Scripture selections are taken from the Rock Church Daily Bread Reading schedule for each month. “Lena’s Journalin’” are Lena’s comments on the specific passages from her Daily Journal.
If the e-mail text you receive is encrypted at all, just scroll down to the end of all of the text and click on Lena’s Journalin’ , which will take you directly to the web-page where you will be able to read the text quite clearly in it’s purposed form.
Luke 22:1-71
Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus
1The Festival of Unleavened Bread, which begins with the Passover celebration, was drawing near. 2The leading priests and teachers of religious law were actively plotting Jesus' murder. But they wanted to kill him without starting a riot, a possibility they greatly feared.
3Then Satan entered into Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve disciples, 4and he went over to the leading priests and captains of the Temple guard to discuss the best way to betray Jesus to them. 5They were delighted that he was ready to help them, and they promised him a reward. 6So he began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus so they could arrest him quietly when the crowds weren't around.
The Last Supper
7Now the Festival of Unleavened Bread arrived, when the Passover lambs were sacrificed. 8Jesus sent Peter and John ahead and said, "Go and prepare the Passover meal, so we can eat it together."
9"Where do you want us to go?" they asked him.
10He replied, "As soon as you enter Jerusalem, a man carrying a pitcher of water will meet you. Follow him. At the house he enters, 11say to the owner, 'The Teacher asks, Where is the guest room where I can eat the Passover meal with my disciples?' 12He will take you upstairs to a large room that is already set up. That is the place. Go ahead and prepare our supper there." 13They went off to the city and found everything just as Jesus had said, and they prepared the Passover supper there.
14Then at the proper time Jesus and the twelve apostles sat down together at the table. 15Jesus said, "I have looked forward to this hour with deep longing, anxious to eat this Passover meal with you before my suffering begins. 16For I tell you now that I won't eat it again until it comes to fulfillment in the Kingdom of God."
17Then he took a cup of wine, and when he had given thanks for it, he said, "Take this and share it among yourselves. 18For I will not drink wine again until the Kingdom of God has come."
19Then he took a loaf of bread; and when he had thanked God for it, he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, "This is my body, given for you. Do this in remembrance of me." 20After supper he took another cup of wine and said, "This wine is the token of God's new covenant to save you—an agreement sealed with the blood I will pour out for you. F100
21"But here at this table, sitting among us as a friend, is the man who will betray me. 22For I, the Son of Man, must die since it is part of God's plan. But how terrible it will be for my betrayer!" 23Then the disciples began to ask each other which of them would ever do such a thing.
24And they began to argue among themselves as to who would be the greatest in the coming Kingdom. 25Jesus told them, "In this world the kings and great men order their people around, and yet they are called 'friends of the people.' 26But among you, those who are the greatest should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be like a servant. 27Normally the master sits at the table and is served by his servants. But not here! For I am your servant. 28You have remained true to me in my time of trial. 29And just as my Father has granted me a Kingdom, I now grant you the right 30to eat and drink at my table in that Kingdom. And you will sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Jesus Predicts Peter's Denial
31"Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to have all of you, to sift you like wheat. 32But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen and build up your brothers."
33Peter said, "Lord, I am ready to go to prison with you, and even to die with you."
34But Jesus said, "Peter, let me tell you something. The rooster will not crow tomorrow morning until you have denied three times that you even know me."
35Then Jesus asked them, "When I sent you out to preach the Good News and you did not have money, a traveler's bag, or extra clothing, did you lack anything?" "No," they replied.
36"But now," he said, "take your money and a traveler's bag. And if you don't have a sword, sell your clothes and buy one! 37For the time has come for this prophecy about me to be fulfilled: 'He was counted among those who were rebels.' F101 Yes, everything written about me by the prophets will come true."
38"Lord," they replied, "we have two swords among us." "That's enough," he said.
Jesus Prays on the Mount of Olives
39Then, accompanied by the disciples, Jesus left the upstairs room and went as usual to the Mount of Olives. 40There he told them, "Pray that you will not be overcome by temptation."
41He walked away, about a stone's throw, and knelt down and prayed, 42"Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will, not mine." 43Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened him. 44He prayed more fervently, and he was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood. F102 45At last he stood up again and returned to the disciples, only to find them asleep, exhausted from grief. 46"Why are you sleeping?" he asked. "Get up and pray. Otherwise temptation will overpower you."
Jesus Is Betrayed and Arrested
47But even as he said this, a mob approached, led by Judas, one of his twelve disciples. Judas walked over to Jesus and greeted him with a kiss. 48But Jesus said, "Judas, how can you betray me, the Son of Man, with a kiss?"
49When the other disciples saw what was about to happen, they exclaimed, "Lord, should we fight? We brought the swords!" 50And one of them slashed at the high priest's servant and cut off his right ear.
51But Jesus said, "Don't resist anymore." And he touched the place where the man's ear had been and healed him. 52Then Jesus spoke to the leading priests and captains of the Temple guard and the other leaders who headed the mob. "Am I some dangerous criminal," he asked, "that you have come armed with swords and clubs to arrest me? 53Why didn't you arrest me in the Temple? I was there every day. But this is your moment, the time when the power of darkness reigns."
Peter Denies Jesus
54So they arrested him and led him to the high priest's residence, and Peter was following far behind. 55The guards lit a fire in the courtyard and sat around it, and Peter joined them there. 56A servant girl noticed him in the firelight and began staring at him. Finally she said, "This man was one of Jesus' followers!"
57Peter denied it. "Woman," he said, "I don't even know the man!"
58After a while someone else looked at him and said, "You must be one of them!" "No, man, I'm not!" Peter replied.
59About an hour later someone else insisted, "This must be one of Jesus' disciples because he is a Galilean, too."
60But Peter said, "Man, I don't know what you are talking about." And as soon as he said these words, the rooster crowed. 61At that moment the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered that the Lord had said, "Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny me three times." 62And Peter left the courtyard, crying bitterly.
63Now the guards in charge of Jesus began mocking and beating him. 64They blindfolded him; then they hit him and asked, "Who hit you that time, you prophet?" 65And they threw all sorts of terrible insults at him.
Jesus before the Council
66At daybreak all the leaders of the people assembled, including the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. Jesus was led before this high council, F103 67and they said, "Tell us if you are the Messiah." But he replied, "If I tell you, you won't believe me. 68And if I ask you a question, you won't answer. 69But the time is soon coming when I, the Son of Man, will be sitting at God's right hand in the place of power." F104
70They all shouted, "Then you claim you are the Son of God?" And he replied, "You are right in saying that I am."
71"What need do we have for other witnesses?" they shouted. "We ourselves heard him say it."
FOOTNOTES:F100: Some manuscripts omit 22:19b-20, given for you . . . I will pour out for you. F101: Isa 53:12. F102: These verses are not included in many ancient manuscripts. F103: Greek before their Sanhedrin. F104: See Ps 110:1.
~ Lena’s Journalin’~
We have been preparing ourselves, with our local fellowship of believers that we belong to, to partake of the table of the Lord- In an appropriate manner, examining ourselves, being cleansed deeply by God’s spirit, and recognizing what it was Jesus did for each of us when He died for us, went to hell for us and rose to the right hand of the Father for us. There are 4 days before our “Passover Feast” in our homes, where we will partake as families. Are we ready yet? It is drawing near.
What if we feel we got clean before the Lord, and someone decides between now and Friday, the 10th , to “betray” us? What then? What if someone in your household is used by satan to deceive you or trick you, or sells the truth about you to someone else- maybe gossips about you, someone of your own household? What do you do then? What if it happens on Friday? Will you eat appropriately? Will you break the bread and take the cup of the Lord, remembering the forgiveness He offered for all mankind, even Judas’?
When is the proper time? It is now the appointed time, and we now are the appointed people. It is grace that we’d have any time at all to make it right and to prepare, for those who call themselves by His name; they say they remember why He died, went to hell and rose, and as they eat and drink they say they are one with those purposes, and so they eat and drink for life and health and strength. Before eating they’ve decided to do as He did, live as He did, while still on earth.
Our gospel message is good news of the kingdom of God being established by those who will eat and drink with Him, and as Him now. It is not about being rescued out of the world so we have relief from this life. There are too many perishing for us who know Him to wait a whole life long for relief and then escape. Jesus prayed God would not take us out of the world too soon, but while we are here we’d keep our faith and stay the path and do the work of His ministry which He left us here as stewards of.
Go to the upper room and partake there. It is imperative that we get a higher view. It is crucial that we come up out of our present circumstances whatever they may be, and see as He has seen. If we stay inside of our own life’s trials and tribulations, we’ll never see who needs to be loved by Him and saved, all we’ll see is the affliction of our own souls and never be the saviors of our world. Do we remember Him? What He did, who He did it for, for what purpose, and love who He loves?
If we come up higher and really see that we’ll go for it with all of the compassion in us. Bringing His peace and governing rule through us to our families, cities, counties, states, nations and the world. Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the uttermost regions! This is accomplished only by being intimate enough to know Him personally and be as He is IN this world. It cannot be seen, nor can it be accomplished by casual observation and trial and error or good religious activity!
If we have no plans to be with Him as a partaker of His kingdom work, we have no reason to eat and drink with Him. The strength, life and health are to continue in the kingdom work.
Why did He have no more need to eat and drink until the kingdom comes? The eating and drinking, fellowship and remembering are for earth, they are for here and now, they are for the work of the ministry of Christ and of God to annihilate God’s enemy’s power at work in the earth and in the hearts of men and women. He who eats and drinks the Lord’s super says I have switched allegiances. I will not live for satan, or act as he acts, for he IS NOT My father any longer. 20After supper he took another cup of wine Jesus said those who drink this cup are in covenant with God! They agree with God’s work, not a part, but a whole.
When we enter a marriage covenant we don’t say, “Hey baby I’ll make covenant with you, I’ll drink and eat with you, but only some days, really only weekdays, but my weekends are my own!” That would not go over very well. It doesn’t go over very well with God either. Your spouse may not be able to see or know what you are doing but God always knows, for He even knows the heart! So to say to God, “I’m all in Lord” is ridiculous if you’re not. You cannot put on an act with God, and He IS looking for fruit on your “matured” fig tree. You can’t just act like you’re mature or look like it, you have to have fruit, which proves you are mature.
Servants will be leaders in God’s kingdom, both now and later on.
“Satan has asked to have all of you sifted as wheat.” Is that not scriptural? The harvest, the threshing floor, the mill, the grinder, the mixture, the oven, all equal the bread? The bread is the fruit, the produce. Just being harvested is NOT enough with God, we are to be bread as He was bread, remember?
Praise God for the grace of repentance when we are mistaken! Jesus said, “I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen and build up your brothers." Jesus knew Peter’s heart more than Peter knew it himself.
This is our prescription also, Go on towards the process, if you fail, repent, and help others go on through the processing also.
PRAY, PRAY that you will NOT be overcome with temptation. Go on with the process, become bread and PRAY you will Not be overcome with temptation.
Not my will, but Yours Lord. His will is that we continue, go the distance, grow, produce, bring forth fruit. It is hard on the heart of God when we stay put, feet in the mud and won’t go on because we have more faith in failure than in His work in us. It is hard on Him when He has to wait and watch as years of our life are used up for everything else but His great work of salvation. That’s why He came, remember? He left the responsibility in the hands of 11 and told them to go do likewise. They began back at Genesis to be fruitful, multiply, fill, rule, and have dominion. This is where every Born Again believer is at as soon as they get Born Again, it is everyone’s Co-Mission with Their Lord.
Ya know the story of Ruth? Judas was a kisser, “yeah, yeah, sure I’m with you, yeah…”, those who stay are disciples, “cleavers”, covenant keepers.
Have you ever heard the word of the Lord casually and thought, “yeah yeah, that’s great, nice or whatever”? Then later it hit you in the face, and you realized how much you did not really pay attention to it with intent to do it? This happened to Peter, 61At that moment the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered. It is time to remember His words as never before. I’m gonna throw this one at ya. What IF, the Bibles in the good ol’ US of A were burned, or taken from us? What if? This trumpet has been sounding in our midst for about 3 years now. I did not use to read my Bible everyday, but I heard a call to and finally got it, there’s reason to “get it” now. One big reason is to know Him at His word, there are other reasons, I’m not sure what, but I hear the trumpet call.
Peter was not sure why or what, but there was a reason to listen and do. Noah was a trumpet and no one had to do what he said, in fact he wasn’t God why would men listen to Him? Yet when they wouldn’t they died? Moses was a trumpet, he called for Passover lambs to be prepared, no one had to listen to or obey Him, when they didn’t their firstborn sons were sacrificed instead, for their own disobedience. How would that make you feel? Your obstinance would try to haunt you, and disobedience does, in many forms.
Jesus has said to us, know Me and know My father in His word, be baptized, receive the Holy Spirit, Go into the world, Pray, worship, etc. Yet many do not regard His words, especially when human messengers try to relate them for God or His Son. They seem like fairy tales, until…..death comes, and even then some will not pay-heed….
Holy Bible, The New Living Translation
Daily Thought to Ponder -
“Oh Give Thanks to the Lord for He is Good!”
Monday, November 06, 2006
Sunday, November 05, 2006
1 Cor 11 Examine - self - Eat, Drink, Live
Scripture selections are taken from the Rock Church Daily Bread Reading schedule for each month. “Lena’s Journalin’” are Lena’s comments on the specific passages from her Daily Journal.
If the e-mail text you receive is encrypted at all, just scroll down to the end of all of the text and click on Lena’s Journalin’ , which will take you directly to the web-page where you will be able to read the text quite clearly in it’s purposed form.
1 Corinthians 11:1-34
1And you should follow my example, just as I follow Christ's.
Instructions for Public Worship
2I am so glad, dear friends, that you always keep me in your thoughts and you are following the Christian teaching I passed on to you. 3But there is one thing I want you to know: A man is responsible to Christ, a woman is responsible to her husband, and Christ is responsible to God. 4A man dishonors Christ F54 if he covers his head while praying or prophesying. 5But a woman dishonors her husband F55 if she prays or prophesies without a covering on her head, for this is the same as shaving her head. 6Yes, if she refuses to wear a head covering, she should cut off all her hair. And since it is shameful for a woman to have her hair cut or her head shaved, then she should wear a covering. F56 7A man should not wear anything on his head when worshiping, for man is God's glory, made in God's own image, but woman is the glory of man. 8For the first man didn't come from woman, but the first woman came from man. 9And man was not made for woman's benefit, but woman was made for man. 10So a woman should wear a covering on her head as a sign of authority because the angels are watching.
11But in relationships among the Lord's people, women are not independent of men, and men are not independent of women. 12For although the first woman came from man, all men have been born from women ever since, and everything comes from God.
13What do you think about this? Is it right for a woman to pray to God in public without covering her head? 14Isn't it obvious that it's disgraceful for a man to have long hair? 15And isn't it obvious that long hair is a woman's pride and joy? For it has been given to her as a covering. 16But if anyone wants to argue about this, all I can say is that we have no other custom than this, and all the churches of God feel the same way about it.
Order at the Lord's Supper
17But now when I mention this next issue, I cannot praise you. For it sounds as if more harm than good is done when you meet together. 18First of all, I hear that there are divisions among you when you meet as a church, and to some extent I believe it. 19But, of course, there must be divisions among you so that those of you who are right will be recognized!
20It's not the Lord's Supper you are concerned about when you come together. 21For I am told that some of you hurry to eat your own meal without sharing with others. As a result, some go hungry while others get drunk. 22What? Is this really true? Don't you have your own homes for eating and drinking? Or do you really want to disgrace the church of God and shame the poor? What am I supposed to say about these things? Do you want me to praise you? Well, I certainly do not!
23For this is what the Lord himself said, and I pass it on to you just as I received it. On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took a loaf of bread, 24and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is given F57 for you. Do this in remembrance of me." 25In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant between God and you, sealed by the shedding of my blood. Do this in remembrance of me as often as you drink it." 26For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord's death until he comes again.
27So if anyone eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord unworthily, that person is guilty of sinning against the body and the blood of the Lord. 28That is why you should examine yourself before eating the bread and drinking from the cup. 29For if you eat the bread or drink the cup unworthily, not honoring the body of Christ, F58 you are eating and drinking God's judgment upon yourself. 30That is why many of you are weak and sick and some have even died.
31But if we examine ourselves, we will not be examined by God and judged in this way. 32But when we are judged and disciplined by the Lord, we will not be condemned with the world. 33So, dear brothers and sisters, F59 when you gather for the Lord's Supper, wait for each other. 34If you are really hungry, eat at home so you won't bring judgment upon yourselves when you meet together. I'll give you instructions about the other matters after I arrive.
