Denying Self Isn't Easy

N.T.#193 "Denying Self Isn't Easy"

Nov. 28, 2023

Matthew 16-Part 9

LET IT GLOW

Self-denial is not easy. I have previously shared our leaving family and selling our house so we could follow Jesus. Lately, we thought we had the rest of our lives together planned out-retirement and mission work. But Jesus had a better plan. He sent us to serve in a precious church filled with loving people. Our plans were not as good as Jesus' plans for us. What a joy it is to be doing the Master's will. Not everyone learns this. Peter had a hard time.

After Jesus rebuked Peter, He addressed the rest of the disciples with more teaching. What is involved in being a follower of Jesus? He reveals this in verse 24:

If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. (KJV)

If anyone of you wants to be My follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow Me. (NLT)

Let's take a look at the Greek meanings of important words in that verse.

Deny means to deny utterly; disown; abstain; cross is a stake or post (as an instrument of capital punishment; self-denial; atonement of Christ; follow means to be in the same with; to accompany (as a disciple).

Let me put this together. If we want to be a follower of Christ, a disciple, we have to utterly deny (disown) our self (self-denial) and accompany Him. Since Linda wants to be a follower and disciple of Christ Jesus, she must utterly deny herself and accompany (follow) Him wherever Christ leads and however He leads. 

LET IT GROW

In other words, we can't fully follow Jesus unless we die to self. Discipleship is the mission of Jesus' followers. Denying self isn't fun, nor easy. Our flesh wants to dominate us, which has been used to doing. As a believer in Jesus, we must disown self and let our spirit take over, yielding to Jesus' will and way. 

In order to experience the lordship and provision of Christ on earth, we must be willing to say "no" to self. (Tony Evans)

Jesus is our example of self-denial. He asked the Father to let death on the cross (cup) pass from Him, but nevertheless, His will be done. The Son of the Living God and God-man had to make a decision. So do we-daily. 

LET IT GO 

Lord, this is hard, as You well know. 

Keep us remaining, abiding, in You, Jesus.

We owe our life and salvation to You, so Jesus You deserve our following You.

Oh come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.

Rebukes

 N.T.#192 "Rebukes"

Nov. 27, 2023

Matthew 16-Part 8

LET IT GLOW

Have you ever deserved a rebuke? Makes us feel small, right? Peter experienced it. Read on to find out what it was about.

After Jesus announced His coming rejection and death at Jerusalem, Peter took Him aside and rebuked the Lord. Peter told Jesus this would never happen to Him. (verse 22) Not on his watch. Really, Peter? You just confessed Jesus to be the Christ, the Son of the Living God. Peter went from being blessed (verse 17), downhill, to being reprimanded (verse 23). (We know this was God's will for Jesus.)

Let's take a look where Peter was coming from. Peter thought:

• The Messiah wasn't supposed to be killed by His enemies; He was supposed to conquer their enemies..
• The Messiah wasn't supposed to get arrested and be mistreated by His opponents; He was supposed to exercise judgment against them.
• Jesus needed His faulty understanding of what the Messiah was supposed to do, be corrected.
• He could be God's counselor? Peter's mind was not set on God's interests, but on man's.
• Perhaps Peter did not what his friend to suffer on a cross. He had proclaimed Jesus to be the Messiah. Should the Son of God suffer like that?

Jesus literally interrupted Peter's words and stopped him from digging himself deeper into the pit of verbal stupidity. 

LET IT GROW

Jesus physically got into Peter's face and said:

Get thee behind me. Satan: thou art an offence unto Me: for thou savourest not things that be of God, but those that be of men. (verse 23)

Offence means snare; occasion to fall (stumbling); a trap.

Savourest means to interest ones self in (with concern or obedience); regard; think; exercise the mind.

One minute Peter was soaring with the eagles, the next minute he was pecking at the ground with the chickens. Instead of Peter rebuking the Lord with good results, the coin turned and the Savior rebuked Peter. Perhaps it was a personal rebuke with the disciples not hearing it. The exchange was personal-between Peter and his Lord Jesus. Some things just need to be between me and Jesus, not made public.

