May 30, 2012
Jesus asks his followers, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" (Matthew 16:13) They answered that some said John the Baptist, some said Elijah, and some said Jeremiah or another prophet. But Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus said, "This isn't something you were taught" this was revealed to you by my Father. Simon, with all his faults, was willing to listen. Jesus said, "You are Peter. On this rock I will build my church, and the power of death will not be able to defeat it." (Matthew 16:18)
We don't need signs. We just need to be willing to receive the truth. God wants a willing heart and our surrendered life. When we are willing—we will listen. When we listen—we will become more like HIM. We will want what HIS heart wants, and we will do what pleases HIM.
Jesus began to teach His followers the truth about what was going to happen to Him. He was going to have to suffer and He was going to be killed, but He would be raised again on the third day. Peter, who had just realized that Jesus was THE Christ, was horrified. How could this be? Jesus was THE Christ!! This cannot happen! Surely bad things could not happen to God's Son! Surely the LORD would spare him from those things. Jesus (who had just praised Peter) said, "Go away from me Satan. You are not helping me! You don't care about the things of God but only about the things people think are important." (Matthew 16:23)
Like Jesus, we have to go through trials in our lives. To try and avoid them is to miss out on what God has in store for us. Having people around you who are trying to discourage you from going through what God has designed for you to go through is a hindrance and not a help. It truly is from Satan. IF—he can appeal to your fears, your need to be in control (or whatever weakness you have), and IF—he can convince you to avoid what God has designed, THEN—he is successful in keeping you from receiving what God has for you, and he has prevented God's work from moving forward.
When I think back to the beginning of "the storm," I remember the shock, the unbelief, the raw emotions, the fear, the hurt, the unknown. I remember my husband praying, "Lord, remove this from us quickly." Now here we are, fast approaching the five year anniversary, with the lawsuit still continuing, and I have to smile as I think back on those times. We wanted to avoid the pain and hurt. We wanted it over. But now, we can honestly say, "Thank goodness it wasn't over right away!" and mean it with every ounce in our bodies.
God wanted to teach us, grow us, bless us, and use us. We would have missed out on so much if we would have caved in to the fears of the unknown and tried to avoid the trials we were facing. You have to go through! You have to follow where God is leading. THEN you receive peace, joy, contentment, and blessings as you literally rest in the arms of God.
You have to be willing to give up ALL, and when you give up ALL you are given back more than you can comprehend. "If people want to follow me, they must give up their lives to follow me. Those who want to save their lives will give up true life, and those who give up their lives for me will have true life." Jesus goes on: "What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world yet loses his soul?" NCV - "They could never pay enough to buy back their souls." NIV - "Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Matthew 16:24–25) Indeed. What good is anything if you lose your soul? We are willing to give up everything. When you give up everything, you gain true life.
"The Son of Man will come again with his Father's glory and with his angels. At that time, he will reward them for what they have done." (Matthew 16:27)
I talked to my 7th grade class about this very thing last Sunday. End time Prophecy 101 - The girls were very interested and asked a lot of questions. So glad I did it. Unfortunately we only had one week to go over the lesson. I definitely plan on doing it again next year but for several weeks instead. I want to live my life pleasing to God. I want to hear the words, "Well done thou good and faithful servant." I want to lay my crown at HIS feet and say, "Holy, Holy, Holy. Worthy is the Lamb."
Addendum: 12/14/15 ~ It is now been eight and one half years, the Settlement Conference is coming up, and I am entering what I wrote about being grateful the lawsuit was not over quickly. When will it be over? I don't know. It is highly unlikely and VERY doubtful that it could possibly be over tomorrow. BUT, NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD! That was the title of our Pastor's sermon yesterday. We have been doing a study on being Anchored. The titles in the sermons series are: DO NOT BE AFRAID; THE LORD IS WITH YOU; and NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD. I want to respond like Mary. Here I am, Lord. I am your servant. Do to me as you say.