FOOTNOTES:F54: Greek his head. F55: Greek her head. F56: Or then she should have long hair. F57: Some manuscripts read broken. F58: Greek the body; some manuscripts read the Lord's body. F59: Greek brothers.
Copyright Statement: Holy Bible, The New Living Translation
~ Lena’s Journalin’~
How many people (or should I say American people) do you know of that are willing to consciously follow another person? This is quite the bold statement the Apostle Paul is making. “Follow or mimic or copy or imitate me, Just as I follow Christ” “Just as I follow Christ” is of course the key statement, and many would even pick that apart deciding WWJD, before ever considering following a physical human person’s example. This unwillingness to follow people has caused the church to be challenged in its great commission, for there is no discipleship without following, and so if no one wills to follow another, there are no disciples. So where is the assembled army of God, then? A bunch of independent individuals volunteering to fight principalities and powers? We must realize that there is a solid order set even amongst demonic spirits, they know their place, without position there is no power. So they easily and readily “get in line”.
Then there are the BIG questions to ask, “What if they stumble, or fall, or they act as if they are human and make a mistake?” Have you ever stumbled, fallen, been human, or made a mistake? What do you do about it? Pray, learn, make corrections, forgive, pick up any pieces and get back on the road headed in the right direction. Then do the same with and for the persons you’ve committed to the Lord to follow after.
There’s a principle of God concerning following. It is sign to the spirits in the heavenlies that we follow Christ. It is a sign of being under authority and covering. Being covered, having one’s head covered in the spirit realm is very important and it is a symbolic mark in God’s kingdom of who is His and who is not.
The spirit of rebellion likes to stand alone and have no one tell them what to do, where to go or to teach them anything. In the spirit their head is not covered, they are marked, but not for God. It shows in the spirit.
The church, the bride, is labeled as female, the church is a “she”, male and female persons, if called the church, are “female”. This principle of order applies to all of us within the church.
See the order of responsibility (remember ability to respond) here? Men have a responsibility, God is looking for them to fulfill, women have a responsibility God is looking for them to fulfill, even Christ as a human had a responsibility to fulfill here before His Father.
Where it says that every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head means- she should desire to gain further understanding first, give account, be open, and uncover her motives ahead of time to one above her for help’s-sake, that she’d not be shamed or shame the one she represents! Doesn’t that put a new light on that scripture?
It is speaking of the order of responsibilities of each person on earth for protection of the ambassadorship and the warfare.
Ya know how I said it is a mark in the spirit realm of who belongs to whom? See vs 10 as a sign of authority because the angels are watching. We’re not just speaking of the good and sweet heavenly angel messengers, we’re talking about all angelic beings and rulers of the atmosphere’s all around us. 2/3rd‘s are godly, 1/3rd are not.
Do you remember we are engaged in an all out war of God and satan? Obedience vs. the rebellion, light vs. darkness etc?
Paul is speaking of positions for the warfare and for protection in it. He starts out by saying follow (someone as they follow Christ, even if they make a mistake)- make a covenant commitment to be face to face with some human who is after God. This is a warfare position.
He tells how God has already set up kingdom governmental rule. These are people to follow… Christ- God, Men –Christ, women-men, etc. This is who God is looking at to give accountability to Him for who’s in position with them for protection from the further rebellion and from the onslaught. He then begins to speak of the strength that is needed for the activity of warfare. We eat and drink with and for God and with and for one another. We eat together for strength to go forward in taking the atmosphere’s back for Our Lord and King! We eat together as a further sign in the heavenlies of unification, which increases and establishes the rule and governmental power of God’s heavenly kingdom on earth.
He says eat, but don’t eat in strife. Why? Strife is not a characteristic of those who are of God’s Divine kingdom being set up on earth. Strife is an attribute of the rebellion, which God is against. So settle the matters and eat together.
So there’s also an order to eating and drinking, or rather partaking of the oneness of Christ together. Why? Inside of order is found the increase of His governmental power. God is a God of order.
Division means: two different visions. So there are two different visions among you. You want it done this way, and you want it done that way, and she wants it another way, God isn’t having it His way on earth amongst that mess! Look at the root of division here - there must be divisions among you so that those of you who are right will be recognized! WOW! Pretty brutally honest, huh?
That’s rebellion manifested, rebellion opposes unity and godliness and God. How ‘bout submission, humility, yielding? Now we’re talking! Bring that to the table, please. Talk about order! In that no man is magnified, but God is greatly glorified.
A definition of “poor” here is “needy”. We shame the needy. We don’t like or want to help them out. It’s almost like we are saying, “They have what they deserve”, mentality. The poor we will always have with us- Jesus taught us to give to those who do not deserve our giving, help those who can’t seem to help themselves for whatever reason, give not expecting a pay back or a reciprocation from them. This is the epitome of true love expressed, to love those who will not love us in return. To extend our souls for the hungry. Invite them to eat and drink with our families.
ON THE VERY NIGHT HE WAS BETRAYED- He took the bread anyway! Broke it signifying He’d die for the betrayer anyway, and He’d forgive him of his outright intentional sin! An intentional offense.
Then He says as often as You have an opportunity to eat will you also remember this action and do the same, for those who shame you, and betray you. Will you forgive them too, as I have? Will you give thanks willingly to God for their lives, seeking their forgiveness in case they repent and can be saved?
Unworthily means – has not weighed out the importance of the matter at hand. Has given no forethought of, so there’s a disregard of what is to be accomplished.
Will you pour out your strength, take pain upon your own physical body, and give of your life to the unloving and unlovely? Do you have to curse them for what they do, or can you bless them, by living as examples, not of what is earned, but what was paid for?
This is worthily eating and drinking. This is the glorification of God in His body who say they are one Body with Him.
The waiting on one another is the regarding part. Did I offend you, did you offend me, do we have any breeches, are we in harmony or divided? This is why we wait, that we’ll all serve Him in eating and drinking together and we’ll not just rush into it, maybe skipping over an important issue of love and the restoration of unity.
Daily Thought to Ponder -
“Oh Give Thanks to the Lord for He is Good!”
If the e-mail text you receive is encrypted at all, just scroll down to the end of all of the text and click on Lena’s Journalin’ , which will take you directly to the web-page where you will be able to read the text quite clearly in it’s purposed form.
1 Corinthians 11:1-34
1And you should follow my example, just as I follow Christ's.
Instructions for Public Worship
2I am so glad, dear friends, that you always keep me in your thoughts and you are following the Christian teaching I passed on to you. 3But there is one thing I want you to know: A man is responsible to Christ, a woman is responsible to her husband, and Christ is responsible to God. 4A man dishonors Christ F54 if he covers his head while praying or prophesying. 5But a woman dishonors her husband F55 if she prays or prophesies without a covering on her head, for this is the same as shaving her head. 6Yes, if she refuses to wear a head covering, she should cut off all her hair. And since it is shameful for a woman to have her hair cut or her head shaved, then she should wear a covering. F56 7A man should not wear anything on his head when worshiping, for man is God's glory, made in God's own image, but woman is the glory of man. 8For the first man didn't come from woman, but the first woman came from man. 9And man was not made for woman's benefit, but woman was made for man. 10So a woman should wear a covering on her head as a sign of authority because the angels are watching.
11But in relationships among the Lord's people, women are not independent of men, and men are not independent of women. 12For although the first woman came from man, all men have been born from women ever since, and everything comes from God.
13What do you think about this? Is it right for a woman to pray to God in public without covering her head? 14Isn't it obvious that it's disgraceful for a man to have long hair? 15And isn't it obvious that long hair is a woman's pride and joy? For it has been given to her as a covering. 16But if anyone wants to argue about this, all I can say is that we have no other custom than this, and all the churches of God feel the same way about it.
Order at the Lord's Supper
17But now when I mention this next issue, I cannot praise you. For it sounds as if more harm than good is done when you meet together. 18First of all, I hear that there are divisions among you when you meet as a church, and to some extent I believe it. 19But, of course, there must be divisions among you so that those of you who are right will be recognized!
20It's not the Lord's Supper you are concerned about when you come together. 21For I am told that some of you hurry to eat your own meal without sharing with others. As a result, some go hungry while others get drunk. 22What? Is this really true? Don't you have your own homes for eating and drinking? Or do you really want to disgrace the church of God and shame the poor? What am I supposed to say about these things? Do you want me to praise you? Well, I certainly do not!
23For this is what the Lord himself said, and I pass it on to you just as I received it. On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took a loaf of bread, 24and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is given F57 for you. Do this in remembrance of me." 25In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant between God and you, sealed by the shedding of my blood. Do this in remembrance of me as often as you drink it." 26For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord's death until he comes again.
27So if anyone eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord unworthily, that person is guilty of sinning against the body and the blood of the Lord. 28That is why you should examine yourself before eating the bread and drinking from the cup. 29For if you eat the bread or drink the cup unworthily, not honoring the body of Christ, F58 you are eating and drinking God's judgment upon yourself. 30That is why many of you are weak and sick and some have even died.
31But if we examine ourselves, we will not be examined by God and judged in this way. 32But when we are judged and disciplined by the Lord, we will not be condemned with the world. 33So, dear brothers and sisters, F59 when you gather for the Lord's Supper, wait for each other. 34If you are really hungry, eat at home so you won't bring judgment upon yourselves when you meet together. I'll give you instructions about the other matters after I arrive.
FOOTNOTES:F54: Greek his head. F55: Greek her head. F56: Or then she should have long hair. F57: Some manuscripts read broken. F58: Greek the body; some manuscripts read the Lord's body. F59: Greek brothers.
Copyright Statement: Holy Bible, The New Living Translation
~ Lena’s Journalin’~
How many people (or should I say American people) do you know of that are willing to consciously follow another person? This is quite the bold statement the Apostle Paul is making. “Follow or mimic or copy or imitate me, Just as I follow Christ” “Just as I follow Christ” is of course the key statement, and many would even pick that apart deciding WWJD, before ever considering following a physical human person’s example. This unwillingness to follow people has caused the church to be challenged in its great commission, for there is no discipleship without following, and so if no one wills to follow another, there are no disciples. So where is the assembled army of God, then? A bunch of independent individuals volunteering to fight principalities and powers? We must realize that there is a solid order set even amongst demonic spirits, they know their place, without position there is no power. So they easily and readily “get in line”.
Then there are the BIG questions to ask, “What if they stumble, or fall, or they act as if they are human and make a mistake?” Have you ever stumbled, fallen, been human, or made a mistake? What do you do about it? Pray, learn, make corrections, forgive, pick up any pieces and get back on the road headed in the right direction. Then do the same with and for the persons you’ve committed to the Lord to follow after.
There’s a principle of God concerning following. It is sign to the spirits in the heavenlies that we follow Christ. It is a sign of being under authority and covering. Being covered, having one’s head covered in the spirit realm is very important and it is a symbolic mark in God’s kingdom of who is His and who is not.
The spirit of rebellion likes to stand alone and have no one tell them what to do, where to go or to teach them anything. In the spirit their head is not covered, they are marked, but not for God. It shows in the spirit.
The church, the bride, is labeled as female, the church is a “she”, male and female persons, if called the church, are “female”. This principle of order applies to all of us within the church.
See the order of responsibility (remember ability to respond) here? Men have a responsibility, God is looking for them to fulfill, women have a responsibility God is looking for them to fulfill, even Christ as a human had a responsibility to fulfill here before His Father.
Where it says that every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head means- she should desire to gain further understanding first, give account, be open, and uncover her motives ahead of time to one above her for help’s-sake, that she’d not be shamed or shame the one she represents! Doesn’t that put a new light on that scripture?
It is speaking of the order of responsibilities of each person on earth for protection of the ambassadorship and the warfare.
Ya know how I said it is a mark in the spirit realm of who belongs to whom? See vs 10 as a sign of authority because the angels are watching. We’re not just speaking of the good and sweet heavenly angel messengers, we’re talking about all angelic beings and rulers of the atmosphere’s all around us. 2/3rd‘s are godly, 1/3rd are not.
Do you remember we are engaged in an all out war of God and satan? Obedience vs. the rebellion, light vs. darkness etc?
Paul is speaking of positions for the warfare and for protection in it. He starts out by saying follow (someone as they follow Christ, even if they make a mistake)- make a covenant commitment to be face to face with some human who is after God. This is a warfare position.
He tells how God has already set up kingdom governmental rule. These are people to follow… Christ- God, Men –Christ, women-men, etc. This is who God is looking at to give accountability to Him for who’s in position with them for protection from the further rebellion and from the onslaught. He then begins to speak of the strength that is needed for the activity of warfare. We eat and drink with and for God and with and for one another. We eat together for strength to go forward in taking the atmosphere’s back for Our Lord and King! We eat together as a further sign in the heavenlies of unification, which increases and establishes the rule and governmental power of God’s heavenly kingdom on earth.
He says eat, but don’t eat in strife. Why? Strife is not a characteristic of those who are of God’s Divine kingdom being set up on earth. Strife is an attribute of the rebellion, which God is against. So settle the matters and eat together.
So there’s also an order to eating and drinking, or rather partaking of the oneness of Christ together. Why? Inside of order is found the increase of His governmental power. God is a God of order.
Division means: two different visions. So there are two different visions among you. You want it done this way, and you want it done that way, and she wants it another way, God isn’t having it His way on earth amongst that mess! Look at the root of division here - there must be divisions among you so that those of you who are right will be recognized! WOW! Pretty brutally honest, huh?
That’s rebellion manifested, rebellion opposes unity and godliness and God. How ‘bout submission, humility, yielding? Now we’re talking! Bring that to the table, please. Talk about order! In that no man is magnified, but God is greatly glorified.
A definition of “poor” here is “needy”. We shame the needy. We don’t like or want to help them out. It’s almost like we are saying, “They have what they deserve”, mentality. The poor we will always have with us- Jesus taught us to give to those who do not deserve our giving, help those who can’t seem to help themselves for whatever reason, give not expecting a pay back or a reciprocation from them. This is the epitome of true love expressed, to love those who will not love us in return. To extend our souls for the hungry. Invite them to eat and drink with our families.
ON THE VERY NIGHT HE WAS BETRAYED- He took the bread anyway! Broke it signifying He’d die for the betrayer anyway, and He’d forgive him of his outright intentional sin! An intentional offense.
Then He says as often as You have an opportunity to eat will you also remember this action and do the same, for those who shame you, and betray you. Will you forgive them too, as I have? Will you give thanks willingly to God for their lives, seeking their forgiveness in case they repent and can be saved?
Unworthily means – has not weighed out the importance of the matter at hand. Has given no forethought of, so there’s a disregard of what is to be accomplished.
Will you pour out your strength, take pain upon your own physical body, and give of your life to the unloving and unlovely? Do you have to curse them for what they do, or can you bless them, by living as examples, not of what is earned, but what was paid for?
This is worthily eating and drinking. This is the glorification of God in His body who say they are one Body with Him.
The waiting on one another is the regarding part. Did I offend you, did you offend me, do we have any breeches, are we in harmony or divided? This is why we wait, that we’ll all serve Him in eating and drinking together and we’ll not just rush into it, maybe skipping over an important issue of love and the restoration of unity.
Daily Thought to Ponder -
“Oh Give Thanks to the Lord for He is Good!”
Saturday, November 04, 2006
1 Cor 10 Eat, Drink, Live
Scripture selections are taken from the Rock Church Daily Bread Reading schedule for each month. “Lena’s Journalin’” are Lena’s comments on the specific passages from her Daily Journal.
If the e-mail text you receive is encrypted at all, just scroll down to the end of all of the text and click on Lena’s Journalin’ , which will take you directly to the web-page where you will be able to read the text quite clearly in it’s purposed form.
1 Corinthians 10:1-33
Warnings against Idolatry
1I don't want you to forget, dear brothers and sisters, F49 what happened to our ancestors in the wilderness long ago. God guided all of them by sending a cloud that moved along ahead of them, and he brought them all safely through the waters of the sea on dry ground. 2As followers of Moses, they were all baptized in the cloud and the sea. 3And all of them ate the same miraculous F50 food, 4and all of them drank the same miraculous water. For they all drank from the miraculous rock that traveled with them, and that rock was Christ. 5Yet after all this, God was not pleased with most of them, and he destroyed them in the wilderness.
6These events happened as a warning to us, so that we would not crave evil things as they did 7or worship idols as some of them did. For the Scriptures say, "The people celebrated with feasting and drinking, and they indulged themselves in pagan revelry." F51 8And we must not engage in sexual immorality as some of them did, causing 23,000 of them to die in one day. 9Nor should we put Christ F52 to the test, as some of them did and then died from snakebites. 10And don't grumble as some of them did, for that is why God sent his angel of death to destroy them. 11All these events happened to them as examples for us. They were written down to warn us, who live at the time when this age is drawing to a close.
