Musings from My Sun Porch

Tag: jesus

  • Lessons from the Gospel of Luke: Faith in Action

    Read Luke 9:1 – 45

    Chapter 9 of Luke’s Gospel raises a whole host of questions, such as:

    • What was Jesus doing while His disciples were out preaching?
    • Why was Herod concerned with who Jesus was, and why did he try to see Him?
    • What did Jesus mean in verse 27 about some not dying before seeing the Kingdom of God?
    • What did Jesus, Moses, and Elijah talk about at the Transfiguration, and how did the three disciples keep from telling anyone about it?

    Those are great questions, and I encourage you to study to find the answers.  However, I think this chapter raises other questions which require our immediate attention.

    • Before sending His disciples on mission, why did He tell them to “Take nothing for the journey…” (vs.3), and “If people do not welcome you, shake the dust off your feet…” (vs. 5)? Before He sent them out, He gave them power and authority, equipping them for the tasks that lay before them.  Their mission was twofold:   He wanted them to learn to depend solely on God for everything they needed; and He wanted to remind them that their job was to present the message.  It was, and is, the hearer’s responsibility to accept the message, and if they refused, it was time to move on to someone who would hear and respond favorably. Today, He is still calling us to that same “mission”, and through the Holy Spirit living in us, He also provides all that we need to succeed.  Like the disciples, we must learn to trust Him completely as we strive to complete the mission the disciples began.
    • Jesus asked His disciples, “Who do the crowds say I am?” (Luke 9:18b, NIV84), and they quickly responded with several ideas.  Then, He asked the more important question, “Who do you say I am?” (Luke 9:20a, NIV84). He still asks us that same question today, and each of us is responsible for our own answer.  It doesn’t matter what our parents or friends believe.  We must decide for ourselves who Jesus is and what He means to our lives.

    Those are just two significant questions that Luke raises in chapter 9.  Check back next week for a few more observations.

  • Lessons from the Gospel of Luke: Faith in Action

    Read Luke 8

    In Chapter 8, Luke explains the challenges every farmer faces.  Good soil and surrounding conditions often determine whether the farmer’s crop succeeds or fails. The same is true with the Gospel message. 

    In the parable of the Sower, Jesus describes four types of soil, each representative of those who receive the Gospel message. 

    • Some seed fell on a path where it was trampled, and the birds ate it.  Jesus explained that those were the “… ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts…” (Luke 8:12 NIV84).
    • Seeds also fell on rocky ground, where they failed to take root.  Those hearers first received the Gospel with joy, “… but in time of testing they fall away” (Luke 8:13b NIV84).
    • A Third group of seeds fell among thorns, which ultimately choked out the plants.  Those hearers “… are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature” (Luke 8:14b NIV84).
    • The last group of seeds fell on good soil and yielded a great crop.  These represent those “… who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop” (Luke 8:15b NIV84).

    Note that Jesus’ focus in this parable is on the seed, representing the hearer, and not on the farmer, representing the messenger.  After telling the parable, Jesus yelled, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear” (Luke 8:8b NIV84). His point was that the responsibility for accepting the Gospel message and growing in Christ is on the recipient, not the messenger.  The messenger’s responsibility, like that of the farmer, is to plant the seed!

    However, planting cannot be the end of our responsibility.  As the Church of Christ, we should seek to prepare new believers for the attacks of Satan that will surely come when they accept Christ.  Further, we should walk with them to build a firm foundation in Christ and give them the support and encouragement they will need to withstand the worries and troubles life brings.

    The “seeds” we plant will not grow and produce a bountiful crop for Jesus unless we nurture them and help them to grow as true disciples of Jesus. Disciple-making does not end when the message is planted.  That’s only the beginning!

  • Lessons from the Gospel of Luke: Faith in Action

    Read Luke 6

    In Luke 6, Jesus proclaimed that He was “Lord of the Sabbath” (Luke 6:5 NIV84), thus identifying Himself as the Creator God.  He followed that statement with a miraculous healing, adding to the religious leaders’ desire to be rid of Him.  He also spent time blessing His followers and teaching them how to interact with their fellowman.

    Perhaps the most important thing He did in this brief snapshot of His life was to designate or appoint His apostles.  All those who accept Christ as the Son of God and as Lord of their lives become His disciples with the mission of spreading His Word.  However, only the twelve whom He specifically appointed became Apostles, His messengers.

    To us, this was probably a strange group of men to be chosen for such important tasks of not only proclaiming His message but also building the foundation of His Church.  To us, they are an unlikely group of misfits, and I doubt we would have chosen any of them if it were left up to us. 

