The Kingdom Of God

One of the reasons Jesus came to earth was to bring the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God is the rule and reign of God Almighty at every time and everywhere. In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus instructs us to pray for God’s Kingdom to come. He prayed in Matthew 6:10a (NIV):

…your kingdom come…

This part of the prayer is a petition of submission. We need to pray that every man, woman and child would submit to the rule and reign of God in their lives. Why? Because God is the sovereign Lord of all. It is only by submitting to the Lordship of Christ that we can find our true purpose and identity. When we submit to His Kingdom rule, we will discover that life in the Kingdom is not only easier, but it is better. The King knows what His subjects need. The King loves the inhabitants of His kingdom. This King does not rule with in iron fist, but rather with a compassionate heart. Do not be terrified of your King. Gratefully bow before His Majesty and He will lift you up and bless you. Your King is good.

Christ Is Lord

Which is easier: to call Christ Savior or to call Him Lord? Worshiping and honoring Jesus as Lord is much more difficult. We love the fact that Jesus died for us to rescue us from Hell. We are grateful that He loved us enough to sacrifice Himself for the forgiveness of our sins. We may not be quite as enamored with the fact that Jesus wants to be our Lord and Master. Here’s what Peter said in 1 Peter 3:15 (NLT):

Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it.

What does it mean that Jesus is Lord? It means that we submit to Him in everything. It means that we surrender everything to Him. Everything. We own, possess and have nothing that is ours. Our money, our families, our jobs, our very lives belong to Jesus. There is nothing that doesn’t belong to Him. The Father gave Jesus all authority (Matthew 28:18). That means that He has authority over you and me. Jesus is Lord and we must honor Him and worship Him as Lord. We will all bow before Jesus one day. Let us commit to honoring Him as Lord of our lives today.

The King Of Our Hearts

John 6:14-15 (NIV)

After the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.” 15 Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.

They were looking for a king who would be like David. One who would put Israel back on the map. One who would overthrow the Romans. Surely, Jesus was the king for whom they were looking. He must have been the Messiah! After all, who else could do the amazing things He had been doing?

He was not the king for whom they were looking. Jesus did not come to be seated on a throne in a palace. Jesus came to be seated on the throne of our hearts. Yes, Jesus is the Messiah. He is the One whom the Father promised to send to save us. He did not come to save us from political enemies or persecutors. He came to save us from our sins.

So that is why Jesus withdrew from the people. He did not come to storm the gates of Jerusalem to overthrow the government on that day.  He entered Jerusalem by way of a lowly donkey to die for the sins of the world at a later time. Jesus refused to succumb to the pressure to be what everyone wanted Him to be. Instead, He knew His purpose and He knew the Father’s plan and He stuck to them.

Don’t make Jesus out to be something other than who He really is. He wants to be your Savior and your Friend. He wants to be your Lord and your King. He will not settle for anything less than being the Lord of your life. His rightful place is not as the leader of a nation. His rightful place is to be the King of your heart. Surrender and submit to His lordship and leadership today.

PRAYER: Father, help me to submit to Jesus’ authority in my life. Help me to make Jesus the King of my heart. I want to serve Him and love Him more and more each day. In His name, amen.

God Is The King

Micah 4:6-13 (NIV)

“In that day,” declares the Lord,

“I will gather the lame;
    I will assemble the exiles
    and those I have brought to grief.
7 I will make the lame my remnant,
    those driven away a strong nation.
The Lord will rule over them in Mount Zion
    from that day and forever.
8 As for you, watchtower of the flock,
    stronghold of Daughter Zion,
the former dominion will be restored to you;
    kingship will come to Daughter Jerusalem.”

9 Why do you now cry aloud—
    have you no king?
Has your ruler perished,
    that pain seizes you like that of a woman in labor?
10 Writhe in agony, Daughter Zion,
    like a woman in labor,
for now you must leave the city
    to camp in the open field.
You will go to Babylon;
    there you will be rescued.
There the Lord will redeem you
    out of the hand of your enemies.

11 But now many nations
    are gathered against you.
They say, “Let her be defiled,
    let our eyes gloat over Zion!”
12 But they do not know
    the thoughts of the Lord;
they do not understand his plan,
    that he has gathered them like sheaves to the threshing floor.
13 “Rise and thresh, Daughter Zion,
    for I will give you horns of iron;
I will give you hooves of bronze,
    and you will break to pieces many nations.”
You will devote their ill-gotten gains to the Lord,
    their wealth to the Lord of all the earth.