12If you think you are standing strong, be careful, for you, too, may fall into the same sin. 13But remember that the temptations that come into your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can't stand up against it. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you will not give in to it.
14So, my dear friends, flee from the worship of idols. 15You are reasonable people. Decide for yourselves if what I am about to say is true. 16When we bless the cup at the Lord's Table, aren't we sharing in the benefits of the blood of Christ? And when we break the loaf of bread, aren't we sharing in the benefits of the body of Christ? 17And we all eat from one loaf, showing that we are one body. 18And think about the nation of Israel; all who eat the sacrifices are united by that act.
19What am I trying to say? Am I saying that the idols to whom the pagans bring sacrifices are real gods and that these sacrifices are of some value? 20No, not at all. What I am saying is that these sacrifices are offered to demons, not to God. And I don't want any of you to be partners with demons. 21You cannot drink from the cup of the Lord and from the cup of demons, too. You cannot eat at the Lord's Table and at the table of demons, too. 22What? Do you dare to rouse the Lord's jealousy as Israel did? Do you think we are stronger than he is?
23You say, "I am allowed to do anything"—but not everything is helpful. You say, "I am allowed to do anything"—but not everything is beneficial. 24Don't think only of your own good. Think of other Christians and what is best for them.
25Here's what you should do. You may eat any meat that is sold in the marketplace. Don't ask whether or not it was offered to idols, and then your conscience won't be bothered. 26For "the earth is the Lord's, and everything in it." F53
27If someone who isn't a Christian asks you home for dinner, go ahead; accept the invitation if you want to. Eat whatever is offered to you and don't ask any questions about it. Your conscience should not be bothered by this. 28But suppose someone warns you that this meat has been offered to an idol. Don't eat it, out of consideration for the conscience of the one who told you. 29It might not be a matter of conscience for you, but it is for the other person. Now, why should my freedom be limited by what someone else thinks? 30If I can thank God for the food and enjoy it, why should I be condemned for eating it? 31Whatever you eat or drink or whatever you do, you must do all for the glory of God. 32Don't give offense to Jews or Gentiles or the church of God. 33That is the plan I follow, too. I try to please everyone in everything I do. I don't just do what I like or what is best for me, but what is best for them so they may be saved.
FOOTNOTES:F49: Greek brothers. F50: Greek spiritual; also in 10:4. F51: Exodus 32:6. F52: Some manuscripts read the Lord. F53: Ps 24:1.
Copyright Statement: Holy Bible, The New Living Translation
~ Lena’s Journalin’~
As I read through this passage today I’m reading in a new light that I’ve not read it in before. I see the spirit of the words today more than the letter (list) I’ve seen before.
The sum and essence of this chapter is our covenant allegiance with God.
If the LORD is God serve Him, if Baal is god, serve him. There IS NO middle road, no fence to ride, no gray, no lukewarm. It is either passionate or cold, one or the other.
There are many lines being drawn inside of this chapter. Purposes are outlined. A call to kingdom of God allegiance is made and detailed. If one reads this chapter without knowing the heart of God the Father, the Lord Jesus, and the Holy Spirit they might see another list of rules and regulations.
The chapter is all about saving the world we live in, because of knowing His great love.
Jesus IS THE Way, THE, Truth and THE Life! There is only One way to God the Father and to escape the eternal doom due us all without the Body and Blood of the Lordship of Christ.
This chapter hits on the mixture of compromise and deception that says “I can say I live for God and it’ll be as though I do.” This is a deception that comes from satan himself. We are either all in or all out, there is and can be no middle road. This passage outlines the lanes of those roads. If you are doing and living this way, then it tells what road you are on, the road to life eternal; or the road to death and destruction! There’s NO median. It just is one or the other.
If one is a seeker of truth, he’ll desire to be checked out and listen to make sure he is on the righteous pathway. Once he hears the truth of the checklist, he submits to the necessary changes, not as rules and laws, but as the way of salvation! Otherwise he’s headed off a cliff, and that can possibly be at the next turn! Knowing THE TRUTH (Jesus) will set us free from sin and death.
Ok, let’s delve in…
Why do we eat and drink and for what purpose? To stay alive, right? (like duh)J
Ok, now let’s ask…for whom do we live, or what are we living or what are we alive for?
Many would say family, and rightly so. God placed each of us in our own little harvest fields, family is where the development of character and of integrity is accomplished FOR the Harvest of the Kingdom. If I’m not developed in the character of Christ where I’m seen the most, at home, why am I trying to export my attributes? Yet when I am able to exercise the characteristics of Christ at home through thick, thin and every other layer of life, then I truly have something to export. When my whole family lives this way we are more than conquerors for His kingdom establishment on earth!
So eating to live for family is great, but not the root and core point of living and eating.
Really, it is time to be willing to look and see who we already are serving and eating and drinking for. To “eat” figuratively expresses: “to feed” or be fed - portraying the duty of a Christian teacher to promote in every way the spiritual welfare of the members of the church.
To “drink” in this passage figuratively means: to receive into the soul what serves to refresh strengthen, nourish it unto life eternal
Ok, looking at these brings a new angle.
Is what I’m currently partaking in feeding my soul towards eternal salvation? Am I being nurtured by it and encouraged to grow in the spirit?
What are some things we “feed” on? TV, radio, internet, music, education sources, the fellowship of men and women, godly or ungodly, etc. Do these current things in my life promote intimacy between me and My Father God?
Eating and drinking are very intimate terms. It speaks of communing with someone you share life with. Someone you Commune,=live, with. If I live with a man, and I’m either married or not married to him, and we regularly eat and drink together, it shows we are intimate with one another. We sit face to face regularly.
So who or what do I do regularly eat and drink of that I’ve become intimate with? (I live this way regularly.)
The passage here takes us from eating and drinking wrongly to eating and drinking properly.
Do you know that we can actually learn and mature in our natural life and in our life in Christ without personal experiences? We can learn from other’s experiences! If we are wise we will observe others, read about others (which is why books are written), and learn and live righteously.
One can become Born Again and yet never grow up. The growing up part happens through the progress of a learner, who continues. The born again person must grow up, must continue in order to actually be saved.
What is an “idolater”? It is: a worshipper of false gods, an idolater is anyone even Christians who may, participate in any way, shape or form in the worship or in the service of the heathen, he is enslaved to the world, a covetous man is an example of an idolater - as a worshipper of Mammon, lover of sin, he gives of His life to a bit of anything and everything except God Most High.
It is really the indulging of one’s life in everything that does not promote godliness or righteous spiritual growth either personally or as an example to others.
Here are some of the gages mentioned in this passage for our measurement sake- pagan revelry- worldly activity that in no way serves in the promotion of kingdom of God activity, it actually takes away from it. Sexual immorality- joining our bodies for (temporary) pleasure, not promoting covenantal union, or the communion for godly reproduction of kingdom purpose. “Putting Christ F52 to the test, grumblings, worship of idols, these sacrifices are offered to demons, not to God. And I don't want any of you to be partners with demons.” We put Christ to the test when we have one foot involved with worldly ways (which is not just “the world” but is satan’s terrain) and another foot in the kingdom, thinking we might be saved if at least one foot lives or looks like it lives right. Do you want a 50-50 chance? “Grumblings” are complaints against the work of God- “it’s too hard, he asks too much, how can I ever do this, they are too domineering”, etc… And “worship” can be defined- attended too, both in action and thought.
So we should check in with God and then eat and then drink life and blessing. If we find we’ve erred then we must make any necessary corrections to go on. We are living for eternity right here right now. We have a “job” to do, that’s why we are here. We must eat and drink life or death will be working in us, its own deceptive work. We’re not awaiting death for the sifting out to see if our heavenly raffle ticket is called on. We need to examine ourselves now and serve Him righteously and with a whole heart. A heart made right, and a life full of vitality to get a few things done!
How can we act as though we eat intimately with the Lord, thinking we are saying with our actions, “I’m with you”, by the mere action of being at His table, yet our hearts and the actions of our life on other days do not show that? We cannot. If we do that, we are deceived and we eat death and destruction. Deception is not from God, it is from satan. He is the liar and deceiver. He is the author of hypocrisy, he is the one who tells people if they act a certain way, then they can consider themselves as they act. That is a lie.
God sees way beyond any act or put on. Even religious activity does not please the Lord, for He knows if our hearts are with Him or not. Judas ate with the Lord, and no one in the room knew his heart except Jesus. Betrayal was found in his heart by the Lord. He himself may not have known it. Only God can reveal it, even to we ourselves! We must come face to face intimately with Him and openly ask. “Search my heart Oh God, look on me and see if there’s anything wicked inside of me, then lead me away from the wickedness of lies and deception”. This is the only way we can truly eat and drink life and blessing.
If we eat properly we eat, LIFE, health, and strength! Amen.
Daily Thought to Ponder -
“Oh Give Thanks to the Lord for He is Good!”
If the e-mail text you receive is encrypted at all, just scroll down to the end of all of the text and click on Lena’s Journalin’ , which will take you directly to the web-page where you will be able to read the text quite clearly in it’s purposed form.
1 Corinthians 10:1-33
Warnings against Idolatry
1I don't want you to forget, dear brothers and sisters, F49 what happened to our ancestors in the wilderness long ago. God guided all of them by sending a cloud that moved along ahead of them, and he brought them all safely through the waters of the sea on dry ground. 2As followers of Moses, they were all baptized in the cloud and the sea. 3And all of them ate the same miraculous F50 food, 4and all of them drank the same miraculous water. For they all drank from the miraculous rock that traveled with them, and that rock was Christ. 5Yet after all this, God was not pleased with most of them, and he destroyed them in the wilderness.
6These events happened as a warning to us, so that we would not crave evil things as they did 7or worship idols as some of them did. For the Scriptures say, "The people celebrated with feasting and drinking, and they indulged themselves in pagan revelry." F51 8And we must not engage in sexual immorality as some of them did, causing 23,000 of them to die in one day. 9Nor should we put Christ F52 to the test, as some of them did and then died from snakebites. 10And don't grumble as some of them did, for that is why God sent his angel of death to destroy them. 11All these events happened to them as examples for us. They were written down to warn us, who live at the time when this age is drawing to a close.
12If you think you are standing strong, be careful, for you, too, may fall into the same sin. 13But remember that the temptations that come into your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can't stand up against it. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you will not give in to it.
14So, my dear friends, flee from the worship of idols. 15You are reasonable people. Decide for yourselves if what I am about to say is true. 16When we bless the cup at the Lord's Table, aren't we sharing in the benefits of the blood of Christ? And when we break the loaf of bread, aren't we sharing in the benefits of the body of Christ? 17And we all eat from one loaf, showing that we are one body. 18And think about the nation of Israel; all who eat the sacrifices are united by that act.
19What am I trying to say? Am I saying that the idols to whom the pagans bring sacrifices are real gods and that these sacrifices are of some value? 20No, not at all. What I am saying is that these sacrifices are offered to demons, not to God. And I don't want any of you to be partners with demons. 21You cannot drink from the cup of the Lord and from the cup of demons, too. You cannot eat at the Lord's Table and at the table of demons, too. 22What? Do you dare to rouse the Lord's jealousy as Israel did? Do you think we are stronger than he is?
23You say, "I am allowed to do anything"—but not everything is helpful. You say, "I am allowed to do anything"—but not everything is beneficial. 24Don't think only of your own good. Think of other Christians and what is best for them.
25Here's what you should do. You may eat any meat that is sold in the marketplace. Don't ask whether or not it was offered to idols, and then your conscience won't be bothered. 26For "the earth is the Lord's, and everything in it." F53
27If someone who isn't a Christian asks you home for dinner, go ahead; accept the invitation if you want to. Eat whatever is offered to you and don't ask any questions about it. Your conscience should not be bothered by this. 28But suppose someone warns you that this meat has been offered to an idol. Don't eat it, out of consideration for the conscience of the one who told you. 29It might not be a matter of conscience for you, but it is for the other person. Now, why should my freedom be limited by what someone else thinks? 30If I can thank God for the food and enjoy it, why should I be condemned for eating it? 31Whatever you eat or drink or whatever you do, you must do all for the glory of God. 32Don't give offense to Jews or Gentiles or the church of God. 33That is the plan I follow, too. I try to please everyone in everything I do. I don't just do what I like or what is best for me, but what is best for them so they may be saved.
FOOTNOTES:F49: Greek brothers. F50: Greek spiritual; also in 10:4. F51: Exodus 32:6. F52: Some manuscripts read the Lord. F53: Ps 24:1.
Copyright Statement: Holy Bible, The New Living Translation
~ Lena’s Journalin’~
As I read through this passage today I’m reading in a new light that I’ve not read it in before. I see the spirit of the words today more than the letter (list) I’ve seen before.
The sum and essence of this chapter is our covenant allegiance with God.
If the LORD is God serve Him, if Baal is god, serve him. There IS NO middle road, no fence to ride, no gray, no lukewarm. It is either passionate or cold, one or the other.
There are many lines being drawn inside of this chapter. Purposes are outlined. A call to kingdom of God allegiance is made and detailed. If one reads this chapter without knowing the heart of God the Father, the Lord Jesus, and the Holy Spirit they might see another list of rules and regulations.
The chapter is all about saving the world we live in, because of knowing His great love.
Jesus IS THE Way, THE, Truth and THE Life! There is only One way to God the Father and to escape the eternal doom due us all without the Body and Blood of the Lordship of Christ.
This chapter hits on the mixture of compromise and deception that says “I can say I live for God and it’ll be as though I do.” This is a deception that comes from satan himself. We are either all in or all out, there is and can be no middle road. This passage outlines the lanes of those roads. If you are doing and living this way, then it tells what road you are on, the road to life eternal; or the road to death and destruction! There’s NO median. It just is one or the other.
If one is a seeker of truth, he’ll desire to be checked out and listen to make sure he is on the righteous pathway. Once he hears the truth of the checklist, he submits to the necessary changes, not as rules and laws, but as the way of salvation! Otherwise he’s headed off a cliff, and that can possibly be at the next turn! Knowing THE TRUTH (Jesus) will set us free from sin and death.
Ok, let’s delve in…
Why do we eat and drink and for what purpose? To stay alive, right? (like duh)J
Ok, now let’s ask…for whom do we live, or what are we living or what are we alive for?
Many would say family, and rightly so. God placed each of us in our own little harvest fields, family is where the development of character and of integrity is accomplished FOR the Harvest of the Kingdom. If I’m not developed in the character of Christ where I’m seen the most, at home, why am I trying to export my attributes? Yet when I am able to exercise the characteristics of Christ at home through thick, thin and every other layer of life, then I truly have something to export. When my whole family lives this way we are more than conquerors for His kingdom establishment on earth!
So eating to live for family is great, but not the root and core point of living and eating.
Really, it is time to be willing to look and see who we already are serving and eating and drinking for. To “eat” figuratively expresses: “to feed” or be fed - portraying the duty of a Christian teacher to promote in every way the spiritual welfare of the members of the church.
To “drink” in this passage figuratively means: to receive into the soul what serves to refresh strengthen, nourish it unto life eternal
Ok, looking at these brings a new angle.
Is what I’m currently partaking in feeding my soul towards eternal salvation? Am I being nurtured by it and encouraged to grow in the spirit?
What are some things we “feed” on? TV, radio, internet, music, education sources, the fellowship of men and women, godly or ungodly, etc. Do these current things in my life promote intimacy between me and My Father God?
Eating and drinking are very intimate terms. It speaks of communing with someone you share life with. Someone you Commune,=live, with. If I live with a man, and I’m either married or not married to him, and we regularly eat and drink together, it shows we are intimate with one another. We sit face to face regularly.
So who or what do I do regularly eat and drink of that I’ve become intimate with? (I live this way regularly.)
The passage here takes us from eating and drinking wrongly to eating and drinking properly.
Do you know that we can actually learn and mature in our natural life and in our life in Christ without personal experiences? We can learn from other’s experiences! If we are wise we will observe others, read about others (which is why books are written), and learn and live righteously.
One can become Born Again and yet never grow up. The growing up part happens through the progress of a learner, who continues. The born again person must grow up, must continue in order to actually be saved.
What is an “idolater”? It is: a worshipper of false gods, an idolater is anyone even Christians who may, participate in any way, shape or form in the worship or in the service of the heathen, he is enslaved to the world, a covetous man is an example of an idolater - as a worshipper of Mammon, lover of sin, he gives of His life to a bit of anything and everything except God Most High.
