively there because of seeds sown by John the Baptist. No wonder Jesus did not go immediately to heal Lazarus!

All three siblings, Mary, Martha and Lazarus, were all still in the home of their father, Simon, indicating they were young, perhaps not much more than teenagers, and Lazarus was likely the youngest of the three. Yet all three had a fondness in Jesus’ heart, so much so that the sisters referred to their brother as “He whom you love.”

Sometimes your affections will tempt you to leave where you fully see God working in your ministry. Jesus was pulled by His earthly affections for His friends, yet prioritized His ministry. As a result, God received even greater glory than if Jesus had dropped everything and left.

When Jesus made the decision to go back to Jerusalem (Bethany is just east of the city), the disciples tried to talk Him out of it (verse 8). Jesus response was “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walks in the day, he will not stumble.”

What exactly do you think He meant by that?_________________________

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The disciples knew the danger Jesus would be in by returning to Jerusalem (verse 16). But both Jesus’ timing to stay and His decision to go fell on God’s perfect timing. When we pray for God to act or when He calls us to act, we need to look for His leadership. There’s a phrase that says, “God may not respond when you want Him to, but He is never late.” Trust God to answer your prayers on His time. Trust also to respond to God when He tells you to.

Pray This Prayer To God: “Lord, I commit my life to follow Your light. As long as You shine Your will clearly in my life, I will do my best to walk in Your time and in Your truth. Amen”

Christian Home Week Fall 2013: Preview

Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life

(John 11:1-27)

The Story of Lazarus, Mary and Martha, part 1

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We have seen a lot of death in the past few weeks at FBC Killeen. Part of my testimony is that it was the death of my father when I was four and grandfather when I was six that led me to my Christian salvation. It was also the death of my parents at such a young age in their early 30s that led me to go into the ministry. If you are parents of young children, you may think death is too strong of a topic to discuss, but based on my testimony I would disagree. Children need to know about death and more importantly, the victory of Christ over the grave.

A natural place to turn to is John Chapter 11. But too often in this chapter, many readers will rush to see Jesus “resurrect” Lazarus (actually Lazarus is not truly resurrected, but raised from the dead). There are several lessons that we can learn from death, sickness, and grief before we get to the chapter’s climax.

Lesson 1 (verse 3): Affliction can be interceded for. We can go to God in prayer for the sick and the dying, like Martha and Mary did. Unlike eastern religions, sickness is not a result of bad karma. Unlike certain cults, sickness is not a state of mind or a result of lack of faith. James 5 tells us it is one of the functions of the church leadership to pray for the sick. Mark 16:18 states we should expect healing to occur. One of the signs that Jesus was the Christ was that He healed people. It is not uncommon for a church prayer list to be filled with requests for healing from illnesses because the Bible tells us to pray for those who are sick and suffer other afflictions. We should pray for those who are sick.

Lesson 2 (verse 4): Death and sicknesses can be instruments for God’s glory. If we do not see instantaneous healings, it may not because of a lack of faith, but because God seeks to glorify Himself through it all. The Bible says those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength (Isaiah40:31).

Lesson 3: (verses 6-10): Death is intentional. Jesus purposely waited for Lazarus to die. God has a purpose in death, primarily to save us from this sinful world. Read Genesis 3:22-24--God purposely disallows us from living forever in this fallen state of sin. But if we walk with Jesus, His light will guide us, regardless of the circumstances around you (John 11:10-11). A frequent statement made by missionaries serving God is “The best place to be is in the center of God’s will.” It is not a guarantee that you won’t encounter death, but it is assured that God will be glorified.

Lesson 4 (verses 11-15): Death is inevitable. Heb. 9:27 says everyone will die. For a Christian it is temporary, and some day God will raise us. Notice in verse 15 that something that caused grief to Mary and Martha caused Jesus to be glad because it helped them to believe. Through adversity we grow stronger in our faith. Ps. 116:15 calls death “precious” in God’s eyes.

Lesson 5 (verses 16-27): Death is NOT invincible. Since death is guaranteed, we have cause to rejoice that Jesus has overcome and defeated it and offers it to us. The only way to beat death is to have a belief in Jesus Christ. Belief to the Christian is not just agreement, but it is an assurance, it is putting faith in the only One who can deliver us from death by beating death Himself.

Pray This Prayer To God: “Lord Jesus, I say with Martha, ‘I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.’ Give me faith when I face adversity, sickness and even death that You are in charge. Help me understand that your delays only allow for greater deliverances. In your holy name I pray. Amen.”