​In verses 1-5, Micah tells of a time when not only Jerusalem would be restored, but a Heavenly Jerusalem would be God’s dwelling place with His people.  But, before that could happen, the people of God would be carried off into exile by the Babylonians because of their sinfulness.  God had warned His people time and time again.  They had rejected Him as God and as their King.  They worshiped false gods and listened to false prophets.  Their leaders were corrupt and they exploited the poor for their own gain.  God’s people had turned their backs on Him and now He would discipline them to bring them back to Him.

But they would not be in exile forever.  God was going to restore Jerusalem.  He was going to rescue and redeem His people.  A King would be restored to Zion and His name is Jesus.  He came riding into Zion on the back of a donkey.  He gave up His life in Jerusalem for the sins of not only God’s people, but the whole world.  It was in Zion where Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice for humanity.  It is in the Heavenly Zion where He will reign forever and ever with His people.  God will triumph over His enemies and every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord to the glory of God.  This is a certainty, not a dream.  This is a fact, not mere hopeful thinking.  This is our future and our hope.

PRAYER: Father, I long to be in Your presence for eternity.  I look forward to the day when You will make all things new and right all the wrongs.  I know that because of Your free gift of love and grace that I will spend eternity with You.  Until that day, help me to remain faithful to Jesus.  In His name, amen.

SELFIE-Denial

The latest message from Griffith First Christian Church in Griffith, Indiana.

No One Can Defeat God

In Acts 4:25-26, the Apostles Peter and John quoted Psalm 2 in response to the persecution they suffered at the hands of the Jewish elders and chief priests:

You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David:
“‘Why do the nations rage
and the peoples plot in vain?

²⁶ The kings of the earth rise up
and the rulers band together
against the Lord
and against his anointed one.

Peter and John had performed a miraculous healing of a crippled beggar in Acts 3.  They were preaching in the Temple about Jesus being the Christ, the Messiah.  They were arrested in Acts 4 and thrown in jail for the night.  Then they were brought before the rulers, elders and teachers of the Law (Acts 4:5, NIV).  They were asked by what power or name they were able to do what they did.  Peter, full of the Holy Spirit, began to proclaim the Truth about Jesus.  Those who had arrested Peter and John were unable to figure out how to punish them so they let them go.  The Apostles went back to their people and that’s when they quote Psalm 2.

In Psalm 2, attributed to David by Peter and John, David writes of how the nations conspire and the peoples plot against the Lord and His anointed One.  The “anointed One” is referring to the Messiah.  Way back in David’s day, he prophesied about the Messiah and the fulfillment of that prophecy was found in Jesus.  God’s response is one of laughter and scoffing, rebuke and wrath.  No one conspires against God!  No one can defeat God!  There is coming a day when those who plot and conspire against the Almighty will be judged and punished.  There is only one God!  He exists in three persons: Father, Spirit and Son.  We will all bow down before Him.  Some will bow willingly in honor and worship and others will be brought to their knees in fear and awe of the One they rejected in this life.  But make no mistake, my friends.  Every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Philippians 2:10-11, NIV).

Psalm 2

New International Version (NIV)

Psalm 2

¹ Why do the nations conspire
and the peoples plot in vain?
² The kings of the earth rise up
and the rulers band together
against the Lord and against his anointed, saying,
³ “Let us break their chains
and throw off their shackles.”

⁴ The One enthroned in heaven laughs;
the Lord scoffs at them.
⁵ He rebukes them in his anger
and terrifies them in his wrath, saying,
⁶ “I have installed my king
on Zion, my holy mountain.”

              ⁷
         I will proclaim the Lord’s decree:

He said to me, “You are my son;
today I have become your father.
⁸ Ask me,
and I will make the nations your inheritance,
the ends of the earth your possession.
⁹ You will break them with a rod of iron;
you will dash them to pieces like pottery.”