It is really the indulging of one’s life in everything that does not promote godliness or righteous spiritual growth either personally or as an example to others.
Here are some of the gages mentioned in this passage for our measurement sake- pagan revelry- worldly activity that in no way serves in the promotion of kingdom of God activity, it actually takes away from it. Sexual immorality- joining our bodies for (temporary) pleasure, not promoting covenantal union, or the communion for godly reproduction of kingdom purpose. “Putting Christ F52 to the test, grumblings, worship of idols, these sacrifices are offered to demons, not to God. And I don't want any of you to be partners with demons.” We put Christ to the test when we have one foot involved with worldly ways (which is not just “the world” but is satan’s terrain) and another foot in the kingdom, thinking we might be saved if at least one foot lives or looks like it lives right. Do you want a 50-50 chance? “Grumblings” are complaints against the work of God- “it’s too hard, he asks too much, how can I ever do this, they are too domineering”, etc… And “worship” can be defined- attended too, both in action and thought.
So we should check in with God and then eat and then drink life and blessing. If we find we’ve erred then we must make any necessary corrections to go on. We are living for eternity right here right now. We have a “job” to do, that’s why we are here. We must eat and drink life or death will be working in us, its own deceptive work. We’re not awaiting death for the sifting out to see if our heavenly raffle ticket is called on. We need to examine ourselves now and serve Him righteously and with a whole heart. A heart made right, and a life full of vitality to get a few things done!
How can we act as though we eat intimately with the Lord, thinking we are saying with our actions, “I’m with you”, by the mere action of being at His table, yet our hearts and the actions of our life on other days do not show that? We cannot. If we do that, we are deceived and we eat death and destruction. Deception is not from God, it is from satan. He is the liar and deceiver. He is the author of hypocrisy, he is the one who tells people if they act a certain way, then they can consider themselves as they act. That is a lie.
God sees way beyond any act or put on. Even religious activity does not please the Lord, for He knows if our hearts are with Him or not. Judas ate with the Lord, and no one in the room knew his heart except Jesus. Betrayal was found in his heart by the Lord. He himself may not have known it. Only God can reveal it, even to we ourselves! We must come face to face intimately with Him and openly ask. “Search my heart Oh God, look on me and see if there’s anything wicked inside of me, then lead me away from the wickedness of lies and deception”. This is the only way we can truly eat and drink life and blessing.
If we eat properly we eat, LIFE, health, and strength! Amen.
Daily Thought to Ponder -
“Oh Give Thanks to the Lord for He is Good!”
Friday, November 03, 2006
John 6 Disciple, Observer, or One w/ Him?
Scripture selections are taken from the Rock Church Daily Bread Reading schedule for each month. “Lena’s Journalin’” are Lena’s comments on the specific passages from her Daily Journal.
If the e-mail text you receive is encrypted at all, just scroll down to the end of all of the text and click on Lena’s Journalin’ , which will take you directly to the web-page where you will be able to read the text quite clearly in it’s purposed form.
John 6
1 After this, Jesus crossed over the Sea of Galilee, also known as the Sea of Tiberias. 2 And a huge crowd kept following him wherever he went, because they saw his miracles as he healed the sick.
3 Then Jesus went up into the hills and sat down with his disciples around him. 4 (It was nearly time for the annual Passover celebration.) 5 Jesus soon saw a great crowd of people climbing the hill, looking for him. Turning to Philip, he asked, "Philip, where can we buy bread to feed all these people?" 6 He was testing Philip, for he already knew what he was going to do. 7 Philip replied, "It would take a small fortune F26 to feed them!" 8 Then Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, spoke up. 9 "There's a young boy here with five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that with this huge crowd?" 10 "Tell everyone to sit down," Jesus ordered. So all of them – the men alone numbered five thousand – sat down on the grassy slopes. 11 Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks to God, and passed them out to the people. Afterward he did the same with the fish. And they all ate until they were full. 12 "Now gather the leftovers," Jesus told his disciples, "so that nothing is wasted." 13 There were only five barley loaves to start with, but twelve baskets were filled with the pieces of bread the people did not eat! 14 When the people saw this miraculous sign, they exclaimed, "Surely, he is the Prophet F27 we have been expecting!"
15 Jesus saw that they were ready to take him by force and make him king, so he went higher into the hills alone. 16 That evening his disciples went down to the shore to wait for him. 17 But as darkness fell and Jesus still hadn't come back, they got into the boat and headed out across the lake toward Capernaum. 18 Soon a gale swept down upon them as they rowed, and the sea grew very rough. 19 They were three or four miles F28 out when suddenly they saw Jesus walking on the water toward the boat. They were terrified, 20 but he called out to them, "I am here! Don't be afraid." 21 Then they were eager to let him in, and immediately the boat arrived at their destination!
22 The next morning, back across the lake, crowds began gathering on the shore, waiting to see Jesus. For they knew that he and his disciples had come over together and that the disciples had gone off in their boat, leaving him behind. 23 Several boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the Lord had blessed the bread and the people had eaten. 24 When the crowd saw that Jesus wasn't there, nor his disciples, they got into the boats and went across to Capernaum to look for him. 25 When they arrived and found him, they asked, "Teacher, how did you get here?" 26 Jesus replied, "The truth is, you want to be with me because I fed you, not because you saw the miraculous sign. 27 But you shouldn't be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that I, the Son of Man, can give you. For God the Father has sent me for that very purpose."
28 They replied, "What does God want us to do?" 29 Jesus told them, "This is what God wants you to do: Believe in the one he has sent." 30 They replied, "You must show us a miraculous sign if you want us to believe in you. What will you do for us? 31 After all, our ancestors ate manna while they journeyed through the wilderness! As the Scriptures say, 'Moses gave them bread from heaven to eat.' F29 " 32 Jesus said, "I assure you, Moses didn't give them bread from heaven. My Father did. And now he offers you the true bread from heaven. 33 The true bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." 34 "Sir," they said, "give us that bread every day of our lives."
35 Jesus replied, "I am the bread of life. No one who comes to me will ever be hungry again. Those who believe in me will never thirst. 36 But you haven't believed in me even though you have seen me. 37 However, those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject them. 38 For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do what I want. 39 And this is the will of God, that I should not lose even one of all those he has given me, but that I should raise them to eternal life at the last day. 40 For it is my Father's will that all who see his Son and believe in him should have eternal life – that I should raise them at the last day."
41 Then the people F30 began to murmur in disagreement because he had said, "I am the bread from heaven." 42 They said, "This is Jesus, the son of Joseph. We know his father and mother. How can he say, 'I came down from heaven'?" 43 But Jesus replied, "Don't complain about what I said. 44 For people can't come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them to me, and at the last day I will raise them from the dead. 45 As it is written in the Scriptures, 'They will all be taught by God.' F31 Everyone who hears and learns from the Father comes to me. 46 (Not that anyone has ever seen the Father; only I, who was sent from God, have seen him.) 47 "I assure you, anyone who believes in me already has eternal life. 48 Yes, I am the bread of life! 49 Your ancestors ate manna in the wilderness, but they all died. 50 However, the bread from heaven gives eternal life to everyone who eats it. 51 I am the living bread that came down out of heaven.
Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; this bread is my flesh, offered so the world may live." 52 Then the people began arguing with each other about what he meant. "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" they asked. 53 So Jesus said again, "I assure you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you cannot have eternal life within you. 54 But those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them at the last day. 55 For my flesh is the true food, and my blood is the true drink. 56 All who eat my flesh and drink my blood remain in me, and I in them. 57 I live by the power of the living Father who sent me; in the same way, those who partake of me will live because of me. 58 I am the true bread from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever and not die as your ancestors did, even though they ate the manna." 59 He said these things while he was teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.
60 Even his disciples said, "This is very hard to understand. How can anyone accept it?" 61 Jesus knew within himself that his disciples were complaining, so he said to them, "Does this offend you? 62 Then what will you think if you see me, the Son of Man, return to heaven again? 63 It is the Spirit who gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. 64 But some of you don't believe me." (For Jesus knew from the beginning who didn't believe, and he knew who would betray him.) 65 Then he said, "That is what I meant when I said that people can't come to me unless the Father brings them to me." 66 At this point many of his disciples turned away and deserted him. 67 Then Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, "Are you going to leave, too?" 68 Simon Peter replied, "Lord, to whom would we go? You alone have the words that give eternal life. 69 We believe them, and we know you are the Holy One of God." 70 Then Jesus said, "I chose the twelve of you, but one is a devil." 71 He was speaking of Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, one of the Twelve, who would betray him.
FOOTNOTES:F26: Greek 200 denarii. A denarius was the equivalent of a full day's wage. F27: See Deut 18:15, 18. F28: Greek 25 or 30 stadia [4.6 or 5.5 kilometers]. F29: Exod 16:4; Ps 78:24. F30: Greek Jewish people; also in 6:52. F31: Isa 54:13.
The New Living Translation
~ Lena’s Journalin’~
Most of us came to the knowledge of Christ and received Him because of what He did or a hope or perceived promise of what He would do for us. It was self motivated and that’s fine, aren’t we all like born naturally this way, a bit self-centered? Babies eat, cry and need love and diaper changes, right? Just as in the natural, so it is the spirit, we all must grow up. In fact we take our babies to regular “check-ups” to make sure that growth is happening and that we as parents are doing the proper things to ensue that proper growth.
Jesus was growing His disciples up this day. The crowd was there to get, and the disciples had also been getting for sometime now. It was time for them to turn around and give.
This is what tells where we are as Christian believers and disciples. Converts stay on the outskirts based on their own needs and how well their own needs get met. This is the gage of how far they’ll come. Right now God is calling us all to measure ourselves. Where are we and is it time to come in closer? Those who come in closer find there are a few things they missed that Jesus was saying all along. They start to hear new sounds of His voice. It stirs up their curiosity. If and when they start to ask questions with a real desire to understand, they’ve moved into discipleship, another level of growth. How much they do when their questions are answered or how well they receive the answers and whether the questions stir up more interest or commitment leads to another level of growth and intimacy. When things get tough or offense comes, whether one stays around or leaves, gages this level. Those who stay and get close to the Lord are there because of truth and a true love commitment. Thick, thin, etc...no matter what, until the “end” and beyond.
Do we follow because of the miracles or because of His great love that we are ready and willing to reciprocate? Good question to ponder. Some of the crowd climbed the hill to get closer. I bet there were some who couldn’t or wouldn’t climb up there.
Another great gage of growth is the government of God. Jesus actually came to set Up His Father’s government on earth. He told the disciples to set the people into orderly arrangement. What if you got put where you didn’t want to be and with whom you didn’t want to be with? Do you usually have an opinion about order and authority that is unwillingly exercised over your life? You might stay at a certain level in your faith–walk if there’s an unsolved authority problem there. Ever see someone say, ”hey, if I can’t do it THIS way then you can count on me leaving”? I wonder if any left at that point?
As a disciple, how much thanks is given in serving people? Do you love people, yet? Enough to serve them? Giving thanks to God for someone, even before they can do it themselves is called, forgiveness. So you have a group of unlovely, unloving, self-centered people who are hungry, thirsty and complaining. Can you give thanks to God for them, until their hearts change enough to do it themselves for themselves? That’s service to God, intercession, priestly ministry.
Isn’t it so cool how when Jesus got in the boat they immediately got to their destination? They rowed and rowed and rowed on their own efforts, but when they cried out to God and invited Him into the boat with them they got to where they were to go immediately. Ever feel it is taking forever to get somewhere?....
“We want bread Lord, we’re hungry”…Ok, but what if the “bread” is to do the will of God? Are you still hungry? Jesus said to the crowd, “the only reason you are even following after Me is because you want your physical needs met” (food, clothes, shelter, health). God sent Me (Jesus) here to set up governments! I need governors who are not so concerned about these things, but they seek to be a part of His governing authority, submitting themselves to His will first, understanding He cares for those who are truly His (remember the feeding miracle. He has sent Me to set up governments, and He and I need earthly governors, rulers. Remember that mandate way back in Genesis? That’s the one I came to set into force. They replied, “So, what will You do for US!”
Will you eat THIS bread of eternal life thinking and living? Of being a part of the doing of the will of the Father?
Can you drink this cup of holiness and right living, daily?
Can you decide to live for others and not yourself? For the establishment of God’s Holy kingdom inside of men’s kingdoms on earth, eventually breaking them down by prayer force and heavenly kingdom participation, changing this world rather than awaiting heaven’s call?
Do you know this IS heaven’s call to earth. THY KINGDOM COME- THY WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED (and do you know it’ll happen here through our participation?)
Whatever one eats or drinks, is what they become. The food goes into the body and is distributed in the body to either make it healthy or to poison the body. It becomes a part of the body. To become One with Him, we must chew on, meditate on, ingest, and digest His words, daily. We eat natural food that way, daily, what about spiritual food? How often do we put it into practice the words from Jesus we’ve heard? That’s becoming One also; that’s chewing with the intent to swallow. He who listens intently for the purpose of learning to follow after for the accomplishment of a divinely intended work, will be empowered by God to be a part of that work. He, who does not, will to do His good pleasure, will not see the necessary manifestation of God. Why would he need to, except to know what to do to accomplish the will?
If we eat and drink of Him, it shows the life and power we need to accompany Him in His work. It’s not even about being fed to live on earth, it is about accomplishing the will while still alive.
Does this offend us? The flesh gets quite offended. That’s only if it is not a subject of the will. Ever had a will read and find you were not a subject of the will? How’d you feel? Offended? Get into the family, become a servant to the household (of faith), live with and for the household and you’ll be in the will, offenses won’t become necessary.
MANY of the disciples (that had grown and come to this point in their faith-walk) deserted Him, walked away. How do you feel when you do not understand? Simon (means hearing with intent to obey) Peter (- meaning rock solid matter, committed, covenanted) replied, It is You who have all we ever need to accomplish our very created purposes, and to set up the governmental order of God on the earth, without You, we cannot ever accomplish this on our own. How could we ever leave You?
Daily Thought to Ponder -
“Oh Give Thanks to the Lord for He is Good!”
If the e-mail text you receive is encrypted at all, just scroll down to the end of all of the text and click on Lena’s Journalin’ , which will take you directly to the web-page where you will be able to read the text quite clearly in it’s purposed form.
John 6
1 After this, Jesus crossed over the Sea of Galilee, also known as the Sea of Tiberias. 2 And a huge crowd kept following him wherever he went, because they saw his miracles as he healed the sick.
3 Then Jesus went up into the hills and sat down with his disciples around him. 4 (It was nearly time for the annual Passover celebration.) 5 Jesus soon saw a great crowd of people climbing the hill, looking for him. Turning to Philip, he asked, "Philip, where can we buy bread to feed all these people?" 6 He was testing Philip, for he already knew what he was going to do. 7 Philip replied, "It would take a small fortune F26 to feed them!" 8 Then Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, spoke up. 9 "There's a young boy here with five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that with this huge crowd?" 10 "Tell everyone to sit down," Jesus ordered. So all of them – the men alone numbered five thousand – sat down on the grassy slopes. 11 Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks to God, and passed them out to the people. Afterward he did the same with the fish. And they all ate until they were full. 12 "Now gather the leftovers," Jesus told his disciples, "so that nothing is wasted." 13 There were only five barley loaves to start with, but twelve baskets were filled with the pieces of bread the people did not eat! 14 When the people saw this miraculous sign, they exclaimed, "Surely, he is the Prophet F27 we have been expecting!"
15 Jesus saw that they were ready to take him by force and make him king, so he went higher into the hills alone. 16 That evening his disciples went down to the shore to wait for him. 17 But as darkness fell and Jesus still hadn't come back, they got into the boat and headed out across the lake toward Capernaum. 18 Soon a gale swept down upon them as they rowed, and the sea grew very rough. 19 They were three or four miles F28 out when suddenly they saw Jesus walking on the water toward the boat. They were terrified, 20 but he called out to them, "I am here! Don't be afraid." 21 Then they were eager to let him in, and immediately the boat arrived at their destination!
22 The next morning, back across the lake, crowds began gathering on the shore, waiting to see Jesus. For they knew that he and his disciples had come over together and that the disciples had gone off in their boat, leaving him behind. 23 Several boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the Lord had blessed the bread and the people had eaten. 24 When the crowd saw that Jesus wasn't there, nor his disciples, they got into the boats and went across to Capernaum to look for him. 25 When they arrived and found him, they asked, "Teacher, how did you get here?" 26 Jesus replied, "The truth is, you want to be with me because I fed you, not because you saw the miraculous sign. 27 But you shouldn't be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that I, the Son of Man, can give you. For God the Father has sent me for that very purpose."