We must never think the Lord should alter His plan to fit our preferences. Folks, it was in God's plan all along for Jesus to die on the cross. He loves us so much that Jesus was willing to take our punishment for our sins, because we could never measure up to God's standards-perfectionism. What a Savior!!

[Resource: Swindoll's Living Insights-Matthew 16-28]

LET IT GO

Loving Savior, Glorious God, we owe You everything!

Help us let go of our sinful habits, repent, and turn to You.

Show us our failures.

What is Your Mission on Earth?

N.T.#191 "What is Your Mission on Earth?"

Nov. 24, 2023

Matthew 16-Part 7

From that time forth began Jesus to show unto His disciples, how that He must go into Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. 

LET IT GLOW

What was Jesus' mission and destiny on earth? It was in order to give a foundation for the gospel         (1 Cor. 15:3-5), salvation for the Gentiles, and establish His church by way of faith in Him as Savior, Messiah, and Son of God. He showed us a way to live a sinless life that pleased God. He is the sinless Lamb who died and was sacrificed for our sins.

 In verse 21, we read of the first of three times in Matthew that Jesus predicted His death and resurrection. The two other times appear in 17:22-23 and 20:18. The disciples still did not grasp Jesus' true purpose because of their preconceived notions about what the Messiah should be. (Life Application Study Bible)

What can we learn from Jesus' statement?

1. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. The sinless Son of God took the punishment of our sins so we could have our sins removed. It was God's plan all along for us to have salvation through faith. We just have to believe Christ did this for us.
2. He was buried. The fact that Christ died is revealed in His burial. He was buried in a tomb on the side of the mountain. 
3. He rose from the dead on the third day, as the Scriptures said. Jonah 1:17 quoted in Matthew 12:40. Psalm 16:8-11 and Psalm 110 foretold of the Messiah's resurrection.

We read of those things happening to Jesus, but we have to take them by faith, believing they happened. Have you asked Jesus to be your Savior, believing He died for your sins, was buried, and rose from the grave?

LET IT GROW

Jesus of Nazareth, with His ragtag band of outcasts, wasn't what most Jews had in mind for the Messiah. But the dullness that accompanied faulty expectations wasn't limited to just the crowds of rubberneckers and hangers-on who hoped to catch a few miracles or hear a scathing rebuke of the Pharisees. The disciples themselves, who fully embraced who Jesus was, "the Christ, the Son of the living God" still had a long way to go before they could accept what He had come to do: "suffer... and be killed, and be raised up on the third day. (verse 21) (Swindoll)

Are we fulfilling our mission on earth? Does your family believe in Jesus as Savior? Are you living for Him? Does our life point people to Jesus? Are we loving our neighbor as ourself? Have we done all we can to persuade them that they need Jesus Christ?

LET IT GO 

I have a plaque cross on my wall that reads: Pray. Let go and let God take over. 

What a wonderful Savior is Jesus my Lord!

Thanksgiving Day 2023

Thanksgiving Day 2023

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. 

Serve the Lord with gladness: come before His presence with singing.

Know ye that the Lord He is God: It is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name.

For the Lord is good: His mercy is everlasting: and His truth endureth to all generations.

This is a hymn for the sacrifice of thanksgiving. It is used when peace offerings for thanksgiving are offered up. (Leviticus 7:11) 

Jesus is the One who got the victory over sin, Satan, death, the grave, and every enemy of His and His people. He has made us more than conquerors through Himself. (Ps. 95:1)

We serve the Lord, not with fear or bondage, but in the newness of the Spirit, with spiritual joy and freedom of soul, readily, cheerfully, as our Lord and Master. Sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. (Ps. 95:2)

Acknowledge the Lord is our God, Savior, Immanuel, God manifested in the flesh.

In Him we live, move, and have our being. We did not make ourselves. We are His offspring, people, chosen by God, (1 Peter 2:9), and the sheep of His pasture, by His purchase. He leads us and feeds us. (Ps. 74:1)

Will we enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise? (Ps. 96:8, 65:4, 72:19) Be thankful unto Him and bless His name-Jehovah.