¹⁰ Therefore, you kings, be wise;
be warned, you rulers of the earth.
¹¹ Serve the Lord with fear
and celebrate his rule with trembling.
¹² Kiss his son, or he will be angry
and your way will lead to your destruction,
for his wrath can flare up in a moment.
Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

To Want For Nothing

The sermon from August 24, 2014 at Griffith First Christian Church in Griffith, Indiana.

Who Is This?

Storms on the Sea of Galilee were quite common.  They would pop up out of nowhere and when they did, they were very strong.  Jesus told His disciples that it was time to go over to the other side of the sea and they set sail.  Sure enough, one of those storms came up and Luke says that they were in “great danger” (Luke 8:23, NIV).  Remember that several of the disciples were seasoned fishermen.  They had been on the Sea of Galilee many, many times.  They knew how to handle these situations.  Until today.

Jesus had fallen asleep on the boat.  Did He know about the storm?  Did He have in mind what was going to happen before the storm ever came up?  I don’t know.  What I do know is that Jesus was resting in the boat when all of a sudden the disciples come and wake Him and they were terrified.  These veteran fishermen were scared for their lives!

Master, Master, we’re going to drown! – Luke 8:24 (NIV)

Why did they wake Jesus?  Were they just warning Him?  Did they expect Him to do something about the storm?  Did they want to say goodbye?  Jesus gets up and rebukes the sea and the storm and soon everything was calm.  Then Jesus asks His disciples, “Where is your faith?” (Luke 8:25, NIV).  That’s when the disciples ask a profound question, “Who is this?” (Luke 8:25, NIV).

This is the pivotal question in all of human history.  Who is this Man?  Who is this Jesus?  Let me tell you who He is.  He is the Son of God.  He is the King of kings and Lord of lords.  He is the Savior of the world who died for our sins.  He is a Friend to sinners.  He is a Comforter to the lonely.  He is a Father to the orphan.  He is the One who raises the dead.  He is the One who heals diseases.  He is the One who casts out demons.  He is the One who calms the storms in our lives.  He is Jesus!  There has never been anyone like Him and there will never be again!  He lived and He died and He rose from the grave and He lives forever!  He is coming back one day to do away with the enemy and the curses of sin.  He has prepared a place for His people and we will reign with Him forever and ever in our eternal home.  He is not just a prophet or a good teacher.  He is the Lion and the Lamb.  He is worthy of our praise.  He is worthy of ALL praise!  There is coming a day when every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord!  This will be done either willingly or unwillingly, but it will be done!  For Jesus is the Christ!  He is the Son of the Living God!  He is the Lord and Savior for all humanity!  Hallelujah!  Amen!

Luke 8:22-25 (NIV)

Jesus Calms the Storm

22 One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and set out. 23 As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger.

24 The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!”

He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. 25 “Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples.

In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.”

Jesus Is The Messiah

The followers of John the Baptist were intensely loyal to him.  They had told John of all that had been happening with regard to Jesus.  So John sends two of his disciples to inquire of the Messiah if He was the One that was promised to come or if they should look for another Messiah.  Jesus was performing miraculous signs and exorcisms and He sent John’s followers back with a message.  His message was reminiscent of Isaiah’s prophecy from Isaiah 61.  John would have known what those words meant.  Yes, Jesus was the Messiah!  He had come to give sight to the blind – both physically and spiritually.  He had come to make the lame to walk and the deaf to hear.  He had come to heal the lepers and raise the dead.  He had come to proclaim good news to the poor and everyone else!  Jesus is the promised Messiah!

Jesus then gives an ominous warning:

 Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me. – Luke 7:23 (NIV)

Jesus is saying that there would be those who were looking for a different kind of Messiah.  One who would defeat the Romans and kick them out of the Promised Land God had given to Israel.  One who would put the Jews back on top.  One who would reign from Jerusalem over the whole world.  They wanted a conquering king, not a humble servant.

But Jesus did not come to deal with the Romans.  He came to deal with sin.  Jesus did not come to put the Jews back on top.  He came to teach us that the first will be last and the last will be first.  Jesus did not come to reign from Jerusalem over the whole world.  Jesus came to be the Lord of every heart of every human on earth.  One day, Jesus is going to return as the conquering King of kings and Lord of lords!  We will see Him coming on the clouds in power and glory!  Every eye will see Him and every ear will hear the trumpet call of God!  Every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is LORD to the glory of God the Father!  There will be no doubt on that day that Jesus is the Messiah!