28 They replied, "What does God want us to do?" 29 Jesus told them, "This is what God wants you to do: Believe in the one he has sent." 30 They replied, "You must show us a miraculous sign if you want us to believe in you. What will you do for us? 31 After all, our ancestors ate manna while they journeyed through the wilderness! As the Scriptures say, 'Moses gave them bread from heaven to eat.' F29 " 32 Jesus said, "I assure you, Moses didn't give them bread from heaven. My Father did. And now he offers you the true bread from heaven. 33 The true bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." 34 "Sir," they said, "give us that bread every day of our lives."
35 Jesus replied, "I am the bread of life. No one who comes to me will ever be hungry again. Those who believe in me will never thirst. 36 But you haven't believed in me even though you have seen me. 37 However, those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject them. 38 For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do what I want. 39 And this is the will of God, that I should not lose even one of all those he has given me, but that I should raise them to eternal life at the last day. 40 For it is my Father's will that all who see his Son and believe in him should have eternal life – that I should raise them at the last day."
41 Then the people F30 began to murmur in disagreement because he had said, "I am the bread from heaven." 42 They said, "This is Jesus, the son of Joseph. We know his father and mother. How can he say, 'I came down from heaven'?" 43 But Jesus replied, "Don't complain about what I said. 44 For people can't come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them to me, and at the last day I will raise them from the dead. 45 As it is written in the Scriptures, 'They will all be taught by God.' F31 Everyone who hears and learns from the Father comes to me. 46 (Not that anyone has ever seen the Father; only I, who was sent from God, have seen him.) 47 "I assure you, anyone who believes in me already has eternal life. 48 Yes, I am the bread of life! 49 Your ancestors ate manna in the wilderness, but they all died. 50 However, the bread from heaven gives eternal life to everyone who eats it. 51 I am the living bread that came down out of heaven.
Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; this bread is my flesh, offered so the world may live." 52 Then the people began arguing with each other about what he meant. "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" they asked. 53 So Jesus said again, "I assure you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you cannot have eternal life within you. 54 But those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them at the last day. 55 For my flesh is the true food, and my blood is the true drink. 56 All who eat my flesh and drink my blood remain in me, and I in them. 57 I live by the power of the living Father who sent me; in the same way, those who partake of me will live because of me. 58 I am the true bread from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever and not die as your ancestors did, even though they ate the manna." 59 He said these things while he was teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.
60 Even his disciples said, "This is very hard to understand. How can anyone accept it?" 61 Jesus knew within himself that his disciples were complaining, so he said to them, "Does this offend you? 62 Then what will you think if you see me, the Son of Man, return to heaven again? 63 It is the Spirit who gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. 64 But some of you don't believe me." (For Jesus knew from the beginning who didn't believe, and he knew who would betray him.) 65 Then he said, "That is what I meant when I said that people can't come to me unless the Father brings them to me." 66 At this point many of his disciples turned away and deserted him. 67 Then Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, "Are you going to leave, too?" 68 Simon Peter replied, "Lord, to whom would we go? You alone have the words that give eternal life. 69 We believe them, and we know you are the Holy One of God." 70 Then Jesus said, "I chose the twelve of you, but one is a devil." 71 He was speaking of Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, one of the Twelve, who would betray him.
FOOTNOTES:F26: Greek 200 denarii. A denarius was the equivalent of a full day's wage. F27: See Deut 18:15, 18. F28: Greek 25 or 30 stadia [4.6 or 5.5 kilometers]. F29: Exod 16:4; Ps 78:24. F30: Greek Jewish people; also in 6:52. F31: Isa 54:13.
The New Living Translation
~ Lena’s Journalin’~
Most of us came to the knowledge of Christ and received Him because of what He did or a hope or perceived promise of what He would do for us. It was self motivated and that’s fine, aren’t we all like born naturally this way, a bit self-centered? Babies eat, cry and need love and diaper changes, right? Just as in the natural, so it is the spirit, we all must grow up. In fact we take our babies to regular “check-ups” to make sure that growth is happening and that we as parents are doing the proper things to ensue that proper growth.
Jesus was growing His disciples up this day. The crowd was there to get, and the disciples had also been getting for sometime now. It was time for them to turn around and give.
This is what tells where we are as Christian believers and disciples. Converts stay on the outskirts based on their own needs and how well their own needs get met. This is the gage of how far they’ll come. Right now God is calling us all to measure ourselves. Where are we and is it time to come in closer? Those who come in closer find there are a few things they missed that Jesus was saying all along. They start to hear new sounds of His voice. It stirs up their curiosity. If and when they start to ask questions with a real desire to understand, they’ve moved into discipleship, another level of growth. How much they do when their questions are answered or how well they receive the answers and whether the questions stir up more interest or commitment leads to another level of growth and intimacy. When things get tough or offense comes, whether one stays around or leaves, gages this level. Those who stay and get close to the Lord are there because of truth and a true love commitment. Thick, thin, etc...no matter what, until the “end” and beyond.
Do we follow because of the miracles or because of His great love that we are ready and willing to reciprocate? Good question to ponder. Some of the crowd climbed the hill to get closer. I bet there were some who couldn’t or wouldn’t climb up there.
Another great gage of growth is the government of God. Jesus actually came to set Up His Father’s government on earth. He told the disciples to set the people into orderly arrangement. What if you got put where you didn’t want to be and with whom you didn’t want to be with? Do you usually have an opinion about order and authority that is unwillingly exercised over your life? You might stay at a certain level in your faith–walk if there’s an unsolved authority problem there. Ever see someone say, ”hey, if I can’t do it THIS way then you can count on me leaving”? I wonder if any left at that point?
As a disciple, how much thanks is given in serving people? Do you love people, yet? Enough to serve them? Giving thanks to God for someone, even before they can do it themselves is called, forgiveness. So you have a group of unlovely, unloving, self-centered people who are hungry, thirsty and complaining. Can you give thanks to God for them, until their hearts change enough to do it themselves for themselves? That’s service to God, intercession, priestly ministry.
Isn’t it so cool how when Jesus got in the boat they immediately got to their destination? They rowed and rowed and rowed on their own efforts, but when they cried out to God and invited Him into the boat with them they got to where they were to go immediately. Ever feel it is taking forever to get somewhere?....
“We want bread Lord, we’re hungry”…Ok, but what if the “bread” is to do the will of God? Are you still hungry? Jesus said to the crowd, “the only reason you are even following after Me is because you want your physical needs met” (food, clothes, shelter, health). God sent Me (Jesus) here to set up governments! I need governors who are not so concerned about these things, but they seek to be a part of His governing authority, submitting themselves to His will first, understanding He cares for those who are truly His (remember the feeding miracle. He has sent Me to set up governments, and He and I need earthly governors, rulers. Remember that mandate way back in Genesis? That’s the one I came to set into force. They replied, “So, what will You do for US!”
Will you eat THIS bread of eternal life thinking and living? Of being a part of the doing of the will of the Father?
Can you drink this cup of holiness and right living, daily?
Can you decide to live for others and not yourself? For the establishment of God’s Holy kingdom inside of men’s kingdoms on earth, eventually breaking them down by prayer force and heavenly kingdom participation, changing this world rather than awaiting heaven’s call?
Do you know this IS heaven’s call to earth. THY KINGDOM COME- THY WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED (and do you know it’ll happen here through our participation?)
Whatever one eats or drinks, is what they become. The food goes into the body and is distributed in the body to either make it healthy or to poison the body. It becomes a part of the body. To become One with Him, we must chew on, meditate on, ingest, and digest His words, daily. We eat natural food that way, daily, what about spiritual food? How often do we put it into practice the words from Jesus we’ve heard? That’s becoming One also; that’s chewing with the intent to swallow. He who listens intently for the purpose of learning to follow after for the accomplishment of a divinely intended work, will be empowered by God to be a part of that work. He, who does not, will to do His good pleasure, will not see the necessary manifestation of God. Why would he need to, except to know what to do to accomplish the will?
If we eat and drink of Him, it shows the life and power we need to accompany Him in His work. It’s not even about being fed to live on earth, it is about accomplishing the will while still alive.
Does this offend us? The flesh gets quite offended. That’s only if it is not a subject of the will. Ever had a will read and find you were not a subject of the will? How’d you feel? Offended? Get into the family, become a servant to the household (of faith), live with and for the household and you’ll be in the will, offenses won’t become necessary.
MANY of the disciples (that had grown and come to this point in their faith-walk) deserted Him, walked away. How do you feel when you do not understand? Simon (means hearing with intent to obey) Peter (- meaning rock solid matter, committed, covenanted) replied, It is You who have all we ever need to accomplish our very created purposes, and to set up the governmental order of God on the earth, without You, we cannot ever accomplish this on our own. How could we ever leave You?
Daily Thought to Ponder -
“Oh Give Thanks to the Lord for He is Good!”
Thursday, November 02, 2006
Mark 14
Scripture selections are taken from the Rock Church Daily Bread Reading schedule for each month. “Lena’s Journalin’” are Lena’s comments on the specific passages from her Daily Journal.
If the e-mail text you receive is encrypted at all, just scroll down to the end of all of the text and click on Lena’s Journalin’ , which will take you directly to the web-page where you will be able to read the text quite clearly in it’s purposed form.
Mark 14
The Plot to Kill Jesus
1 After two days it was the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take Him by trickery and put Him to death. 2 But they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar of the people.”
The Anointing at Bethany
3 And being in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, as He sat at the table, a woman came having an alabaster flask of very costly oil of spikenard. Then she broke the flask and poured it on His head. 4 But there were some who were indignant among themselves, and said, “Why was this fragrant oil wasted? 5 For it might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they criticized her sharply. 6 But Jesus said, “Let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for Me. 7 For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you may do them good; but Me you do not have always. 8 She has done what she could. She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial. 9 Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.”
Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus
10 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Him to them. 11 And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. So he sought how he might conveniently betray Him.
Jesus Celebrates the Passover with His Disciples
12 Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they killed the Passover lamb, His disciples said to Him, “Where do You want us to go and prepare, that You may eat the Passover?” 13 And He sent out two of His disciples and said to them, “Go into the city, and a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him. 14 Wherever he goes in, say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says, “Where is the guest room in which I may eat the Passover with My disciples?”’ 15 Then he will show you a large upper room, furnished and prepared; there make ready for us.” 16 So His disciples went out, and came into the city, and found it just as He had said to them; and they prepared the Passover. 17 In the evening He came with the twelve. 18 Now as they sat and ate, Jesus said, “Assuredly, I say to you, one of you who eats with Me will betray Me.” 19 And they began to be sorrowful, and to say to Him one by one, “Is it I?” And another said, “Is it I?”[a]20 He answered and said to them, “It is one of the twelve, who dips with Me in the dish. 21 The Son of Man indeed goes just as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had never been born.”
Jesus Institutes the Lord’s Supper
22 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them and said, “Take, eat;[b] this is My body.” 23 Then He took the cup, and when He had given thanks He gave it to them, and they all drank from it. 24 And He said to them, “This is My blood of the new[c] covenant, which is shed for many. 25 Assuredly, I say to you, I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” 26 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial
27 Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night,[d] for it is written: ‘ I will strike the Shepherd,And the sheep will be scattered.’[e]28 “But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.” 29 Peter said to Him, “Even if all are made to stumble, yet I will not be.” 30 Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you that today, even this night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.” 31 But he spoke more vehemently, “If I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” And they all said likewise.
The Prayer in the Garden
32 Then they came to a place which was named Gethsemane; and He said to His disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33 And He took Peter, James, and John with Him, and He began to be troubled and deeply distressed. 34 Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch.” 35 He went a little farther, and fell on the ground, and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him. 36 And He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.” 37 Then He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not watch one hour? 38 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 39 Again He went away and prayed, and spoke the same words. 40 And when He returned, He found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy; and they did not know what to answer Him. 41 Then He came the third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? It is enough! The hour has come; behold, the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42 Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand.”
Betrayal and Arrest in Gethsemane
43 And immediately, while He was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, with a great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. 44 Now His betrayer had given them a signal, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him and lead Him away safely.” 45 As soon as he had come, immediately he went up to Him and said to Him, “Rabbi, Rabbi!” and kissed Him. 46 Then they laid their hands on Him and took Him. 47 And one of those who stood by drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear. 48 Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to take Me? 49 I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize Me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled.” 50 Then they all forsook Him and fled.
A Young Man Flees Naked
51 Now a certain young man followed Him, having a linen cloth thrown around his naked body. And the young men laid hold of him, 52 and he left the linen cloth and fled from them naked.
Jesus Faces the Sanhedrin
53 And they led Jesus away to the high priest; and with him were assembled all the chief priests, the elders, and the scribes. 54 But Peter followed Him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. And he sat with the servants and warmed himself at the fire. 55 Now the chief priests and all the council sought testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, but found none. 56 For many bore false witness against Him, but their testimonies did not agree. 57 Then some rose up and bore false witness against Him, saying, 58 “We heard Him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.’” 59 But not even then did their testimony agree. 60 And the high priest stood up in the midst and asked Jesus, saying, “Do You answer nothing? What is it these men testify against You?” 61 But He kept silent and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked Him, saying to Him, “Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” 62 Jesus said, “I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.” 63 Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “What further need do we have of witnesses? 64 You have heard the blasphemy! What do you think?” And they all condemned Him to be deserving of death. 65 Then some began to spit on Him, and to blindfold Him, and to beat Him, and to say to Him, “Prophesy!” And the officers struck Him with the palms of their hands.[f]
Peter Denies Jesus, and Weeps
66 Now as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came. 67 And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, “You also were with Jesus of Nazareth.” 68 But he denied it, saying, “I neither know nor understand what you are saying.” And he went out on the porch, and a rooster crowed. 69 And the servant girl saw him again, and began to say to those who stood by, “This is one of them.” 70 But he denied it again. And a little later those who stood by said to Peter again, “Surely you are one of them; for you are a Galilean, and your speech shows it.”[g]71 Then he began to curse and swear, “I do not know this Man of whom you speak!” 72 A second time the rooster crowed. Then Peter called to mind the word that Jesus had said to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.” And when he thought about it, he wept.
Footnotes:
a. Mark 14:19 NU-Text omits this sentence.
b. Mark 14:22 NU-Text omits eat.
c. Mark 14:24 NU-Text omits new.
d. Mark 14:27 NU-Text omits because of Me this night.
e. Mark 14:27 Zechariah 13:7
f. Mark 14:65 NU-Text reads received Him with slaps.
g. Mark 14:70 NU-Text omits and your speech shows it.
Oh Give Thanks to the Lord for He is Good.
~ Lena’s Journalin’ ~
Leaven is metaphorically symbolic of iniquity, and of its ability to infect others. Iniquity is sin which is hidden inside of us, it may be so deep even we ourselves cannot see it. If undetected and not unmasked it will have its work and kill a person from the inside out, like cancer does.
A Feast of Unleavened Bread would symbolic of a celebration, where those who gather together, the uninfected by evil (and it’s hidden works of darkness) ones, gather together with the knowledge that they have a Savior and have made that Savior their Lord in order and for the very purpose of uncovering every hidden work of darkness. They know Him who has taken away the grief of sin, who has removed the debt incurred by sin and has given us the ability to evangelize a world to His rule of Light and Life, Light swallows darkness, Life swallows up death. They know through that Divine redemption they can turn their world upside down with kingdom and glory influence! Infecting their world with life, health, strength and light.
I wonder if the religious people of this day even knew the magnitude of the prophetic acts they were participating in, in this feast?
This woman, was taking all she was, which wasn’t much and offering it a sweet smell to God. She was ministering to Jesus. Maybe she was calling for a freshness of the Holy Spirit to be upon Him for the hour He was about to face, so He’d be able to do ALL things by the power of God’s Spirit upon His purpose. Even Jesus, the man, needed God’s strength to carry through with God’s appointed purposes. When was the last time our lives refreshed God?
I find it oh so wise of the disciples to ask if it were any of them who would betray Him, they knew that God knew their hearts better than they did. Later on one would also deny Him, so no one was/is exempt from this human tendency to shun His will, deny who He is, and struggle to support God’s plans.
In eating with Jesus drinking with Him, he was saying, Take My purpose and allow it to become your purpose. Take My will and allow it to become your will. Take My plans and make them become your plans for all of the days you’ll have left on the earth. Take Me with you wherever you go. Ya know how when people die they say, “a piece of him/her will continue to live on in their children”? Well, He was about to die and wanted not only a piece of Him to live on, but all of Him to become them. He was leaving His image and likeness; His will and plan and purpose; His life becoming their life as they continue to live on here remembering.
