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Beware the yeast

3/31/2019

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"To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else,Jesus told this parable:" Luke 18:9

Some of Jesus' followers fit into this category. This warning is for us.

What is righteousness?
What it means biblically is "Being justified" not being morally right.

The word that is used in the Bible is Sadaqa which means "the righteousness of grace given solely by God."

“My people, what have I done to you?

    How have I burdened you? Answer me.
4 I brought you up out of Egypt
    and redeemed you from the land of slavery.
I sent Moses to lead you,
    also Aaron and Miriam.
5 My people, remember
    what Balak king of Moab plotted
    and what Balaam son of Beor answered.
Remember your journey from Shittim to Gilgal,
    that you may know the righteous acts of the Lord.” Micah 6:3-5

"Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector." Luke 18:10

This a parable of comparisons. There were 2 men. The Pharisee was held up in society as the righteous one. The tax collectors were considered the lowest of the low in Society. They were Jewish but worked for the Romans, the enemy. Both men were Jewish. Both men went to worship.

"The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’" Luke 18:11-12

Both men separated themselves off from others. The pharisee stood apart because he didn't want to touch an unclean person. He was following his rules. 

Do we do this? We'd say no. How many of us think of our lives as set on a scale? Like we are better or worse than others? Do we think of our salvation this way? There's nothing we can put on the "good" side of the scale without Christ. 

The tax collector separated himself by staying back, just over the threshhold, standing away from everyone else because he didn't feel worthy.

2 times a day were open prayer time at the temple -- Dawn and 3 p.m.

Prayer should be: confession of sins; thanks for bounty received; and petition for help for yourself and others.  This pharisee's "prayer" was spoken out loud. He saw the Law as a garden that needed protecting from others. The law required fasting only once on the annual day of atonement. Pharisees made the law that people should fast two days before and after the day of Atonement. THIS Pharisee said he fasted 2 days a week! The Law said the tithe was to be from food, from things watched over; things that grew from the ground. THIS Pharisee said he tithes everything. This "prayer" was all about him.

“But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ Luke 18:13

The tax collector came humbly. He beat his breast. The only other time in scripture we are told people were beating their breasts was when Jesus was crucified and the sky became dark and there was an earthquake. Also, usually it was just women who beat their breast in prayer.

Jesus is comparing these two men: A and B.
Do we come proud or humble to God?

"God, have mercy on me, a sinner." Here mercy means "Atone for me, a sinner."

It's not about the Law. It's about relationship.

"For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it." James 2:10

On a daily basis we all fall short. Paul talks about this. He was a pharisee of pharisees. He was on fire for the Law. He had everything "right" until he met Jesus.

"What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ
 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law,but that which is through faith in[a] Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith." Philippians 3:8-9

God's righteousness is the only righteousness we will ever have.

Keep this in mind when we pray.

Confession is hard. It means we take personal responsibility. We must grieve over our own sin. 

 “Be careful,”
 Jesus warned them. “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.” Mark 8:15

This is a warning from Jesus to us.

Don't put yourself above anyone. Without Jesus we are nothing. There's no one who knows it all. Rip off the bandaid daily! Acknowledge the blood of Christ. Bring all to Jesus.

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Radical Change

3/24/2019

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"Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signsyou are doing if God were not with him.”
3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.[a]”"
John 3:1-3

Nicodemus was a member of the ruling council, a pharisee and a mature man (he was not young). He was aware of Jesus and he acknowledged Jesus. BUT, he came alone at night. He doesn't acknowledge Jesus in public though. Jesus knows what's really going on inside Nicodemus. He says to him,


Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.[a]” John 3:3

Jesus knew his heart. Nicodemus was wondering what Jesus had that he could add to what he already had? He was hoping for a self-improvement class from him. 

Jesus says He wants all or nothing. Gospel doesn't add to who we are. Gospel gets rid of who we are and makes us new creatures. It transforms us. Tear down and start over. We can't just add Jesus to our ready-made life. Jesus must become our life. 

Am I Nicodemus? Am I trying to do it my way rather than Jesus' way?


 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” John 3:4

"Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit." John 3:5

Water is the justification, the forgiveness of our sins. Can't have the Spirit without repentance.

"I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impuritiesand from all your idols.
 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh." Ezekiel 36:25-26

Nicodemus didn't think he needed new birth.


"Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit[a] gives birth to spirit." John 3:6

Jesus didn't give Nicodemus easy answers. He didn't give him steps to take to be saved. 

"You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You[a]must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”[b]" John 3:7-8

You can't give yourself new birth. Nicodemus was probably offended by this point.


“How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.10 “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? 11 Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. 12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?" John 3:9-12

Are you, am I, leaning on our own understanding?