 

Luke 7:18-35 (NIV)

Jesus and John the Baptist

18 John’s disciples told him about all these things. Calling two of them, 19 he sent them to the Lord to ask, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”

20 When the men came to Jesus, they said, “John the Baptist sent us to you to ask, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?’”

21 At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind. 22 So he replied to the messengers, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. 23 Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”

24 After John’s messengers left, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? 25 If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear expensive clothes and indulge in luxury are in palaces. 26 But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 27 This is the one about whom it is written:

“‘I will send my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way before you.’[b]

28 I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”

29 (All the people, even the tax collectors, when they heard Jesus’ words, acknowledged that God’s way was right, because they had been baptized by John. 30 But the Pharisees and the experts in the law rejected God’s purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John.)

31 Jesus went on to say, “To what, then, can I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? 32 They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to each other:

“‘We played the pipe for you,
and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge,
and you did not cry.’

33 For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ 34 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ 35 But wisdom is proved right by all her children.”

More Like Him

Luke’s genealogy of Jesus is different than Matthew’s because Luke was writing to a different audience.  Matthew was primarily writing or a Jewish audience.  His genealogy of Jesus connected Jesus to Abraham, the father of the Jews.  Luke’s genealogy, on the other hand, connects Jesus to all of humanity because Luke traces Jesus’ ancestry back to Adam, the father of us all.  He shows us how Jesus goes all the way back to Adam and then to God the Father.  Jesus is more than our Savior and Lord.  He is our Brother as well.  He was fully human and lived the entire scope of human experience.  He was not some other-worldly being who could not feel or be tempted.  In fact, Scripture says that He was tempted in every way, but He did not sin.  He wept at the death of His good friend, Lazarus.  I imagine that Jesus laughed, too.  I believe that Jesus was full of joy!  He loved and was beloved by many.  He knew hunger and thirst.  He slept and rested.  He prayed and He worshiped.  In many ways, He was a lot like us.  It reminds me of a song by Rich Mullins.  It is called “Boy Like Me, Man Like You.”  The song asks the question of Jesus if He was a boy like me.  Did He do the things that little boys do?  Wrestle with a dog?  Play in the water of a hose?  Make snow angels?  Get scared playing hide and seek?  Then Rich goes on to say that he wants to be a man like Jesus.  My favorite line in the song is: “And if I ever really do grow up, Lord I wanna grow up and be just like You.”  That’s me!  I want to grow up (someday) and be like Jesus!  My prayer is that you want that very same thing!  While I know that I won’t make it, it doesn’t mean I won’t try.  My hope is that I’m growing each day and becoming more like my Savior each day.  Take heart, my friends.  Some days it is 3 steps forward and 2 steps back.  Some days it is 2 steps forward and 3 steps back.  But in all things, we keep pressing on in the same direction – becoming more like the One Who became like one of us.

Luke 3:23-38 (NIV)

23 Now Jesus himself was about thirty years old when he began his ministry. He was the son, so it was thought, of Joseph,

the son of Heli, 24 the son of Matthat,

the son of Levi, the son of Melki,

the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph,

25 the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos,

the son of Nahum, the son of Esli,

the son of Naggai, 26 the son of Maath,

the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein,

the son of Josek, the son of Joda,

27 the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa,

the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel,

the son of Neri, 28 the son of Melki,

the son of Addi, the son of Cosam,

the son of Elmadam, the son of Er,

29 the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer,

the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat,

the son of Levi, 30 the son of Simeon,

the son of Judah, the son of Joseph,

the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim,

31 the son of Melea, the son of Menna,

the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan,

the son of David, 32 the son of Jesse,

the son of Obed, the son of Boaz,

the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon,

33 the son of Amminadab, the son of Ram,

the son of Hezron, the son of Perez,

the son of Judah, 34 the son of Jacob,

the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham,

the son of Terah, the son of Nahor,

35 the son of Serug, the son of Reu,

the son of Peleg, the son of Eber,

the son of Shelah, 36 the son of Cainan,

the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem,

the son of Noah, the son of Lamech,

37 the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch,

the son of Jared, the son of Mahalalel,

the son of Kenan, 38 the son of Enosh,

the son of Seth, the son of Adam,

the son of God.