Even good intentions must be maintained with strength far beyond the intent. God’s face must be sought; His purpose must be seen and grasped a hold of.
A word for all the church this day, in this time and season- RISE, Let US be GOING!
All Going MUST start with prayer, must begin with hearing. If we are not praying and hearing yet, we’ve got to start now
Our world is suffering, groaning and is dying in their sin, going towards an eternal dooms day.
God so desperately needs a people who will pray, hear, rise and go. Yes, He is calling each one of us, no one is exempt or excused. For every excuse any of us makes, someone will die and be doomed to hell. Actually more than one, because presently there are more than 8-9 times the amount of people who do not know Christ than do. There are 600 Million people, who say about themselves that they are “Christians” and 6 people billion alive!
This passage is such a good example of what any Christian person could do on any given day to whom or what they perceive to be an enemy.
So, we get to a place where we actually are able to see an enemy and identify it or him, we also have come to a place where we love good and hate evil. When we see the enemy don’t we feel it is our righteous place in God to slay that enemy? So, we go for it, usually in the natural physical realm and it can come out as biting people’s heads off. At times our enemies seem to show up in human form, brethren, family members, co-workers etc. We as Christians find ourselves biting off what we perceive to be our enemy’s head, but people are NOT our enemies. We now get to see the war against our own flesh walking inside of the character of Christ. When we treat people as our enemies, we risk removing their ability to hear the gospel message.
We’ve got to see into the unseen realm, realizing how to effectively fight and be victorious over our spiritual enemies through the proper use of the weapons of our warfare, which are called prayer. We must know that enemies are actually sent to people to cause them to miss the purposes of God that otherwise they’d be able to see themselves fulfilling. The enemy is NOT people, the enemy uses people!
So we take out our swords, (the word of God) the one God has given us to be directed by and love with, and we fling it at people?
So we must take out the word wield it through the air, at the true enemy of God and of our souls. The way we do this is through prayer and the response we give people who are being used by the enemy, remembering that people are NOT our enemies.
The most effective responses to people are eatable righteous fruit- The godly fruit shows itself in this form- in Love, joy, peace , patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness & self control.
The real enemy of our souls hates these fruity behaviors. He hates them. When we do these behaviors where we could rather lash out and wield the sword of the word trying to actually prove one another wrong in light of the word of God, he will actually flee our presence.
Yet if he finds he wins in pushing our buttons and causing us to operate in our natural flesh and blood nature, he’ll return to do more button pushing every time. We’ve got to take the sword and remove the buttons.
Jesus was gonna win this war through death, through silence, through yielding to the will of God. He did not need to physically fight or argue with anyone to prove anything. He was/is the proof! His life and death would be plenty proof enough. Ours works the same exact way!
Why do you not argue, why do you not defend yourself? Why do you not physically fight back, don’t you know who you are? These are worldly wisdoms, these are all from enemy thinking patterns. This is NOT how GOD thinks, responds or operates. He does not insist on His will in an invasive manner. He’s not one that demands as the world does with manipulative control. God’s character is gentleness and meekness, as Jesus full well demonstrated here.
If you, as a Christian, ever feel to insist, make, physical or mental force on someone, you are of the wrong spirit and it is not God’s spirit!
We fight our wars with God’s word and prayer and the display of His fruit, for that is ALL we need. The rest is up to Him. We then watch Him get credit and we see the miraculous at work. If we insist, or manipulate, He’ll step back and allow us to do that, and will not help us, because we chose to do it our way!
I can do ALL things, through Christ- who gives me strength.
If the e-mail text you receive is encrypted at all, just scroll down to the end of all of the text and click on Lena’s Journalin’ , which will take you directly to the web-page where you will be able to read the text quite clearly in it’s purposed form.
Mark 14
The Plot to Kill Jesus
1 After two days it was the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take Him by trickery and put Him to death. 2 But they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar of the people.”
The Anointing at Bethany
3 And being in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, as He sat at the table, a woman came having an alabaster flask of very costly oil of spikenard. Then she broke the flask and poured it on His head. 4 But there were some who were indignant among themselves, and said, “Why was this fragrant oil wasted? 5 For it might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they criticized her sharply. 6 But Jesus said, “Let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for Me. 7 For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you may do them good; but Me you do not have always. 8 She has done what she could. She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial. 9 Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.”
Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus
10 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Him to them. 11 And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. So he sought how he might conveniently betray Him.
Jesus Celebrates the Passover with His Disciples
12 Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they killed the Passover lamb, His disciples said to Him, “Where do You want us to go and prepare, that You may eat the Passover?” 13 And He sent out two of His disciples and said to them, “Go into the city, and a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him. 14 Wherever he goes in, say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says, “Where is the guest room in which I may eat the Passover with My disciples?”’ 15 Then he will show you a large upper room, furnished and prepared; there make ready for us.” 16 So His disciples went out, and came into the city, and found it just as He had said to them; and they prepared the Passover. 17 In the evening He came with the twelve. 18 Now as they sat and ate, Jesus said, “Assuredly, I say to you, one of you who eats with Me will betray Me.” 19 And they began to be sorrowful, and to say to Him one by one, “Is it I?” And another said, “Is it I?”[a]20 He answered and said to them, “It is one of the twelve, who dips with Me in the dish. 21 The Son of Man indeed goes just as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had never been born.”
Jesus Institutes the Lord’s Supper
22 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them and said, “Take, eat;[b] this is My body.” 23 Then He took the cup, and when He had given thanks He gave it to them, and they all drank from it. 24 And He said to them, “This is My blood of the new[c] covenant, which is shed for many. 25 Assuredly, I say to you, I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” 26 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial
27 Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night,[d] for it is written: ‘ I will strike the Shepherd,And the sheep will be scattered.’[e]28 “But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.” 29 Peter said to Him, “Even if all are made to stumble, yet I will not be.” 30 Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you that today, even this night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.” 31 But he spoke more vehemently, “If I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” And they all said likewise.
The Prayer in the Garden
32 Then they came to a place which was named Gethsemane; and He said to His disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33 And He took Peter, James, and John with Him, and He began to be troubled and deeply distressed. 34 Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch.” 35 He went a little farther, and fell on the ground, and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him. 36 And He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.” 37 Then He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not watch one hour? 38 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 39 Again He went away and prayed, and spoke the same words. 40 And when He returned, He found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy; and they did not know what to answer Him. 41 Then He came the third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? It is enough! The hour has come; behold, the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42 Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand.”
Betrayal and Arrest in Gethsemane
43 And immediately, while He was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, with a great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. 44 Now His betrayer had given them a signal, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him and lead Him away safely.” 45 As soon as he had come, immediately he went up to Him and said to Him, “Rabbi, Rabbi!” and kissed Him. 46 Then they laid their hands on Him and took Him. 47 And one of those who stood by drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear. 48 Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to take Me? 49 I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize Me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled.” 50 Then they all forsook Him and fled.
A Young Man Flees Naked
51 Now a certain young man followed Him, having a linen cloth thrown around his naked body. And the young men laid hold of him, 52 and he left the linen cloth and fled from them naked.
Jesus Faces the Sanhedrin
53 And they led Jesus away to the high priest; and with him were assembled all the chief priests, the elders, and the scribes. 54 But Peter followed Him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. And he sat with the servants and warmed himself at the fire. 55 Now the chief priests and all the council sought testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, but found none. 56 For many bore false witness against Him, but their testimonies did not agree. 57 Then some rose up and bore false witness against Him, saying, 58 “We heard Him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.’” 59 But not even then did their testimony agree. 60 And the high priest stood up in the midst and asked Jesus, saying, “Do You answer nothing? What is it these men testify against You?” 61 But He kept silent and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked Him, saying to Him, “Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” 62 Jesus said, “I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.” 63 Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “What further need do we have of witnesses? 64 You have heard the blasphemy! What do you think?” And they all condemned Him to be deserving of death. 65 Then some began to spit on Him, and to blindfold Him, and to beat Him, and to say to Him, “Prophesy!” And the officers struck Him with the palms of their hands.[f]
Peter Denies Jesus, and Weeps
66 Now as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came. 67 And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, “You also were with Jesus of Nazareth.” 68 But he denied it, saying, “I neither know nor understand what you are saying.” And he went out on the porch, and a rooster crowed. 69 And the servant girl saw him again, and began to say to those who stood by, “This is one of them.” 70 But he denied it again. And a little later those who stood by said to Peter again, “Surely you are one of them; for you are a Galilean, and your speech shows it.”[g]71 Then he began to curse and swear, “I do not know this Man of whom you speak!” 72 A second time the rooster crowed. Then Peter called to mind the word that Jesus had said to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.” And when he thought about it, he wept.
Footnotes:
a. Mark 14:19 NU-Text omits this sentence.
b. Mark 14:22 NU-Text omits eat.
c. Mark 14:24 NU-Text omits new.
d. Mark 14:27 NU-Text omits because of Me this night.
e. Mark 14:27 Zechariah 13:7
f. Mark 14:65 NU-Text reads received Him with slaps.
g. Mark 14:70 NU-Text omits and your speech shows it.
Oh Give Thanks to the Lord for He is Good.
~ Lena’s Journalin’ ~
Leaven is metaphorically symbolic of iniquity, and of its ability to infect others. Iniquity is sin which is hidden inside of us, it may be so deep even we ourselves cannot see it. If undetected and not unmasked it will have its work and kill a person from the inside out, like cancer does.
A Feast of Unleavened Bread would symbolic of a celebration, where those who gather together, the uninfected by evil (and it’s hidden works of darkness) ones, gather together with the knowledge that they have a Savior and have made that Savior their Lord in order and for the very purpose of uncovering every hidden work of darkness. They know Him who has taken away the grief of sin, who has removed the debt incurred by sin and has given us the ability to evangelize a world to His rule of Light and Life, Light swallows darkness, Life swallows up death. They know through that Divine redemption they can turn their world upside down with kingdom and glory influence! Infecting their world with life, health, strength and light.
I wonder if the religious people of this day even knew the magnitude of the prophetic acts they were participating in, in this feast?
This woman, was taking all she was, which wasn’t much and offering it a sweet smell to God. She was ministering to Jesus. Maybe she was calling for a freshness of the Holy Spirit to be upon Him for the hour He was about to face, so He’d be able to do ALL things by the power of God’s Spirit upon His purpose. Even Jesus, the man, needed God’s strength to carry through with God’s appointed purposes. When was the last time our lives refreshed God?
I find it oh so wise of the disciples to ask if it were any of them who would betray Him, they knew that God knew their hearts better than they did. Later on one would also deny Him, so no one was/is exempt from this human tendency to shun His will, deny who He is, and struggle to support God’s plans.
In eating with Jesus drinking with Him, he was saying, Take My purpose and allow it to become your purpose. Take My will and allow it to become your will. Take My plans and make them become your plans for all of the days you’ll have left on the earth. Take Me with you wherever you go. Ya know how when people die they say, “a piece of him/her will continue to live on in their children”? Well, He was about to die and wanted not only a piece of Him to live on, but all of Him to become them. He was leaving His image and likeness; His will and plan and purpose; His life becoming their life as they continue to live on here remembering.
Even good intentions must be maintained with strength far beyond the intent. God’s face must be sought; His purpose must be seen and grasped a hold of.
A word for all the church this day, in this time and season- RISE, Let US be GOING!
All Going MUST start with prayer, must begin with hearing. If we are not praying and hearing yet, we’ve got to start now
Our world is suffering, groaning and is dying in their sin, going towards an eternal dooms day.
God so desperately needs a people who will pray, hear, rise and go. Yes, He is calling each one of us, no one is exempt or excused. For every excuse any of us makes, someone will die and be doomed to hell. Actually more than one, because presently there are more than 8-9 times the amount of people who do not know Christ than do. There are 600 Million people, who say about themselves that they are “Christians” and 6 people billion alive!
This passage is such a good example of what any Christian person could do on any given day to whom or what they perceive to be an enemy.
So, we get to a place where we actually are able to see an enemy and identify it or him, we also have come to a place where we love good and hate evil. When we see the enemy don’t we feel it is our righteous place in God to slay that enemy? So, we go for it, usually in the natural physical realm and it can come out as biting people’s heads off. At times our enemies seem to show up in human form, brethren, family members, co-workers etc. We as Christians find ourselves biting off what we perceive to be our enemy’s head, but people are NOT our enemies. We now get to see the war against our own flesh walking inside of the character of Christ. When we treat people as our enemies, we risk removing their ability to hear the gospel message.
We’ve got to see into the unseen realm, realizing how to effectively fight and be victorious over our spiritual enemies through the proper use of the weapons of our warfare, which are called prayer. We must know that enemies are actually sent to people to cause them to miss the purposes of God that otherwise they’d be able to see themselves fulfilling. The enemy is NOT people, the enemy uses people!
So we take out our swords, (the word of God) the one God has given us to be directed by and love with, and we fling it at people?
So we must take out the word wield it through the air, at the true enemy of God and of our souls. The way we do this is through prayer and the response we give people who are being used by the enemy, remembering that people are NOT our enemies.
The most effective responses to people are eatable righteous fruit- The godly fruit shows itself in this form- in Love, joy, peace , patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness & self control.
The real enemy of our souls hates these fruity behaviors. He hates them. When we do these behaviors where we could rather lash out and wield the sword of the word trying to actually prove one another wrong in light of the word of God, he will actually flee our presence.
Yet if he finds he wins in pushing our buttons and causing us to operate in our natural flesh and blood nature, he’ll return to do more button pushing every time. We’ve got to take the sword and remove the buttons.
Jesus was gonna win this war through death, through silence, through yielding to the will of God. He did not need to physically fight or argue with anyone to prove anything. He was/is the proof! His life and death would be plenty proof enough. Ours works the same exact way!
Why do you not argue, why do you not defend yourself? Why do you not physically fight back, don’t you know who you are? These are worldly wisdoms, these are all from enemy thinking patterns. This is NOT how GOD thinks, responds or operates. He does not insist on His will in an invasive manner. He’s not one that demands as the world does with manipulative control. God’s character is gentleness and meekness, as Jesus full well demonstrated here.
If you, as a Christian, ever feel to insist, make, physical or mental force on someone, you are of the wrong spirit and it is not God’s spirit!
We fight our wars with God’s word and prayer and the display of His fruit, for that is ALL we need. The rest is up to Him. We then watch Him get credit and we see the miraculous at work. If we insist, or manipulate, He’ll step back and allow us to do that, and will not help us, because we chose to do it our way!
I can do ALL things, through Christ- who gives me strength.
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
Matthew 26 Examination Time - Test time, better to study 1st
Scripture selections are taken from the Rock Church Daily Bread Reading schedule for each month. “Lena’s Journalin’” are Lena’s comments on the specific passages from her Daily Journal.
If the e-mail text you receive is encrypted at all, just scroll down to the end of all of the text and click on Lena’s Journalin’ , which will take you directly to the web-page where you will be able to read the text quite clearly in it’s purposed form.
Matthew 26:1-75
The Plot to Kill Jesus
1When Jesus had finished saying these things, he said to his disciples, 2"As you know, the Passover celebration begins in two days, and I, the Son of Man, will be betrayed and crucified."
3At that same time the leading priests and other leaders were meeting at the residence of Caiaphas, the high priest, 4to discuss how to capture Jesus secretly and put him to death. 5"But not during the Passover," they agreed, "or there will be a riot."
Jesus Anointed at Bethany
6Meanwhile, Jesus was in Bethany at the home of Simon, a man who had leprosy. 7During supper, a woman came in with a beautiful jar F144 of expensive perfume and poured it over his head. 8The disciples were indignant when they saw this. "What a waste of money," they said. 9"She could have sold it for a fortune and given the money to the poor."
10But Jesus replied, "Why berate her for doing such a good thing to me? 11You will always have the poor among you, but I will not be here with you much longer. 12She has poured this perfume on me to prepare my body for burial. 13I assure you, wherever the Good News is preached throughout the world, this woman's deed will be talked about in her memory."
Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus
14Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, went to the leading priests 15and asked, "How much will you pay me to betray Jesus to you?" And they gave him thirty pieces of silver. 16From that time on, Judas began looking for the right time and place to betray Jesus.
The Last Supper
17On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Where do you want us to prepare the Passover supper?"
18"As you go into the city," he told them, "you will see a certain man. Tell him, 'The Teacher says, My time has come, and I will eat the Passover meal with my disciples at your house.'" 19So the disciples did as Jesus told them and prepared the Passover supper there.