Spiritual blindness

We are going through the Gospel of John in the Explore the Bible series these two quarters. For more devotionals on John, see johnoneday.blogspot.com

 

To see, you must first admit your blindness

(John 9:26-41)

These verses reveal that Jesus healed the blind man not just to deliver him from darkness, but to show how dark sin truly is and how spiritually blind some people, even religious people, can be. Do you remember what you had to first recognize in yourself in order to be saved? You must first admit your own sinfulness and that you were helpless to save yourself.

 

Notice how the Pharisees continued to harass the man in whom Jesus had done a miracle. They had become so blinded that they did not know how ridiculous they sounded, even to the healed man (see his joking and incredulity in verses 27 and 30).
 

Judging from verse 34, what do you think was the sin that was blinding the Pharisees from the truth of Christ’s miracle? What was it that they could see in others but they could not see in themselves?

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Could you also have a "blind spot" in your life, a sin which you can see in others but oblivious to it in your own life? Jesus said elsewhere remove the log from your own eye before you try to cast the speck out from someone else.  

 

To be cast out, as seen in verse 22 and 34-35, means to be “excommunicated” from the Jewish faith, to no longer be allowed to worship in the synagogue. Since you became a Christian, have you experienced any shunning or being “cast out” from your family, your friends, your co-workers, even your church? If so, describe how and how you felt?

 

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Notice that Jesus cared for the man who was “cast out” and came personally to Him to comfort him. If you have been cast out because of your faith, know that Jesus has and will continually seek you out and encourage you.

 

Do you believe that the Pharisees “saw” themselves as sinners? (See verses 24, 34). If true vision means being able to “see” yourself as a sinner in need of forgiveness, and if spiritual blindness means “seeing” yourself as being able to work for your own righteousness before God, then paraphrase verse 41 in the lines below in terms of how unbelievers “see” and how they are “blind.”

 

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Pray This Prayer To God: “Dear Jesus. Thank you for the forgiveness of my sins. I am absolutely helpless without you. Keep my heart from pride and arrogance when I look at the sins of others. I believe in you and worship you as the Savior of my soul and the giver of sight to my true spiritual condition. Amen.”

God's third call to me (final in this series)

This is the third time I come to speak to you. I speak to you today in only short bits and short moments of conversation, for your time is so limited with me. Please do not consider that our prayer time as a chore to curry favor with "The Almighty." Think of it as what you often said: As time to spend with the creator of the universe. Do you not know that I created the heavens and the earth? Do you want to spend an hour with the creator begging and pleading, using the same words over and over when I already know your needs?

 Or do you want to stop and listen to me? I hope you care to hear from me. I will tell you to hold tight to what is good, shun what is evil and cling to that which shall endure. I am here for you. Do not seek the refuge of a vice or sin or distraction, but listen to me and see how your prayer time goes. Hearken your ears and attune them to the right frequency of prayer. Ask me questions and listen for my answers. Call to me and draw near and see what will come of our times together in prayer.

"Lord I listen to you and for you."

Don’t just listen then, but look for me too. Look around. Can you see me in the creation and in the stars? Don’t feel that prayer is limited to the prayer closet and that your eyes are meant to be closed tightly to "see" me. Hearing is not left solely for words of scripture, but of nature, of children, of wisdom of others, of cries of sorrow and laughter of old people. When you hear an ambulance siren, know that it is a sound of someone in pain and that I am answering. When you see a window shut on a house, know that while you cannot see in, I can and see the joy and sorrow therein.  Listen for music. Can you discern me in fragrances, of the yeast of rising bread, in the smell of flowers, in cinnamon, spice, and in the rain? The almighty comes in small things, quietly at times, in stillness and silence. Can you sense the almighty in rain as it falls on the ground and on your face. Can you see my joy as puddles of water splash upward and back down again and again. Dare I mention a sunrise? The wind as it blows across the grass and leaves. The thunder you hear, it is my voice calling to you and saying there is more than you know. Oh the prayer time is so much more than you speaking to a wall or reaching as far as the ceiling.

Prayer is feeling sadness and joy. I share those with you. Your anger, I understand. Your feelings of worry can be calmed when you rest in me. The friends of my son thought they were going to die in a storm due to their lack of faith and just as they should have recognized the utter ridiculousness of those fears. I likewise tenderly but with grave admonition say to you, "Where is your faith?" so that you too see, as the disciples saw, that your worries almost insults me. Look how a child goes on when a parent only goes to another room or to work or to church. The father or mother has not left that child forever. Nor have I nor would I nor will I leave you! Feel that my presence is greater than any emotion that you feel right now. "Why did you ever doubt?"