    There was Peter, the “bull in the China shop” kind of guy who didn’t know how to be anything other than “over the top” on any cause.  He was a fisherman by trade but based on some of his actions (like chopping off the man’s ear when Christ was arrested), he was probably somewhat of a loudmouth and maybe even a bully.  Still, he was the man God chose to preach the first sermon on the day of Pentecost. 

    Jesus called James and John the “sons of thunder,” which says a lot about their personalities. Nathanael (a/k/a Bartholomew) thought nothing good could come from Nazareth, Jesus’ hometown.  Matthew was a tax collector, despised by the Jews, and Simon was a Zealot who wanted to overthrow the Roman rulers.  Added to the group were Andrew, Peter’s brother, Philip, Thomas, James, son of Alphaeus, and Judas, son of James. Finally, there was Judas Iscariot, “who became a traitor” (Luke 6:16 NIV84).    

    This was quite a group that Jesus assembled—ordinary men with ordinary lives.  Yet, when the Holy Spirit came upon them after Christ ascended back into heaven, eleven of these men turned the world upside down.  They were ordinary men doing extraordinary things through the power of the Holy Spirit. Christ didn’t choose them because they were well-educated, or rich, or powerful—all the things we might consider when choosing leaders.  He chose them because they were teachable and willing to learn. 

    Jesus’ choice of these men is a reminder to each of us that He can use anyone in His Kingdom work, if we are available and willing to learn.  The power of the Holy Spirit living in us is more than enough to enable us to carry out Christ’s mission.  Those ordinary men were willing to follow Him anywhere.  The question is: Are we willing?

  • Lessons from the Gospel of Luke: Faith in Action

    Read Chapter 5

    The fifth chapter of Luke’s Gospel gives us two incredible accounts from Jesus’ life.

    First, He has an encounter with Peter, James, and John.  These boys, fishermen by trade, had spent the entire night fishing without catching anything.  Then, as they washed their nets, Jesus commandeered one of their boats and used it as a platform for teaching. When He finished, He told Peter to go farther out on the water to put out their nets.  The guys knew the best fishing was at night, and even then, it was not always successful.  They had spent a long night with nothing to show for it, and then Jesus told them to try again.  Peter gently pushed back against Jesus’ instructions, but ultimately, he said, “… because you say so, I will let down the nets” (Luke 5:5b NIV84).   He followed Jesus’ instructions, and soon they had so many fish that the boats almost sank.

    Every time I read of Simon Peter’s obedience, despite the incredibility of Jesus’ instructions, I can’t help but wonder, “What has Jesus called me to do that I have resisted?”  Jesus often calls us out of our comfort zone to do things that may seem impossible and even nonsensical to our human minds.  We are then left with the same decision that Peter had to make.  Will we obey even if the challenge seems impossible, or will we walk away? Unfortunately, I’ve done both, but I have found that Peter’s answer is far better in every circumstance: “Because You said so, I will do it!”

    In another encounter, Jesus was again teaching, and many came to be healed by Him. Several men who had a paralyzed friend tried to take him to Jesus for healing, but there was such a large crowd in and around the house where Jesus was that they could not get through.  Then, they came up with an ingenious idea.  They carried him to the roof of the house, removed some of the roof tiles, and lowered their friend through the roof right in front of Jesus. I’m not sure what the homeowner thought, but Jesus saw the friends’ faith, and it was that faith that caused Jesus to say, “… ‘Friend, your sins are forgiven’” (Luke 5:20b, NIV84).

    From this encounter, we should never assume that our faith can literally save someone else, but our faith may have such an impact on others that they will be moved to make Jesus Lord of their lives.  These friends believed that Jesus could heal their friend, and they did everything possible to get him to Jesus.  That leaves us with the question: what are we doing to bring our friends to Jesus?  As Christians, what we say, how we act, and the love we show impact the people around us—especially family and friends.  Is there a roof you need to remove so that your loved one can draw closer to Christ?  What are you willing to risk to save someone else for all eternity?

  • Lessons from the Gospel of Luke: Faith in Action

    Read Luke 4

    As Jesus began His earthly ministry and mission, Luke recounts several key events in chapter 4 of his Gospel.  He begins by telling us about Jesus’ temptation by Satan.  Luke’s account focuses on Jesus’ connection with His Father.