He binds up our wounds made by sin. The Lord is good, His mercy and grace are sufficient, His lovingkindness continues, and loves us to the end. (John 13:1) His truth, faithfulness, promises, endure to generations of believers.

[John Gill online]

Isn't that reason enough for us to worship our God?

Have a wonderful day everyone! Share God's goodness with others today.

  

Peter's Faith

N.T.#190 "Peter's Faith"

Nov. 22, 2023

Matthew 16-Part 6

LET IT GLOW

Friend, have you confessed faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior? Look what happened to Peter when he did so/

Let's take a look at Peter's confession of faith. It included:

• A blessing. (verse 17) The Heavenly Father had revealed to Peter that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. What a gift from the Father. Anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him can know God and Jesus. (11:27) No one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit, Paul wrote in 1 Cor. 12:3. 
• A naming. (verse 18) Jesus uses Peter's family name, Simon Bar-Jonah, which means Simon, son of Jonah, referring to his earthly father. Jesus was in reference to the fact that Peter's earthly father had not revealed to him whom Jesus is. Jesus changed Simon's name to call him Peter, which means rock in the Greek. 
• Two promises. It is upon Peter's confession of faith in Jesus that He would build His church (Belief in Jesus Christ). Then Jesus would give Peter the keys (gospel) to the kingdom of heaven. (verse 19) On the Day of Pentecost, Peter preached repentance of sin, belief in Jesus, (Acts 2) Peter would share the Gospel with the Samaritans and Gentiles, thus unlocking the doors of the church to them (us). 
• A strong warning. (verse 20) The disciples were to tell no one who Jesus was at that time. Jesus had spiritual lessons to teach the disciples before He was crucified. The timing was not then, but later. 

[Resource: Swindoll's Living Insights-Matthew 16-28]

LET IT GROW

Had the Jews said Jesus was the Messiah in the first century, they would have thought of Him as a political revolutionary and military leader to conquer rome. He was not that. No one expected a suffering Messiah who would die and rise again, ascend to heave to serve as a heavenly High Priest, and return as Judge and King centuries later. It is because Jesus came, lived a sinless life, became our substitute for our sins, miraculously rose from the dead, that He can be our personal Savior. 

Is Jesus Christ your Savior, dear one?

LET IT GO

What a wonderful name is the name of Jesus!

Yours is the kingdom and glory forever! 

Keys to the Kingdom of Heaven

N.T.#189 "Keys to the Kingdom of Heaven"

Nov. 21, 2023

Matthew 16-Part 5

LET IT FLOW

We have various kinds of keys. Some open doors to our home, our car, a safe, etc. but Jesus has given us keys to the kingdom of heaven. Read on to find out what they are.

Who had revealed to Peter that Jesus is the Son of the Living God?  The Father God in heaven had revealed who Jesus is, not flesh and blood. (verse 17) It is upon this concept, belief, faith, that Jesus builds His church. this is the foundation for a church of Christian believers. Any other foundation is a cult. Adding to the Scriptures is not part of the Bible. The gates of hell (hades) will not prevail against the church.

Prevail means overcome in the Greek. 

The gates of hell are the powers and policies of the devil's kingdom. These fight against the church by opposing gospel truths, corrupting gospel ordinances, persecuting good ministers and good Christians. (Matthew Henry)

Believers and the church are kept by the power of God, through faith, unto salvation. (1 Peter 1:5) Christ's kingdom is not of this world. (Acts 1:3) The church is meant to be a hospital for sin-sick people.

Dear one, are you an active member of a Bible-believing and Bible-preaching church? We all need to hear the truth so we stay close to Jesus. We need encouragement and comfort now and then. We need the love of other believers to help us carry on in this sin-sick world. If you are a Christian without a church, please seek one. Though none of us are perfect in this world, we worship the One who is perfect-Jesus Christ the Savior.

LET IT GROW

What are the keys of the kingdom of heaven?