20When it was evening, Jesus sat down at the table with the twelve disciples. 21While they were eating, he said, "The truth is, one of you will betray me."
22Greatly distressed, one by one they began to ask him, "I'm not the one, am I, Lord?"
23He replied, "One of you who is eating with me now F145 will betray me. 24For I, the Son of Man, must die, as the Scriptures declared long ago. But how terrible it will be for my betrayer. Far better for him if he had never been born!"
25Judas, the one who would betray him, also asked, "Teacher, I'm not the one, am I?" And Jesus told him, "You have said it yourself."
26As they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread and asked God's blessing on it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, "Take it and eat it, for this is my body." 27And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them and said, "Each of you drink from it, 28for this is my blood, which seals the covenant F146 between God and his people. It is poured out to forgive the sins of many. 29Mark my words—I will not drink wine again until the day I drink it new with you in my Father's Kingdom." 30Then they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives.
Jesus Predicts Peter's Denial
31"Tonight all of you will desert me," Jesus told them. "For the Scriptures say,
'God F147 will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.' F148
32But after I have been raised from the dead, I will go ahead of you to Galilee and meet you there."
33Peter declared, "Even if everyone else deserts you, I never will."
34"Peter," Jesus replied, "the truth is, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times."
35"No!" Peter insisted. "Not even if I have to die with you! I will never deny you!" And all the other disciples vowed the same.
Jesus Prays in Gethsemane
36Then Jesus brought them to an olive grove called Gethsemane, and he said, "Sit here while I go on ahead to pray." 37He took Peter and Zebedee's two sons, James and John, and he began to be filled with anguish and deep distress. 38He told them, "My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and watch with me."
39He went on a little farther and fell face down on the ground, praying, "My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will, not mine." 40Then he returned to the disciples and found them asleep. He said to Peter, "Couldn't you stay awake and watch with me even one hour? 41Keep alert and pray. Otherwise temptation will overpower you. For though the spirit is willing enough, the body is weak!"
42Again he left them and prayed, "My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away until I drink it, your will be done." 43He returned to them again and found them sleeping, for they just couldn't keep their eyes open.
44So he went back to pray a third time, saying the same things again. 45Then he came to the disciples and said, "Still sleeping? Still resting? F149 Look, the time has come. I, the Son of Man, am betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46Up, let's be going. See, my betrayer is here!"
Jesus Is Arrested
47And even as he said this, Judas, one of the twelve disciples, arrived with a mob that was armed with swords and clubs. They had been sent out by the leading priests and other leaders of the people. 48Judas had given them a prearranged signal: "You will know which one to arrest when I go over and give him the kiss of greeting." 49So Judas came straight to Jesus. "Greetings, Teacher!" he exclaimed and gave him the kiss.
50Jesus said, "My friend, go ahead and do what you have come for." Then the others grabbed Jesus and arrested him. 51One of the men with Jesus pulled out a sword and slashed off an ear of the high priest's servant.
52"Put away your sword," Jesus told him. "Those who use the sword will be killed by the sword. 53Don't you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands F150 of angels to protect us, and he would send them instantly? 54But if I did, how would the Scriptures be fulfilled that describe what must happen now?"
55Then Jesus said to the crowd, "Am I some dangerous criminal, that you have come armed with swords and clubs to arrest me? Why didn't you arrest me in the Temple? I was there teaching every day. 56But this is all happening to fulfill the words of the prophets as recorded in the Scriptures." At that point, all the disciples deserted him and fled.
Jesus before the Council
57Then the people who had arrested Jesus led him to the home of Caiaphas, the high priest, where the teachers of religious law and other leaders had gathered. 58Meanwhile, Peter was following far behind and eventually came to the courtyard of the high priest's house. He went in, sat with the guards, and waited to see what was going to happen to Jesus.
59Inside, the leading priests and the entire high council F151 were trying to find witnesses who would lie about Jesus, so they could put him to death. 60But even though they found many who agreed to give false witness, there was no testimony they could use. Finally, two men were found 61who declared, "This man said, 'I am able to destroy the Temple of God and rebuild it in three days.'"
62Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, "Well, aren't you going to answer these charges? What do you have to say for yourself?" 63But Jesus remained silent. Then the high priest said to him, "I demand in the name of the living God that you tell us whether you are the Messiah, the Son of God."
64Jesus replied, "Yes, it is as you say. And in the future you will see me, the Son of Man, sitting at God's right hand in the place of power and coming back on the clouds of heaven." F152
65Then the high priest tore his clothing to show his horror, shouting, "Blasphemy! Why do we need other witnesses? You have all heard his blasphemy. 66What is your verdict?" "Guilty!" they shouted. "He must die!"
67Then they spit in Jesus' face and hit him with their fists. And some slapped him, 68saying, "Prophesy to us, you Messiah! Who hit you that time?"
Peter Denies Jesus
69Meanwhile, as Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, a servant girl came over and said to him, "You were one of those with Jesus the Galilean."
70But Peter denied it in front of everyone. "I don't know what you are talking about," he said.
71Later, out by the gate, another servant girl noticed him and said to those standing around, "This man was with Jesus of Nazareth."
72Again Peter denied it, this time with an oath. "I don't even know the man," he said.
73A little later some other bystanders came over to him and said, "You must be one of them; we can tell by your Galilean accent."
74Peter said, "I swear by God, I don't know the man." And immediately the rooster crowed. 75Suddenly, Jesus' words flashed through Peter's mind: "Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times." And he went away, crying bitterly.
FOOTNOTES:F144: Greek an alabaster jar. F145: Or The one who has dipped his hand in the bowl with me. F146: Some manuscripts read the new covenant. F147: Greek I. F148: Zech 13:7. F149: Or Sleep on, take your rest. F150: Greek 12 legions. F151: Greek the Sanhedrin. F152: See Ps 110:1; Dan 7:13.
Copyright Statement: Holy Bible, The New Living Translation
~ Lena’s Journalin’~
We are in a serious time of self-examination, and to do that well we must be honest with ourselves and with God and truly mean it whenever we ask Him to reveal hidden things that could potentially kill off our relationships with Him and with other people. (Thus continually preparing self to fulfill the greatest commandments- Love God, Love People)
If we are willing to examine ourselves, we’ll not have to be exposed to the examination of others or the judgment of God later on. So, lets’ honestly sift through this word today asking ourselves some scrutinizing questions that will greatly help our self examination skills.
Have we ever, or rather currently do we find ourselves making plans and plots against anyone who is becoming a Christian? ( I said becoming, because those who receive Jesus are on a pathway to becoming like Christ). Do we ever secretly wish evil or anything that’d kill of someone else’s faith?
That’s a place to repent of.
Now say we are sitting in church with our brethren. Do we ever look at someone and think I wonder why they are doing that? It is time to check motives. That can be a judgmental Pharisaical spirit. Have we ever thought, why do they spend their money on that when they could buy________?
Who do we think we are, judges who sentence people to wrong living, or maybe we are their god? That’s something to repent of.
What about motives. We see someone worshiping God, crying out, etc. Do we feel we know their heart’s cry? Do we think we can see inside of people? God says the heart is known by God and the man can barely even know his own heart. We can intimately know people in the spirit of Christ by their fruit, but that is for greater fellowship, not for further separation and exclusiveness.
We may need to repent.
Ever vowed a vow to God and did not pay the vow?
Ever been weak, too weak to fulfill what you promised you would when you made the promise? “I’ll love you forever, I’ll be there for you, I’ll serve you, Lord” etc? Yet when you get that call to serve you have excuses. When you have a real chance, through hard times, to keep those vows of covenant you break them instead? Have you ever told a church body you are with them, then you left their fellowship? Or have you never made a commitment to a church body, but you don’t give tithes to God, you won’t become a vital part of the local family of God, because you’d really rather do your own thing? If that’s you, it is so important that you take that before God now and repent, quickly.
What about authority and submission to it? can anyone but you ever point anything out to you and tell you what to do? Ever, without offense rising inside of you? Have you regularly been happy if someone points out something you need to change?
Let me tell you, NO ONE knows when their “end of the world” will be and if you think you know you might be in a wrong position, because only God knows. The time to get right is now, not after you think about it later. The time to commit to God and His house is now, not later on when things get right and you feel like it! Jesus needed support in the garden and He still needs our participation in the work He’s set humans to do in the time period they are alive in. If you’re not doing your part, someone is over burdened for your portion and they are subject to enemies who will try to weaken them in the work. That’s wrong, unfair, non-covenantal. You have brothers in the squeeze of death who need your unselfish prayer power. Do you hear the call to prayer with others, or are your own thoughts and plans more important?
Have you been sleeping spiritually, acting unaware, as if there’s no alarm going off? Man, time to wake up, become alert, believe the prophets and live!
Repent.
(I feel like John the Baptist, and I am speaking to my own soul here too- Man.OUCH)
If we do not stay awake and alert we will be overcome with temptation, that’s what Jesus said. If we’re overcome with temptation we must know we’re asleep and numb. It’s an indicator. It’s not because God does not love us and doesn’t help us. It’s because He told us what to do and we won’t! It’s our own fault, stop blaming God! If we blame God we need to repent of that also.
Ever kissed and left? Ever tried to kill the plan you did not understand and you were so sure it needed to not happen? These are faith-based trust issues, we all deal with. It is seeing into the unseen realm and believing what we don’t see. It begins with listening with the intent that the words heard are true words, not words up for auction. If the disciples believed what He’d said even without full understanding, would they be more able to overcome?
This one sounds preposterous, but it is human nature, to sneak, and self justify. Have you ever, or do you ever plan ways to not do the word and be excused from it? I’ll leave that one to the evaluation of hearts.
Ever plan to expose someone else’s sins, hoping inwardly that they’ll suffer a consequence and pay for what they’ve done?
Ever do warfare in the flesh rather than in the spirit? It usually shows up in the form of arguments, strife and debate. This is manipulation and manipulation is demonic, because it tries to force the will, rather than encourage it. I’m not speaking of withholding truth and saying it’s grace. I’m talking about physical and mental force. Beware, the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but are mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds. Our responsibility here is to build people up and tear down spiritual enemies of their souls, not tear people down and ignore their spiritual enemies. Time to take responsibility, especially for households. We are stewards of the GRACE of God.
Do you know betrayal is mere denial? We think it is this unforgivable sin and we’d never do it. have you ever not spoken out for Jesus when you could or knew you should. Then you have also betrayed and denied. Let’s not separate ourselves too far from the sin nature lest we fall into it.
Have you ever trusted yourself more than you trust the very words of God, especially things we know He’s said, but we do not yet understand them , for we don’t see them? This is also a form of denial. We take our own thoughts and words above God’s. Fear is a big culprit of this.
We should repent.
With serving, have we ever been able to be bought? Like I’ll do this for the church or a person in the church, if I get that? Have we ever bought truth and then sold it cheaply? We have, the question is, have we repented of it?
We can start a trek of freedom in Christ by doing what Adam did and say, “Yes Lord, I did do that, I ate of the wrong tree. Please cover me with the partaking of the Body and the Blood of the Lamb. “
Repentance means I see it, I see it is an offense to God and how it separates me from His great love and His intended blessings and I plan to change the behavior, now that I see it. Thank God for showing me.
Repentance is like, I’ve been given certain directions to go to a certain place, as I go I find I’m not quite getting there, I see I’ve taken a wrong turn somewhere, someone even shows me the right way, so I change directions and get back on the right road towards my destination.
Are you the kind of person who obeys God immediately? Like when you hear His words to you personally or to the general congregation you assemble with, do you hear and do the word quickly, or do you wait, chew on it, make an excuse for not doing it yet, and then ponder it awhile before you consider if it applies to you or not? That kind of response is very dangerous to kingdom living. We live and walk by faith and NOT by sight. We walk in the spirit and do not fulfill the lust of the flesh. If we ponder, figure, etc, we are giving way to the flesh to speak to us and reason us out of God’s words.
It is defiantly time to repent and practice doing the word as soon as you hear it. Whatever is Not of faith is sin. Sin needs to be covered. Repentance is the only way to have sin covered.
What about the supernatural? Do we live in His supernatural world? The Bible says covet the gifts of the spirit. Do we seek God and covet the gifts He desires us to have operating in us, to the place of making a heavenly withdrawal? Like can God say, “today I want you to meet so and so here and say this or that to them”, and you are attuned to it??
How often do we prophesy into people’s lives, the words from God and teach them to reach the throne room to get more words for themselves? Are we mere humans having a spiritual experience or are we spirit beings having a human experience?
Maybe we need to repent for being so full of other things we’re not hungry, or we’ve been so preoccupied we’ve not heard the words to follow. The Holy Spirit is a gentleman, He gently offers Himself to us, if we refuse, He doesn’t return to us to ask, if we don’t make it known we really want and need His help.
Are we truly willing to take the cup of his suffering and death and eat the bread of eternal life? That means my life does not belong to me. I’m not my own master or director. Do we go through motions to appear good to men, but God knows if we had to die for Him, we wouldn’t, or if we had to deny our selves to truly live for Him, we would choose self instead? “Not my will but Yours Lord.” Is that a prayer of wish or a reality of the true action being taken in life?
That might be something to repent of.
Have you noticed these things are taking us up into higher levels of mature thinking and mature self-examination. Maybe they are more digging deeply to get every root that is not from God out. There are roots of wrong thinking and wrong teachings that need to be pulled out, that’s repentance. Oh wow look at that root system, it’s trying to choke out this spiritual life plant, better cut it. That’s repentance. Oh wow I thought that was true and now I see I was deceived, thank you Lord, for the truth! That’s repentance.
“Tonight all of you will “desert” Me” The word “desert” means to become agitated at, to be disappointed in, to stumble over, not trust, be offended, see my life as a snare to yours….
Have we ever felt this way about Jesus, His Body (any believer who assembles as Him in the earth), or Christianity and its “requirements”?
You be the judge and governor over your own heart and repent if it at all in any way applies.
Ever scattered? Are you in the center of God’s field, walking and learning of field workers? Are you on the outskirts as separated sheep in danger of being attacked by wolves? Who put you out there?
Repent by coming back into the center, become committed and stay in the center joining in the work of the kingdom reapers.
Ever said one thing and then did another?
You know what to do J
At the point of arguments, do you leave? If you don’t get your own way, what do you do?
Do we believe in the supernatural power of God at all, do we know it is available and do we depend upon it? If we believe it we’ll live like that.
How far behind do we follow Jesus? Time to bridge that gap, narrow the distance.
Do we ever quote our own words as God’s?
Give a false witness? Misrepresenting the spirit of God’s word as law and letter, cutting people up with it is a false witness.
Ever scope out words of prophets and teachers and pastors with intent to try to find something in them and try to accuse them of something wrong? That’s painful to the very heart of God, again, we are to pray. Problems in life are prayer opportunities.
Have you ever demanded of God to show you, so you’ll believe, as if He has to prove something to you?
Ever spit in His face, by not regarding His words enough go forward with them? What about injuring the workers of God’s kingdom? What about deciding what you feel should be done rather than submitting to the order that is set up around you?
Repent, repent, repent, while there is still time.
Ever want someone to die for their sin?
Ever lost sight of the interest of God? That’s actually what denial means. I’m not interested.
Lots to examine, huh?
Be brave, be courageous, there’s provision in the blood of Jesus for all of your (repented of) sins. New life begins with saying, “Yes, Lord, I did eat of the wrong tree!”
Recognition and a willingness to recognize is the first step, believing God’s love enough to say, “Search me Oh God, know My heart and show me my heart, then try me, prove me in my reciprocal love for You.” I love you back enough to repent and seek diligently after life change, newness of life, where I walk away from my sins and follow You, everyday
Daily Thought to Ponder - “Oh Give Thanks to the Lord for He is Good!”
If the e-mail text you receive is encrypted at all, just scroll down to the end of all of the text and click on Lena’s Journalin’ , which will take you directly to the web-page where you will be able to read the text quite clearly in it’s purposed form.
Matthew 26:1-75
The Plot to Kill Jesus
1When Jesus had finished saying these things, he said to his disciples, 2"As you know, the Passover celebration begins in two days, and I, the Son of Man, will be betrayed and crucified."
3At that same time the leading priests and other leaders were meeting at the residence of Caiaphas, the high priest, 4to discuss how to capture Jesus secretly and put him to death. 5"But not during the Passover," they agreed, "or there will be a riot."
Jesus Anointed at Bethany
6Meanwhile, Jesus was in Bethany at the home of Simon, a man who had leprosy. 7During supper, a woman came in with a beautiful jar F144 of expensive perfume and poured it over his head. 8The disciples were indignant when they saw this. "What a waste of money," they said. 9"She could have sold it for a fortune and given the money to the poor."