    • In verse 1, he tells us that Jesus was “full of the Holy Spirit,” a reminder to each of us that we all need the power of the Holy Spirit to accomplish anything for God.
    • Then, Luke lets us know that Jesus was also fasting during that period.  “He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry” (Luke 4:2b NIV84). Jesus was both God and man, so like us, not eating for 40 days creates not just extreme hunger, but also weakness.  It is in those times of weakness that Satan is more likely to attack, and he certainly took full advantage of Jesus’ weakness. Unlike us, Jesus didn’t give in to the temptation.  Why?  First, because He had the power of the Holy Spirit, but also because He knew and relied on God’s Word.  Each of His responses to Satan’s temptations was based on Holy Scripture, reminding us of how important it is to know the Word!
    • Next, we find Jesus returning to Galilee “in the power of the Spirit” (Luke 4:14a NIV84). He was ready to begin teaching the people, and He did so with the Holy Spirit’s help.  Those who teach must rely on the power of the Spirit if they are to teach the Word in power and in truth!
    • After Jesus spent His time teaching, healing, and casting out demons, Luke tells us how He began the next day of His ministry.  “At daybreak Jesus went out to a solitary place” (Luke 4:42a NIV84).  He was God! Still, He sought quiet time with His Father. 

    This brief look at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry reminds us that we can do nothing without the power of the Holy Spirit, the strength of God’s Holy Word, and our quiet time with our Father.  Prayer, fasting, reading, and memorizing Scripture are essential not just to a Christian’s walk with God, but also to them having the strength to fulfill the mission that He gave us.  You can tell others only if you first trust and depend on God’s power.  That requires spending time with Him.  Don’t neglect prayer or Scripture reading.  Jesus didn’t, and if it was important to Him, it certainly should be important to us!

  • Lessons from the Gospel of Luke: Faith in Action

    Read Luke 3

    Chapter 2 of Luke’s Gospel ends with Mary and Joseph frantically searching for their pre-teen son, who is the Son of God.  I can’t imagine the panic they must have felt!  Ultimately, they found Him right where you would expect Him to be—in the Temple. 

    For the next 18 years (approximately), the Scripture is silent concerning the events of Jesus’ life.  I’m sure many of us often wonder what Jesus was like as a child and as a teenager, but that information wasn’t important to His life work, so other than this encounter at the Temple, we know nothing.

    Then, as the years pass, we are reintroduced to Jesus’ cousin, John the Baptist—the voice crying in the wilderness.  John preached repentance as he prepared the way for the One whose sandals he was not worthy to untie (Luke 3:16). His message included instructions to share with the needy, do your job well and fairly, and be content with what you have.  For all his efforts, John was ultimately imprisoned by Herod and eventually killed.

    Baptism was a key part of John’s ministry, and Christ was only one of the many whom he baptized, although John did so reluctantly.  Jesus’ ministry began that day, and the Trinity confirmed both His identity and His mission. “… the Holy Spirit descended on Him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, ‘… You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased’” (Luke 3:22b NIV84).

    Are there life lessons for us in Luke 3?  I think there are at least three.

    • Don’t be afraid to speak out against sin, regardless of the consequences.  We live in an age where it’s easier to remain silent than to speak the Truth.  We need boldness like John, even if it costs us our “heads”.
    • John made it very clear that we are expected to “produce fruit” in our lives (Luke 3:8).  We need to examine ourselves to see if there is sincere change in our lives, and we can’t produce fruit without staying connected to the Vine.
    • Jesus’ life teaches us the patience of waiting.  Jesus very clearly knew His role at age 12 when He conversed with the Religious Leaders, to their amazement.  Yet, He had to wait another 18 years until God’s perfect timing for His mission was revealed.  I’m not good at waiting, but I am quite confident that “wait” is often the message we hear from God.  Remember His timing is always perfect, so be patient!  Stay faithful, keep doing what you are doing, and rest in the assurance that He will direct your paths when His timing is perfect.

  • The Remedy for an Out-of-Control Life

    “My life is out of control!”  How many times have you said those words or at least thought them?  I’ve had many of those days throughout my life, and even now, being retired is not without its challenges.  There are always the routines of life, such as doing laundry, cleaning house, and putting food on the table.  Those things alone can be exhausting, but when we add family activities, Bible studies, and serving opportunities, our lives seem out of control. 

    Jesus’ disciples felt that same kind of stress. “The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught.  Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat…” (Mark 6:30 – 31a NIV84). Did you catch that?  Their lives were so out of control that they didn’t even have time to eat!  Fortunately, Christ had the solution. “…he said to them, ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.’ So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place” (Mark 6:31b – 32 NIV84).