 "one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man.[a] 14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,[b] 15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”" John 3:13-15

God's message is confrontational. Nicodemus would have got this reference. The people who were bitten by the snakes had to look to the snake, to the representation of their own sin, to be saved. Just like we do with Jesus -- who became our sin on the cross.


"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

We did nothing to deserve salvation. Jesus struck Paul blind so Paul could see. Pharisees weren't made overnight. We are nothing without Him. Are you part of the radical change or are you a pharisee? The Cross is uncomfortable. Carrying the cross is uncomfortable. If it isn't, then something's wrong.
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Watch Your Back

3/17/2019

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“Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. 35 For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. 36 Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.” Luke 21:34-36

We can't look to the world for guidance.

The world creeps in. 

Christ is returning. He is coming back. 

What do we do with our days.


"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," Romans 3:23

All this stuff happens slowly: addictions. We have a finite amount of time in our day. Am I pushing God out?

Starts with a little slip, then a slide. Watch your back If you feel yourself sliding, stop. If we are in the world, it will affect us. They want to call the Bible hate speech (in California). All of this can harden our hearts. Is the world super alive to us and God dead to us? 


"The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God." Galatians 5:19-21

Is my heart hardened toward others? Seek the lost. Do as I do. If we're pushing God out we are letting the world in.

"Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father[a] is not in them.
 16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.17 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever." 1 John 2:15-17

If you water down the gospel you will lead people astray So easy to get comfortable with the things of the world. We've allowed the world to influence us.

We need to reset our spiritual life.  Have we tried turning off the world in our lives?

"Hear the word of the Lord, you Israelites,

    because the Lord has a charge to bring
    against you who live in the land:
“There is no faithfulness, no love,
    no acknowledgment of God in the land.
2 There is only cursing,[a] lying and murder,
    stealing and adultery;
they break all bounds,
    and bloodshed follows bloodshed." Hosea 4:1-2

Look for signs of life!

​1. Open eyes -- Look for God. He is everywhere.


"For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse." Romans 1:20

2. Sense of urgency

As we get closer to the end time will go faster. 


"Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near." Revelation 1:3

3. Increase in the presence of God.

"You make known to me the path of life;

    you will fill me with joy in your presence,
    with eternal pleasures at your right hand." Psalm 16:11

If we don't spend enough time in the presence of God, standing before Him will be scary. Heaven is being the presence of God. We gotta prepare to go home. Every day prepare to go home.

4. Increase in praise.


"Praise the Lord.[a]
Praise the Lord from the heavens;
    praise him in the heights above.
2 Praise him, all his angels;
    praise him, all his heavenly hosts." Psalm 148:1-2

5. Compassion Intensifies.


"Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble." 1 Peter 3:8

"As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it 42 and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes." Luke 19:41-42

When we harden ourselves we lose our compassion for others and separate ourselves from God. If God hadn't intervened, where would we be? 

There are times to look at our past -- look for God there and leave it alone.

There are times to look at our present -- look for God and live.

There are times to look to our future -- look for God.

6. Alive in Christ = dead to the world.


"In the same way, count yourselves dead to sinbut alive to God in Christ Jesus." Romans 6:11


"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." Galatians 2:20

Read His word.
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The Fig Tree

3/10/2019

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The story of Jesus cursing the poor fig tree has always bothered me a bit. The scripture says it wasn't the season for fruit so I thought it wasn't really the fig tree's fault it didn't have fruit. This talk has made me feel a whole lot better about this story. If you ever read something in scripture that bothers you do some research. God is good all the time. If we think something is wrong that He does, it is usually because we don't understan the entire situation.

I hope you enjoy this recording Shannon and I made called "The Fig Tree."
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The Syrophoenician Woman

3/3/2019

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Hello Lovely People! We recorded the sermon discussion from our kitchen table this morning. It is about 25 minutes long, and I think you'll find it a great listen! Shannon does most of the talking,but Jane gets to share some and they discuss a few points about this story of the Syrophoenician Woman that probably has bothered many believers for several years. Jesus sounds so harsh in his conversation with her, but the fact is is that He isn't. He is doing a lot in this conversation with the woman that most of us probably had no idea He was doing.

This conversation made me feel a whole lot better about this passage and it taught me more about Jesus and living the faith life. It even touches on caregiving (which is a big part of my life. This is Jane writing). 

So, I hope you take time to listen to this. Let us know what you think. Shannon and I sure enjoyed recording this. We are seriously thinking about starting a podcast this summer about Bible topics because it is a lot of fun. 

Click on the yotube link below to listen to our discussion. Please share with others and if you are so inclined, tell us what you think. 
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