Next Entry: Matthew 17:1 – 18:14
Jesus asks his followers, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" (Matthew 16:13) They answered that some said John the Baptist, some said Elijah, and some said Jeremiah or another prophet. But Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus said, "This isn't something you were taught" this was revealed to you by my Father. Simon, with all his faults, was willing to listen. Jesus said, "You are Peter. On this rock I will build my church, and the power of death will not be able to defeat it." (Matthew 16:18)
We don't need signs. We just need to be willing to receive the truth. God wants a willing heart and our surrendered life. When we are willing—we will listen. When we listen—we will become more like HIM. We will want what HIS heart wants, and we will do what pleases HIM.
Jesus began to teach His followers the truth about what was going to happen to Him. He was going to have to suffer and He was going to be killed, but He would be raised again on the third day. Peter, who had just realized that Jesus was THE Christ, was horrified. How could this be? Jesus was THE Christ!! This cannot happen! Surely bad things could not happen to God's Son! Surely the LORD would spare him from those things. Jesus (who had just praised Peter) said, "Go away from me Satan. You are not helping me! You don't care about the things of God but only about the things people think are important." (Matthew 16:23)
Like Jesus, we have to go through trials in our lives. To try and avoid them is to miss out on what God has in store for us. Having people around you who are trying to discourage you from going through what God has designed for you to go through is a hindrance and not a help. It truly is from Satan. IF—he can appeal to your fears, your need to be in control (or whatever weakness you have), and IF—he can convince you to avoid what God has designed, THEN—he is successful in keeping you from receiving what God has for you, and he has prevented God's work from moving forward.
When I think back to the beginning of "the storm," I remember the shock, the unbelief, the raw emotions, the fear, the hurt, the unknown. I remember my husband praying, "Lord, remove this from us quickly." Now here we are, fast approaching the five year anniversary, with the lawsuit still continuing, and I have to smile as I think back on those times. We wanted to avoid the pain and hurt. We wanted it over. But now, we can honestly say, "Thank goodness it wasn't over right away!" and mean it with every ounce in our bodies.
God wanted to teach us, grow us, bless us, and use us. We would have missed out on so much if we would have caved in to the fears of the unknown and tried to avoid the trials we were facing. You have to go through! You have to follow where God is leading. THEN you receive peace, joy, contentment, and blessings as you literally rest in the arms of God.
You have to be willing to give up ALL, and when you give up ALL you are given back more than you can comprehend. "If people want to follow me, they must give up their lives to follow me. Those who want to save their lives will give up true life, and those who give up their lives for me will have true life." Jesus goes on: "What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world yet loses his soul?" NCV - "They could never pay enough to buy back their souls." NIV - "Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Matthew 16:24–25) Indeed. What good is anything if you lose your soul? We are willing to give up everything. When you give up everything, you gain true life.
"The Son of Man will come again with his Father's glory and with his angels. At that time, he will reward them for what they have done." (Matthew 16:27)
I talked to my 7th grade class about this very thing last Sunday. End time Prophecy 101 - The girls were very interested and asked a lot of questions. So glad I did it. Unfortunately we only had one week to go over the lesson. I definitely plan on doing it again next year but for several weeks instead. I want to live my life pleasing to God. I want to hear the words, "Well done thou good and faithful servant." I want to lay my crown at HIS feet and say, "Holy, Holy, Holy. Worthy is the Lamb."
Addendum: 12/14/15 ~ It is now been eight and one half years, the Settlement Conference is coming up, and I am entering what I wrote about being grateful the lawsuit was not over quickly. When will it be over? I don't know. It is highly unlikely and VERY doubtful that it could possibly be over tomorrow. BUT, NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD! That was the title of our Pastor's sermon yesterday. We have been doing a study on being Anchored. The titles in the sermons series are: DO NOT BE AFRAID; THE LORD IS WITH YOU; and NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD. I want to respond like Mary. Here I am, Lord. I am your servant. Do to me as you say.
Next Entry: Matthew 17:1 – 18:14
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