Don't Get The Cart Before The Horse

Mark 10:32-37
And they were in the way going up to Jerusalem; and Jesus went before them: and they were amazed; and as they followed, they were afraid. And he took again the twelve, and began to tell them what things should happen unto him, Saying, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes; and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles: And they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him: and the third day he shall rise again. And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire. And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you? They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory.

While reading the scriptures this morning I hope that you are reminded of that old phrase... "Don't put the cart before the horse." I can't tell you how many times I have heard this statement. Now I know that it is mostly stated by those with silver hair (or maybe no hair), but it will apply really well today.

By looking at what Jesus was saying in the beginning verses we understand that He was about to fulfill His Father's plan. Jesus told them what was going to happen. He told them very detailed instructions of what would take place in Jerusalem. Then a question came from His disciples. A question that you would have thought was inappropriate and untimely. "Master, we want you to do something for us before you die." said the mother through her sons. (In Matthew, the mother asked) Jesus answered, "What would ye that I should do for you?" "Give us a position in glory", they said.

Now hold up! Jesus had not yet went to the cross for sins and people are already begging for the glory. This is such a selfish attitude, and one that is very familiar with today's Christians. We want pleasure with no pain. We want sunshine with no rain. We want glory with no suffering. We want healing with no healthy living. Well don't put the cart before the horse.

In this world, we will suffer and there will be rain. But it cannot be compared to what our Lord has waiting for us. But don't get in a hurry. This trial today maybe the shouting material that you will need for tomorrows victory. One preacher told me, "Don't throw in the towel during your suffering, cause you're gonna need something to wave when you finally get the victory!" Now that's putting the horse out front!

I'll Just Read THE Book

Psalms 119:50
This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.

Some of the greatest things I have ever heard have come from my children.  Many times it's just in the simple mindset that they have said it. Their words have brought joy to my broken heart at times and laughter to my troubled soul.  Here is one of those moments...

One day we were riding down the road having a normal child/parent conversation.  Our oldest, about 4 or 5 years old at the time, was really getting that far away look in his eyes.  We were discussing children who wonder off and get lost.  My wife looked at him and asked, "Andrew, what would you do if you were lost somewhere?"  He thought hard and kept the deep thought look on his face.  She said, "What if you wondered off into the woods and you were lost, what would you do? Would you scream for help? Would you scream for the police?"  Then it came... Andrew, without looking at her, said, "I would sit down and read a book".

I almost ran the car off the road laughing so hard.  But no laughter came from him.  He was serious. You see, in his mind, he knew that if he would sit and read that Dad or Mom would be there to find him.  He knew that everything would be okay and he could enjoy a book, even though I'm quite sure it would have been picture reading at his age.

God has taught me a great lessons through the faith of my children.  This world will get tough.  It's not a matter of if it will, God's word has told us it will get difficult.  Sometimes, even as a child of God, I feel like I'm in the woods and don't really know which way to go.  I want to scream for help and call upon friends to find me but through the Spirit I know I should just be still, sit down and read THE book.

How many times have you tried to figure your way out of the lostness this world can shadow over you?  You've ran for help from friends, pastors and counselors.  When God is wanting you to be still and read His book.  Isn't He your Father? Then be patient, He knows where you are and He is own the way.  Believe me when I say this, He is always on time too.  God says in His word to us this morning... Your Word has quickened me (made me alive, saved me) it is my comfort in my affliction. How awesome and precious is the WORD of God! It is comfort in my troubled times.  

Out of the mouth of babes huh?  Thank you Jesus!

Scuba Diving

Micah 7:18-19

Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity,

and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage?

he retaineth not his anger for ever,

because he delighteth in mercy. 

He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us;

he will subdue our iniquities;

and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.

One thing I've always wanted to do is to scuba dive. What an awesome adventure it would be. To be able and see those things that are hidden from view at the surface would be amazing. Fish, plants, etc... Seeing things that some have never seen before. I just think it would be an opportunity of a lifetime. 

You know I have often thought about my sins being forgiven and cast into the sea. I've heard people speak about this sea of forgetfulness that scripture refers to. Our God is so gracious to do this. Sometimes Satan puts his scuba gear on and attempts to dive into our past and see what he can discover. He searches through areas of our lives that no one could normally see with the natural eyes. He tries his best to explore our closets, so to say. One of his greatest joys is brining something up to the surface to reveal. 

Our scripture speaks of God forgiving the sins of Israel and casting them into the see. Every year something had to be done about their sins. There had to be a continual sacrifice for their sins. The sacrificing of certain animals shows the love of God covering the sins of those who confess them. How these people must have rejoiced in having their sins confessed and covered. Can't you see the joy and relief on their faces as they walked away from the tabernacle after offing their sacrifice and confessing their sins to God? 

Hebrews 10:4

For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.

John 1:29

The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

1 John 3:5

And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.