They are divinely authorized resources that grant us authority and access. (Isaiah 22:22) We are supposed to be regularly utilizing heaven to help us live on earth. We are to be living out God's kingdom rule here. (Tony Evans)

Matthew Henry says they are the key of doctrine, discipline, and repentance. Doctrine shows us what is good and what the Lord requires of us. Baptism shows others what has happened in our soul and heart through salvation in Jesus. The old person has died and we are raised a new person in the Lord. The Lord's Supper shows we believe Jesus shed His blood for our sins to be forgiven, that He gave His life in order for us to live in heaven.

The keys of discipline teach us to strive to live beyond the Ten Commandments, to love God and others. Mercy forgives others, because we need it too; grace teaches us to be kind and helpful to those in need.

The keys of repentance shows us we are sinners in need of a Savior. When we compare ourself to others, we come out on top, better, but when we compare ourself to Jesus, we fall short of God's glory. We all sin and need His forgiveness. His supply never ends. What good news!

Some say the keys to the kingdom of heaven is legislation and administration of the church; others say the keys give the authority to announce forgiveness of nis; other say it is the opportunity to bring people into the kingdom of heaven by the message of salvation being accepted. God uses us to help others find their way inside to heaven, by faith in Jesus, and obeying His Words. The doors are flung open. Have you entered in?

What is binding us and loosing us? Are we bound to the law or to love?  Are we in restraint and set free? We must be in God's will and our prayers will be answered, in His Word. Our prayers are to not only benefit us, but others, too. We are called to be a blessing to others, to show the world what God can do through a life surrendered to Him. 

LET IT GO 

I'm just a nobody, trying to tell everybody, all about Somebody who saved my soul.

Ever since You rescued me, You gave my heart a song to sing, living for the world to see nobody but Jesus. 

That song sums it up for me. 

Everyone spend time being thankful for Jesus, His blessings, our life and breath, family and food. Stay safe if you are traveling. Go with Jesus today.

Who is Christ?

N.T.#188 "Who is Christ?"

Nov. 20, 2023

Matthew 16-Part 4

LET IT GLOW

Hey ya'll, who to folks say I am? If Jesus had been in Arkansas, that is how He would have put the question. However, in the original Greek, Jesus said, "But YOU, who do YOU say that I am?"  Jesus wanted to make sure His disciples had a clear idea of His identity. 

Then Peter spoke up, the only one to make the confession.. Was he representing the group? Were others reluctant to give their answer, afraid they were wrong? Were some of them still unsure of who Jesus was?

What was Simon Peter's answer? Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God. 

The Greek word for Christ is Christos, which means annointed; the Messiah; Jesus Christ; rock is petra; a foundation boulder; church is ekklesia (ek-klay-see'ah), which refers to a calling out; assembly;

Peter was proclaiming Jesus to be the Messiah, the Son of the Living God, not some dead idol, but living. This Living God had opened Peter's eyes and heart to this fact, flesh and blood had not revealed it to him. Peter's faith was a personal faith and confession made possible by a divinely-regenerated heart. (MacArthur)

Answering this question, Who do you say Jesus Christ is?" That is the most important question you ever answer. Your eternity will depend upon the right answer. Is Christ your Savior? Is He the son of the Living God to you?

If not, then believe in Him today and ask Jesus to become your Savior. If He already is, I wonder if Jesus is your Lord and Master? 

LET IT GROW

Peter answered correctly. Peter was going to be used to bActs 4:11) and the head (Eph. 5:23) of the church. The church is built of living stones (1 Peter 2:5). Christ is the chief cornerstone (1 Peter 2:6-7). Matthew is the only Gospel where this term is found. (18:17)  Christ alone is the Builder, Owner, and Lord of the church. As His church, we are the called out ones, believers. 

Friend, are you a believer in Jesus, yet not a church member? Please find a Bible believing church of which you can be a part in fellowship with other believers. Jesus is coming back for His church. 

LET IT GO

Keep us faithful to You and Your church, Christ Jesus.

Help us let go of the worldly things and grow stronger in grace and love.