Listen. See. Feel. Smell. Do you know that your fragrance is lifted up to heaven to me when you pray. My son was touched by the alabaster offering and the aroma that filled the room. Your sweet savor is a blessing to me. Linger long in the presence of blossoms and flowers. Drink deeply the aroma of fires that warm the depths of winter air. The soothing aroma of prayer is a sacrificial acceptance to me, and I ask you to breath deeply the pleasure of life. Worship me in all your senses by enjoying things as simple as rain's sweet scent, of freshly squeezed lemons and oranges, of petals crushed together.

Taste and see that the Lord is good. You can enjoy my presence in food and enjoyment of life, but do you? Or do you merely rush to eat for your own pleasure and fail to discern my presence with you. There are spiritual senses that you do not know are portals of entry for good and evil. Use them for good. Arousal of the spiritual and physical senses is a portal for good and bad. Seek the joy that I created. Sorrow and laughter are gateways for the soul. Envy and pride can be turned into wholesome desire and glory in accomplishment.

I may not always speak to you in this way, but I will always speak to you in some way, in your heart if you take time to listen, see, feel, sense and taste for my presence, for I am all around you.

God's Prayer to Me (part 2)

Hello, again, my child. I have been watching over you since we last spoke. I have been waiting until you had time to come and I listened to your every word that you said to me. Now I come to you to remind you and to ask you to please know and understand that I am in charge. I know you are in need. Of course I see what your condition is. Do not think I am unaware. Yes I see and I care. There will be a victory soon as there has been all your life.

I have heard you say like Martha and Mary said to my Son, “Oh, Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died.” I hear you say that you don’t really see the difference in me allowing something to happen and me causing something to happen. My child, there is a difference. Do you not see that you also allow things to happen but do not cause them.

I am there with you, just as I am there in death and sickness and all sorts of evil in this world. Yes, things could always be different.  Could heal every time? Yes, but you have no idea of the consequences of that.  I could reconcile every time, but there are blessings unknown from the fact that I do not. I could manifest my presence by vanquishing all evil every time, but then this earth would be what heaven is like. Do you understand that as wonderful as what heaven is, there are things that happen on earth for good that can never happen in heaven; there are glories to be accomplished on earth that will have impact for all eternity.

No, I choose that in this short span of life to show myself in the midst of evil; to shine out like lights in the midst of darkness; to test you by faith. This seems cruel, I know, but so does child rearing at times, does it not? Does not a school teacher often seem heartless and cruel? Are there not times of trial in any sport or discipline? Playing the guitar or piano often seems grueling and cruel.  But look at the sounds of joy afterwards, the victory of accomplishment, the pleasure of success afterwards. Think of the breakthroughs in science which can only occur after months and years of research, which come on the heels of years of study and learning and trial and errors. Victories only come when there are obstacles to overcome . Look to your failures as necessary friends that bring you to a point of closeness to me.

Until next time, know that I am thinking of you...always.

God's prayer to me (part 1)

I want to speak to you during your time of prayer, because so often, you come to me and I listen and discern and even lead your words to help in changing your heart. That is what I enjoy most about your prayer times: not so much hearing  your requests and knowing what is important to you (for I already know those things but I do enjoy hearing you voice your prayers), but even more than than that, I enjoy it when your spirit and my spirit commune; how it changes your spirit. I am the lord and I change not, but you are like clay in my hands and through prayer, you receive the water of the word, the spirit and how it plows up your soul like fallow ground which had become hardened by days of drought and baking of the sun. We need drought and sun, but you also need the moisture of tears of prayers to soften your soul.

My child, listen as I speak to you. It is not uncommon to listen for the voice of God, nor is it sacrilegious. Look to the prophets of old and even of the new. I spoke and still do speak. In fact I speak all the time, but so often you, my children, run to hear from one another and not from me. Listen to my voice and grow.

I want to say that I do love you. You have been struggling with that thought of late and I want you to look into my eyes and feel my hands upon your face. Turn your eyes and ears and attention all to me when I say this: I love you. More than your mom or dad, more than your wife, or children, I love you and seek the very best for you and the best of me thorough you. When I say I want the best for you, I do not mean I want to give you the best house, or car, or income, but what I mean is that I want to be most glorified through you.  That can only come when I fully have your heart. If I choose to allow your pain or poverty or divorce or sickness or death for my glory, you shall receive a reward in heaven for what you go through in this life. As my servant said when I spoke to him, the sufferings of this present world are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed in us.

I have more to say to you, but I see you must go. Will you please come to me again tomorrow? And this time, bring a listening ear and time to stay.