I thank Him for the covering of sins. I'm even more thankful that through Jesus our sins are removed from us. He takes them away! What the blood of bulls and goats couldn't remove, but only cover, the blood of Jesus cleanses and removes our sins. Thank you Jesus for removing my sins! 

Satan will surely run out of air before he finds the sins that Jesus has removed. I'm sure that some of you could point out some of my past sins and failures, but then you would be scuba diving with Satan wouldn't you?

Can You Hear Me Now?

Psalms 81:11-16

But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me. So I gave them up unto their own hearts' lust: and they walked in their own counsels. Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways! I should soon have subdued their enemies, and turned my hand against their adversaries. The haters of the Lord should have submitted themselves unto him: but their time should have endured for ever. He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat: and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee.

One of the running commercials a few years ago was from Verizon Wireless.  Remember the man in the Verizon work uniform going from place to place saying, "Can you hear me now? Good." This was played so much on the television that people started saying it. Every time someone would have bad reception on their cell phone they would say, "Can you hear me now?"

This morning, as we read our scripture, did you think of that same line?  I imagine God asking us, "Can you hear me now?"  When I was young my parents would ask me if I was listening to them or not.  They knew the answer to the question but wanted to hear me say it.  I would hear them, but I really wasn't listening to them.  Seems like God is saying the exact same thing about Israel in this scripture.

His people just wouldn't hearken, or listen, to what He was trying to tell them.  It's almost like the reception was bad.  Reception problems don't come from the tower, especially the one God has. Reception problems come from the things that block us from the signal.  Things that block us from the view of the tower. God's signal is the strongest. His call is the loudest. It's us who have things in our lives that block the reception.

Read again our scripture.  If only they had listened!  Look at what they could have enjoyed.  If I had only listened to the wisdom of my parents, look at the misery I could have bypassed in my life. If I would listen to Christ and His guidance imagine the pain I could avoid. God is trying to speak to you today through His Son, Jesus and the Holy Spirit.  Don't hear Him, listen to Him.  Can you hear Him now?

The Way of Peace

Romans 3:17

And the way of peace have they not known:

Peace means, "Freedom from disturbance". Freedom, freedom from a disturbance or interruption. Satan loves to interrupt and destroy the peace we have. He tries everyday in every way to cause us pain and heartache right?  So he comes in and pounces on us immediately with fangs out and claws digging in, right? No, really he comes at us in ways that are sneaky and subtle in order to destroy our walk with the Lord and steal our peace. He wants nothing more than for a child of God to be off his/her walk with the Lord. He loves for people to feel alone and isolated, without peace. He disrupts our walk. 

Peace also means, "Freedom from war". There is a battle today for your very soul. Satan and the demons of Hell are fighting against the grace of God. Trying daily to overcome you and steal your soul from God. But also there is a battle for the walk of the Christian. Remember he wants to disrupt your walk with sin. He also wants to destroy you through the results of sin. It's war to him. There are no rules, boundaries, limits. He comes full force!  But thanks be unto the Lord Jesus for His peace He gives. 

John 14:27

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Peace also means, "Unity between one another". You may love people very, very dearly, but only God can give the unity of peace between you both. God sees the disputes between one another. He sees the war between one another. But through His life, He can give peace that passes all understanding. Remember what He said?  It's not a worldly peace, but His peace. 

Lord please give unto me the peace I so desperately need today. 

Loaded Questions

Loaded Questions

Matthew 22:23-29

The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him, Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first, when he had married a wife, deceased, and, having no issue, left his wife unto his brother: Likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh. And last of all the woman died also. Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her. Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.

Do you find it strange that the atheist activist spend much of their lives fighting against a God they don't believe exists?  What about these Sadducees, who didn't believe in the resurrection, asking questions concerning the resurrection. Now I hope the atheist ask a question about God, just as much as I want the Sadducee to asks a question concerning the resurrection. But the problem with this question today is that it was loaded. 

You may wonder what a loaded question is. It is a question asked by someone who has their own preconceived idea. It could also be a question that is set with traps. So what is the best way to handle these questions?  Look at how Jesus answered. He tells them that they don't understand the scriptures. 

So many today, even in our churches, have a lack of knowledge when it comes to scripture. We get more concerned with an emotional service than a spiritually challenging service. Many want to feel good about themselves when they leave instead of being changed by the powerful Word of God. The problem with this is that we will fall into sin because of our lack of knowledge in God's Word. Jesus said, "Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures..." They change them to fit their lives, like clipping the edges of a puzzle piece in order to finish the puzzle. But the puzzle done this way, or life, will never be right. It will always be wrong. 

God, help us today to preach your Word! Help us to live your Word! Lord help us to share your Word! Keep us in the Word, so we won't be of the world. Oh, and the loaded questions.... If you're not in the Word, avoid them or the could blow up on you.