    Out-of-control lives are often the norm in our fast-paced world.  The question is, how will we handle the stress that life brings?  Unfortunately, our sinful nature often evokes grumbling and complaining, just as the Israelites did in the desert (Numbers 14:26, 27), or we might throw a “pity party” as Elijah did (I Kings 19:1 – 4). However, Christ reminds us that there is a better solution.

    First and foremost, we must make time to spend with our Savior.  Even Jesus sought time with His Heavenly Father (Mark 1:35).  How much more important is it for us to spend time with our Father? The Scripture reminds us that “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak… those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint” (Isaiah 40:29, 31 NIV84).  Time with Jesus renews us.

    In addition to our quiet time with our Savior, we also need rest.  Jesus called the disciples to a quiet place to get some rest. God set the pattern when He rested on the seventh day of His creation (Genesis 2:2).  Throughout Scripture, He emphasized the need for rest.  The Sabbath, while primarily a day of worship, was also a day of rest.  He ordered the Israelites to give the land a year of rest (Leviticus 25:5), and He promised to give them rest (Exodus 33:14).  Jesus renewed that promise in Matthew 11:28. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (NIV84).

    The next time you feel the walls closing in or your life spinning out of control, spend some time with your Savior and give your body some much-needed rest.  The Master will help you put things back in perspective.

    Mark 6:30 – 32; Matthew 11:28 – 30

  • The Faithfulness of God

    We often talk about our faith, the trust we have in our God and Savior.  We remember the faith of those who have gone before us and those who have instilled that same faith in us.  Faith and faithfulness are key attributes of our life in Christ.  However, we sometimes overlook our Father’s faithfulness.  We serve a faithful God!

    “Because of the Lord’s great love, we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22, 23 NIV84).

    “O Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done marvelous things, things planned long ago” (Isaiah 25:1 NIV84).

    “For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does” (Psalm 33:4 NIV84).

    “But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one” (II Thessalonians 3:3 NIV84).

    “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (I John 1:9 NIV84).

    “If we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself” (II Timothy 2:13 NIV84).

    “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:23 NIV84).

    “God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful (I Corinthians 1:9 NIV84).

    I can testify that my God is faithful.  He has walked with me through some of the most difficult challenges of my life.  Not only did He bring me through those trials, but He made me stronger in my faith and in my faithfulness to Him.  We can depend on His presence in our lives.  We can trust His promises.  We can be assured that the hope we have in Him is real.  He is faithful! The only question is: will we be faithful to Him?

  • Improving Our Prayer Life

    Last weekend, I attended a Prayer Conference, and today I would like to share some of the things that I learned.

    • Your prayer life will look different as you mature spiritually.  Just as we relate to people differently as we grow, we will also relate to God differently.
    • The foundation for a vibrant prayer life is understanding that God is our Father.  It is a love relationship, and answers to our prayers are our Father’s personal expression of His love for us.
    • Good Fathers both love and hold their children accountable.  Though God loves us, we must also “fear” Him, as our fear is an acknowledgment of God as the authority over our lives.  He is a good Father, and prayer is how we express our understanding of Him. 
    • Rejoice in the Lord! We should be so enthralled with our Father that we constantly look for reasons to give Him thanks.
    • Confession and repentance should be “God-focused.”  If our emphasis is on our guilt, we are “me-focused.”  Being sorry that we have grieved our Father moves us toward a “God-focused” repentance.
    • Remember that Jesus answered every crazy question the Disciples asked.  His answers were not always what they wanted, but He answered.  He will answer us also! His answers will be such that we can understand who He is and what His purpose is.
    • Our God, who hears our requests, is present, all-powerful, all-knowing, and perfectly good!
    • We need to pray for one another.  When we pray together and God answers our requests, it creates a community of gratitude.  You cannot see God move at the level you desire unless you are praying with and for others.
    • Working with God is essential to a relationship with Him.  God answers at any level of spiritual maturity, but power in prayer occurs when we work with our Father in the assignments He gives us.
    • Working with God can change the way we pray, as it changes our outlook as we consider what we can do for Him.  It also causes us to listen more, and we are more likely to hear what God is saying and accept His answer. 

    I hope this message will help each of us to have a more vibrant and powerful prayer life.

  • Give Thanks!

    “Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth, worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.  Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations” (Psalm 100 NIV84).

    Yesterday, by government proclamation, we celebrated Thanksgiving Day.  For most of us, it was a day of fellowship with family and friends and a time of gorging ourselves on all our favorite family dishes, including the desserts.  Hopefully, it included a Thanksgiving prayer somewhere along the way.