10But Jesus replied, "Why berate her for doing such a good thing to me? 11You will always have the poor among you, but I will not be here with you much longer. 12She has poured this perfume on me to prepare my body for burial. 13I assure you, wherever the Good News is preached throughout the world, this woman's deed will be talked about in her memory."
Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus
14Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, went to the leading priests 15and asked, "How much will you pay me to betray Jesus to you?" And they gave him thirty pieces of silver. 16From that time on, Judas began looking for the right time and place to betray Jesus.
The Last Supper
17On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Where do you want us to prepare the Passover supper?"
18"As you go into the city," he told them, "you will see a certain man. Tell him, 'The Teacher says, My time has come, and I will eat the Passover meal with my disciples at your house.'" 19So the disciples did as Jesus told them and prepared the Passover supper there.
20When it was evening, Jesus sat down at the table with the twelve disciples. 21While they were eating, he said, "The truth is, one of you will betray me."
22Greatly distressed, one by one they began to ask him, "I'm not the one, am I, Lord?"
23He replied, "One of you who is eating with me now F145 will betray me. 24For I, the Son of Man, must die, as the Scriptures declared long ago. But how terrible it will be for my betrayer. Far better for him if he had never been born!"
25Judas, the one who would betray him, also asked, "Teacher, I'm not the one, am I?" And Jesus told him, "You have said it yourself."
26As they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread and asked God's blessing on it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, "Take it and eat it, for this is my body." 27And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them and said, "Each of you drink from it, 28for this is my blood, which seals the covenant F146 between God and his people. It is poured out to forgive the sins of many. 29Mark my words—I will not drink wine again until the day I drink it new with you in my Father's Kingdom." 30Then they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives.
Jesus Predicts Peter's Denial
31"Tonight all of you will desert me," Jesus told them. "For the Scriptures say,
'God F147 will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.' F148
32But after I have been raised from the dead, I will go ahead of you to Galilee and meet you there."
33Peter declared, "Even if everyone else deserts you, I never will."
34"Peter," Jesus replied, "the truth is, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times."
35"No!" Peter insisted. "Not even if I have to die with you! I will never deny you!" And all the other disciples vowed the same.
Jesus Prays in Gethsemane
36Then Jesus brought them to an olive grove called Gethsemane, and he said, "Sit here while I go on ahead to pray." 37He took Peter and Zebedee's two sons, James and John, and he began to be filled with anguish and deep distress. 38He told them, "My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and watch with me."
39He went on a little farther and fell face down on the ground, praying, "My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will, not mine." 40Then he returned to the disciples and found them asleep. He said to Peter, "Couldn't you stay awake and watch with me even one hour? 41Keep alert and pray. Otherwise temptation will overpower you. For though the spirit is willing enough, the body is weak!"
42Again he left them and prayed, "My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away until I drink it, your will be done." 43He returned to them again and found them sleeping, for they just couldn't keep their eyes open.
44So he went back to pray a third time, saying the same things again. 45Then he came to the disciples and said, "Still sleeping? Still resting? F149 Look, the time has come. I, the Son of Man, am betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46Up, let's be going. See, my betrayer is here!"
Jesus Is Arrested
47And even as he said this, Judas, one of the twelve disciples, arrived with a mob that was armed with swords and clubs. They had been sent out by the leading priests and other leaders of the people. 48Judas had given them a prearranged signal: "You will know which one to arrest when I go over and give him the kiss of greeting." 49So Judas came straight to Jesus. "Greetings, Teacher!" he exclaimed and gave him the kiss.
50Jesus said, "My friend, go ahead and do what you have come for." Then the others grabbed Jesus and arrested him. 51One of the men with Jesus pulled out a sword and slashed off an ear of the high priest's servant.
52"Put away your sword," Jesus told him. "Those who use the sword will be killed by the sword. 53Don't you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands F150 of angels to protect us, and he would send them instantly? 54But if I did, how would the Scriptures be fulfilled that describe what must happen now?"
55Then Jesus said to the crowd, "Am I some dangerous criminal, that you have come armed with swords and clubs to arrest me? Why didn't you arrest me in the Temple? I was there teaching every day. 56But this is all happening to fulfill the words of the prophets as recorded in the Scriptures." At that point, all the disciples deserted him and fled.
Jesus before the Council
57Then the people who had arrested Jesus led him to the home of Caiaphas, the high priest, where the teachers of religious law and other leaders had gathered. 58Meanwhile, Peter was following far behind and eventually came to the courtyard of the high priest's house. He went in, sat with the guards, and waited to see what was going to happen to Jesus.
59Inside, the leading priests and the entire high council F151 were trying to find witnesses who would lie about Jesus, so they could put him to death. 60But even though they found many who agreed to give false witness, there was no testimony they could use. Finally, two men were found 61who declared, "This man said, 'I am able to destroy the Temple of God and rebuild it in three days.'"
62Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, "Well, aren't you going to answer these charges? What do you have to say for yourself?" 63But Jesus remained silent. Then the high priest said to him, "I demand in the name of the living God that you tell us whether you are the Messiah, the Son of God."
64Jesus replied, "Yes, it is as you say. And in the future you will see me, the Son of Man, sitting at God's right hand in the place of power and coming back on the clouds of heaven." F152
65Then the high priest tore his clothing to show his horror, shouting, "Blasphemy! Why do we need other witnesses? You have all heard his blasphemy. 66What is your verdict?" "Guilty!" they shouted. "He must die!"
67Then they spit in Jesus' face and hit him with their fists. And some slapped him, 68saying, "Prophesy to us, you Messiah! Who hit you that time?"
Peter Denies Jesus
69Meanwhile, as Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, a servant girl came over and said to him, "You were one of those with Jesus the Galilean."
70But Peter denied it in front of everyone. "I don't know what you are talking about," he said.
71Later, out by the gate, another servant girl noticed him and said to those standing around, "This man was with Jesus of Nazareth."
72Again Peter denied it, this time with an oath. "I don't even know the man," he said.
73A little later some other bystanders came over to him and said, "You must be one of them; we can tell by your Galilean accent."
74Peter said, "I swear by God, I don't know the man." And immediately the rooster crowed. 75Suddenly, Jesus' words flashed through Peter's mind: "Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times." And he went away, crying bitterly.
FOOTNOTES:F144: Greek an alabaster jar. F145: Or The one who has dipped his hand in the bowl with me. F146: Some manuscripts read the new covenant. F147: Greek I. F148: Zech 13:7. F149: Or Sleep on, take your rest. F150: Greek 12 legions. F151: Greek the Sanhedrin. F152: See Ps 110:1; Dan 7:13.
Copyright Statement: Holy Bible, The New Living Translation
~ Lena’s Journalin’~
We are in a serious time of self-examination, and to do that well we must be honest with ourselves and with God and truly mean it whenever we ask Him to reveal hidden things that could potentially kill off our relationships with Him and with other people. (Thus continually preparing self to fulfill the greatest commandments- Love God, Love People)
If we are willing to examine ourselves, we’ll not have to be exposed to the examination of others or the judgment of God later on. So, lets’ honestly sift through this word today asking ourselves some scrutinizing questions that will greatly help our self examination skills.
Have we ever, or rather currently do we find ourselves making plans and plots against anyone who is becoming a Christian? ( I said becoming, because those who receive Jesus are on a pathway to becoming like Christ). Do we ever secretly wish evil or anything that’d kill of someone else’s faith?
That’s a place to repent of.
Now say we are sitting in church with our brethren. Do we ever look at someone and think I wonder why they are doing that? It is time to check motives. That can be a judgmental Pharisaical spirit. Have we ever thought, why do they spend their money on that when they could buy________?
Who do we think we are, judges who sentence people to wrong living, or maybe we are their god? That’s something to repent of.
What about motives. We see someone worshiping God, crying out, etc. Do we feel we know their heart’s cry? Do we think we can see inside of people? God says the heart is known by God and the man can barely even know his own heart. We can intimately know people in the spirit of Christ by their fruit, but that is for greater fellowship, not for further separation and exclusiveness.
We may need to repent.
Ever vowed a vow to God and did not pay the vow?
Ever been weak, too weak to fulfill what you promised you would when you made the promise? “I’ll love you forever, I’ll be there for you, I’ll serve you, Lord” etc? Yet when you get that call to serve you have excuses. When you have a real chance, through hard times, to keep those vows of covenant you break them instead? Have you ever told a church body you are with them, then you left their fellowship? Or have you never made a commitment to a church body, but you don’t give tithes to God, you won’t become a vital part of the local family of God, because you’d really rather do your own thing? If that’s you, it is so important that you take that before God now and repent, quickly.
What about authority and submission to it? can anyone but you ever point anything out to you and tell you what to do? Ever, without offense rising inside of you? Have you regularly been happy if someone points out something you need to change?
Let me tell you, NO ONE knows when their “end of the world” will be and if you think you know you might be in a wrong position, because only God knows. The time to get right is now, not after you think about it later. The time to commit to God and His house is now, not later on when things get right and you feel like it! Jesus needed support in the garden and He still needs our participation in the work He’s set humans to do in the time period they are alive in. If you’re not doing your part, someone is over burdened for your portion and they are subject to enemies who will try to weaken them in the work. That’s wrong, unfair, non-covenantal. You have brothers in the squeeze of death who need your unselfish prayer power. Do you hear the call to prayer with others, or are your own thoughts and plans more important?
Have you been sleeping spiritually, acting unaware, as if there’s no alarm going off? Man, time to wake up, become alert, believe the prophets and live!
Repent.
(I feel like John the Baptist, and I am speaking to my own soul here too- Man.OUCH)
If we do not stay awake and alert we will be overcome with temptation, that’s what Jesus said. If we’re overcome with temptation we must know we’re asleep and numb. It’s an indicator. It’s not because God does not love us and doesn’t help us. It’s because He told us what to do and we won’t! It’s our own fault, stop blaming God! If we blame God we need to repent of that also.
Ever kissed and left? Ever tried to kill the plan you did not understand and you were so sure it needed to not happen? These are faith-based trust issues, we all deal with. It is seeing into the unseen realm and believing what we don’t see. It begins with listening with the intent that the words heard are true words, not words up for auction. If the disciples believed what He’d said even without full understanding, would they be more able to overcome?
This one sounds preposterous, but it is human nature, to sneak, and self justify. Have you ever, or do you ever plan ways to not do the word and be excused from it? I’ll leave that one to the evaluation of hearts.
Ever plan to expose someone else’s sins, hoping inwardly that they’ll suffer a consequence and pay for what they’ve done?
Ever do warfare in the flesh rather than in the spirit? It usually shows up in the form of arguments, strife and debate. This is manipulation and manipulation is demonic, because it tries to force the will, rather than encourage it. I’m not speaking of withholding truth and saying it’s grace. I’m talking about physical and mental force. Beware, the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but are mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds. Our responsibility here is to build people up and tear down spiritual enemies of their souls, not tear people down and ignore their spiritual enemies. Time to take responsibility, especially for households. We are stewards of the GRACE of God.
Do you know betrayal is mere denial? We think it is this unforgivable sin and we’d never do it. have you ever not spoken out for Jesus when you could or knew you should. Then you have also betrayed and denied. Let’s not separate ourselves too far from the sin nature lest we fall into it.
Have you ever trusted yourself more than you trust the very words of God, especially things we know He’s said, but we do not yet understand them , for we don’t see them? This is also a form of denial. We take our own thoughts and words above God’s. Fear is a big culprit of this.
We should repent.
With serving, have we ever been able to be bought? Like I’ll do this for the church or a person in the church, if I get that? Have we ever bought truth and then sold it cheaply? We have, the question is, have we repented of it?
We can start a trek of freedom in Christ by doing what Adam did and say, “Yes Lord, I did do that, I ate of the wrong tree. Please cover me with the partaking of the Body and the Blood of the Lamb. “
Repentance means I see it, I see it is an offense to God and how it separates me from His great love and His intended blessings and I plan to change the behavior, now that I see it. Thank God for showing me.
Repentance is like, I’ve been given certain directions to go to a certain place, as I go I find I’m not quite getting there, I see I’ve taken a wrong turn somewhere, someone even shows me the right way, so I change directions and get back on the right road towards my destination.
Are you the kind of person who obeys God immediately? Like when you hear His words to you personally or to the general congregation you assemble with, do you hear and do the word quickly, or do you wait, chew on it, make an excuse for not doing it yet, and then ponder it awhile before you consider if it applies to you or not? That kind of response is very dangerous to kingdom living. We live and walk by faith and NOT by sight. We walk in the spirit and do not fulfill the lust of the flesh. If we ponder, figure, etc, we are giving way to the flesh to speak to us and reason us out of God’s words.
It is defiantly time to repent and practice doing the word as soon as you hear it. Whatever is Not of faith is sin. Sin needs to be covered. Repentance is the only way to have sin covered.
What about the supernatural? Do we live in His supernatural world? The Bible says covet the gifts of the spirit. Do we seek God and covet the gifts He desires us to have operating in us, to the place of making a heavenly withdrawal? Like can God say, “today I want you to meet so and so here and say this or that to them”, and you are attuned to it??
How often do we prophesy into people’s lives, the words from God and teach them to reach the throne room to get more words for themselves? Are we mere humans having a spiritual experience or are we spirit beings having a human experience?
Maybe we need to repent for being so full of other things we’re not hungry, or we’ve been so preoccupied we’ve not heard the words to follow. The Holy Spirit is a gentleman, He gently offers Himself to us, if we refuse, He doesn’t return to us to ask, if we don’t make it known we really want and need His help.
Are we truly willing to take the cup of his suffering and death and eat the bread of eternal life? That means my life does not belong to me. I’m not my own master or director. Do we go through motions to appear good to men, but God knows if we had to die for Him, we wouldn’t, or if we had to deny our selves to truly live for Him, we would choose self instead? “Not my will but Yours Lord.” Is that a prayer of wish or a reality of the true action being taken in life?
That might be something to repent of.
Have you noticed these things are taking us up into higher levels of mature thinking and mature self-examination. Maybe they are more digging deeply to get every root that is not from God out. There are roots of wrong thinking and wrong teachings that need to be pulled out, that’s repentance. Oh wow look at that root system, it’s trying to choke out this spiritual life plant, better cut it. That’s repentance. Oh wow I thought that was true and now I see I was deceived, thank you Lord, for the truth! That’s repentance.
“Tonight all of you will “desert” Me” The word “desert” means to become agitated at, to be disappointed in, to stumble over, not trust, be offended, see my life as a snare to yours….
Have we ever felt this way about Jesus, His Body (any believer who assembles as Him in the earth), or Christianity and its “requirements”?
You be the judge and governor over your own heart and repent if it at all in any way applies.
Ever scattered? Are you in the center of God’s field, walking and learning of field workers? Are you on the outskirts as separated sheep in danger of being attacked by wolves? Who put you out there?
Repent by coming back into the center, become committed and stay in the center joining in the work of the kingdom reapers.
Ever said one thing and then did another?
You know what to do J
At the point of arguments, do you leave? If you don’t get your own way, what do you do?
Do we believe in the supernatural power of God at all, do we know it is available and do we depend upon it? If we believe it we’ll live like that.
How far behind do we follow Jesus? Time to bridge that gap, narrow the distance.
Do we ever quote our own words as God’s?
Give a false witness? Misrepresenting the spirit of God’s word as law and letter, cutting people up with it is a false witness.
Ever scope out words of prophets and teachers and pastors with intent to try to find something in them and try to accuse them of something wrong? That’s painful to the very heart of God, again, we are to pray. Problems in life are prayer opportunities.
Have you ever demanded of God to show you, so you’ll believe, as if He has to prove something to you?
Ever spit in His face, by not regarding His words enough go forward with them? What about injuring the workers of God’s kingdom? What about deciding what you feel should be done rather than submitting to the order that is set up around you?
Repent, repent, repent, while there is still time.
Ever want someone to die for their sin?
Ever lost sight of the interest of God? That’s actually what denial means. I’m not interested.
Lots to examine, huh?
Be brave, be courageous, there’s provision in the blood of Jesus for all of your (repented of) sins. New life begins with saying, “Yes, Lord, I did eat of the wrong tree!”
Recognition and a willingness to recognize is the first step, believing God’s love enough to say, “Search me Oh God, know My heart and show me my heart, then try me, prove me in my reciprocal love for You.” I love you back enough to repent and seek diligently after life change, newness of life, where I walk away from my sins and follow You, everyday
Daily Thought to Ponder - “Oh Give Thanks to the Lord for He is Good!”
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