    Yet, I can’t help but wonder how many of us sincerely entered God’s presence with thanksgiving. How many of us took the time to praise His Holy Name and consider the blessings in our lives?

    I ask those questions of myself as well, so I want to take a moment and mention just a few of the ways that God has blessed me.

    I have a family who loves me and cares for me.  They bring joy into my life in so many ways. They are also a tremendous help to me.

    I have three very special friends who make me laugh, encourage me, and keep me accountable.  They have helped me grow so much.

    I have so many other friends who share my love for God’s Word.  They have taught me so much as we study together.  They also bring laughter and fellowship, which we all need.

    I have great neighbors who are Christ followers and who look out for each other.

    I have been blessed with great health despite my age, and I count that as a blessing from God every day.

    I have found renewed purpose in life by using the talents and abilities that God has given me to serve Him.

    This list could go on and on, but I think you will get the picture.  Maybe it’s time that you start your own list.  Count your blessings and see what God has done! 

    I Thessalonians 5:18

  • Continuing the Battle for Christ – Week 9

    How should we respond to persecution?

    I recently heard a speaker ask this question: “What if Joseph had been released from Pharaoh’s prison? What if he wasn’t there when Pharaoh had a dream that needed interpretation?” (Genesis 39:1 – 41:41).

    That same thought applies to our persecuted brothers and sisters.  “… he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live” (Acts 17:26b NIV84). God has them there for a reason.  Those who are persecuted are in unique positions to witness for Christ, often to those who have never heard the name of Jesus.  Pray that they will be bold in their witness so that many of their persecutors may be won to Christ!     

    How should we pray for the lost?

    “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness.  We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express” (Romans 8:26 NIV84).

    Too often, we don’t know how or what to pray for those we love who are lost.  Remember that the Holy Spirit can intercede on their behalf.  Ask Him to show you how and when to speak Truth, and to soften the hearts and open the ears of those who need to hear and accept the Truth.

    Leadership Prayer Focus This Week: State Senators

    “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established.  The authorities that exist have been established by God” (Romans 13:1 NIV84).

    Together with the State Representatives, our State Senators govern the State.  They enact laws, create state budgets, and have the power of veto over the Governor’s actions.

    Pray that: They will recognize that they serve at God’s pleasure, not their own.

    They will turn away from political expediency and instead determine what is best for all their constituents.

    They will be fiscally responsible.

    They will serve with honesty and integrity.

    For all our leaders, pray that if they do not already know Christ, they will accept Him as Lord.  For those who do know Christ, pray that they will stand firm on His Truth and His Word, never compromising it or minimizing it.

    “Pray continuously” (I Thessalonians 5:17 NIV84)

  • One Door

    A new grocery store recently opened in my neighborhood.  I’ve been told that it’s the largest of its kind in the United States.  I can’t confirm that, but I do know that you can easily get your steps in if you try walking up and down every aisle in the store.

     This morning, as I was checking out, a lady who had checked out before me stopped in the aisle, looking both left and right, obviously confused.  Finally, she said to the cashier, “Where is the door?”  At first, that sounds like a stupid question, but because this store is laid out differently than most, it wasn’t stupid at all.  Most stores of this kind have two doors.  One leads to one side of the store, and the other is at the exact opposite side of the store.  This new grocery store has two doors, but they both lead to the same area of the store, effectively creating one door.  Thus, the cashier’s response to the lady’s question was, “It’s that way,” pointing in the direction of the door, and then adding, “There’s only one door.” Confusing though that might be, it was accurate.  There is only one way in and out of that store

     As I thought about that this afternoon, I thought, “That’s just like heaven.”  With all the religions in the world today, we get overwhelmed with all the different ideas of how we might get to heaven. Some people believe they can reach heaven by being good.  The only problem is that no one is good.  The Scripture tells us clearly that “…all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23 NIV84).

     Some religions think that they must make great sacrifices to appease their gods.  However, Christianity is the only religion where God sacrificed Himself for His people.  Others believe that they will be reincarnated as a different person, based on how they lived their life. 

    Unfortunately for all these misguided souls, they are all wrong. The truth is that there is only one door to eternal life, and that door is Christ!  Jesus said, “I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved” (John 10:9a NIV84).  Later, He also said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No man comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6 NIV84).  Jesus is preparing a place for His people, and He welcomes all who believe. 

    Like the grocery store that only has one door, heaven only has one door.  Jesus is that door, and He anxiously waits to invite each of us to walk through.  All He asks is that we believe that He is the Son of God and our Savior.  It doesn’t get much easier than that.

    John 3:16

    John 10:9

    John 14:6