Bible in 90 Days – Day 69

Bible in 90 Days – Day 69

Matthew 5-15

Words

Matthew 12:36 Careless: Lazy, shunning the labor they ought to perform, from which no profit is derived although they can and ought to be productive. Purely temporal

Wonders

Matthew 7:6 Pearls before swine. I need to study up on this some more.

Principles

Matthew 7:14 This will not be an easy journey.

Matthew 7:25 The one who acted on His words didn't fall in adversity because the Rock was the foundation. Acting on His words = Built on. Not just thinking about or reading His words, but doing them.

Matthew 8:26 Faith leaves no room for fear.

Matthew 9:36 He felt compassion on them because they were weary and worn out, like sheep without a shepherd:
Without Jesus, our Rest, we do get worn out.

Hugs

Matthew 8:17 "He took up our infirmities and bore our diseases." (See also Isaiah 53:4)

Matthew 9:36 He felt compassion on them because they were weary and worn out.

Mirror

Matthew 10:34-37 We must not idolize relationships over Christ

Matthew 12:36 People will have to account for every careless word that they speak (see careless, above)

Matthew 6:9 Matthew 5:23-24, Matthew 15:8-9 On worship vs. tainted worship. How do we hallow God's name in the present day? With pure and untainted worship (See Malachi 1:6-11, Malachi 3:16)

Prayer

Matthew 6:5-15 Prayer! Don't babble. Pray in secret. Your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.
Matthew 15:21-28 Persistence in Prayer

Acceptance – 3

Text: Romans 12:9-21, Psalm 34:13-15, Romans 14:19

Last session we talked about acceptance as in “not judging”, or, the absence of a negative behavior. Today, Id like for us to look at constructively and consciously “accepting” others. In other words, positive action.

We’re still in Romans today, but we’ll be a page or two farther back. Please read Romans 12:9-10.

If you read it in the King James Version, you would have encountered the word dissimulation, which means hypocrisy.

In other words, don’t just pretend to love your neighbor… actually do it! Put the others’ needs and desires ahead of your own (vs 10).

Psalm 34:14 “Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it.” NLT

Actively seek peace in your relationships.  Sometimes it may take some doing, but when we seek the Lord, and put others first, this will come a whole lot easier. See in the next verse how following Christ’s example teaches us how to be sensitive of others?

Q: In Psalm 34:15 & 17, how does the Lord respond when we cry out?

Q: In Psalm 34:15, is God sensitive to the needs of others who are below Him?

Read 1 Timothy 1:5.

Q: In 1 Timothy 1:5, what type of heart are we to love with?

How can we achieve love from a pure heart toward people we would really rather steer clear of?

Christ.

The only ever answer to that is Christ. Remember what He says in Matthew 19:26:

Matthew 19:26 “But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” NKJV

He will give you the strength and opportunity to love up on those people. He wants us to accept, and in doing so, to love others. Jump back a few verses to Matthew 19:19.

Q: How much are we to love others?

As much as we love ourselves.

If you’re like most, that’s an awful lot.

And it can be really hard to love some people sometimes. Isn’t it interesting that it is sometimes harder to accept people who hurt us, even though Christ – who was hurt by them even more badly – readily accepts, even before they ask? (Romans 5:8)

Baby steps. Prayer and baby steps out of the norm.

So what are some steps to take in the process?

We’ve already looked at some in the past few sessions. One of the baby steps toward actively reaching out and accepting others is forgiving them. Whether or not they ask. That is a big way to reach out.

Ephesians 4:32 “Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you." NASB

And then, back in Romans 14 again – read verse 19:

Romans 14:19 “So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up.” NLT

I see two steps here, do you?

Q: What are the two steps?

Seek peace.

Edify one another.

Seek peace! Or, in the KJV, “follow after the things which make for peace.”

Build them up! Edify one another.

Note: this is not the same word as 1 Thessalonians 5:11 ‘edify’ which means to build. This edify means foundation; confirmation.

DO: Think and pray about what ‘seeking peace’ might look like for you. Write down some possibilities.

DO: Right below that, make a list of ways to edify them.

You may find, as I did, that the first list led to the other, and they sortof morphed in the middle.

Let’s take a moment to look through some other verses on the matter.

Ephesians 4:12-13, 29 “Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ… Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.’” NLT

2 Corinthians 12:19b “…We speak before God in Christ. But we do all things, beloved, for your edification.” NKJV

Romans 12:18 “If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.” NASB

Romans 15:2 “Each of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to his edification.” NASB

If you haven’t already, please read the remainder of our text from Romans: Romans 12:9-21.

This is what your list should be looking like – your list on how to edify. Did you have to add to yours a little? I did. From Romans 12, especially.

Let all things be done for edifying.

Pray.

Bless them.

Rejoice with them.

Be humble.

Don’t seek revenge.

Seek peace (there it is again!)

Feed.

Give drink.

Be overcome with good.

And lastly, because it sums it up so well, look at Ephesians 4:29, 4:12-13.

Speak good. Speak grace.

Edify until there is true unity and harmony among you.

Until you measure up to Christ.

Acceptance - 2

Open your Bible back up to Romans. This is such a rich book; I love it. Paul speaks with such no-nonsense instruction, yet with a note of understanding as a fellow Christian – a fellow human.

Today we look at Romans 14:1-12, 5:1-13

Romans 14:8-9 “If we live, it’s to honor the Lord. And if we die, it’s to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. 9 Christ died and rose again for this very purpose—to be Lord both of the living and of the dead.” NLT

Romans 14:1 “Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don’t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong.” NLT

Welcome and accept those who are weaker than others. Do not just write them off as less than yourself. We are on the same side and it is not our own side. I ask, along with Paul:

Romans 14:10a “So why do you condemn another believer? Why do you look down on another believer?...”

Why do you, human, redeemed you, pass judgment on your brother?

All of us, pilgrims on this journey, are fallen, and did not have the strength to pick ourselves up – why then do we who were lifted, feel we have the right to sneer? To boast? To judge?

We are here, we were redeemed – all for one reason.

Q: What was that reason, according to 14:11, 15:6, 9-11?

To glorify who?

Nor ourselves, certainly.

God! To give glory to God!

And why then do we vie for higher levels among one another? I submit that the higher we try to raise ourselves, the less glory we give God, and the less we fulfill our given purpose.

Matthew 19:30 “But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then.” NLT

We nit-pick and sneer over trivial things, hurting each other, breaking God’s heart and missing the point.

Q: Be honest. Is there someone you look down on, or have trouble accepting? (Not including names here, publicly. That’s for your personal journal only.)

Q: Look at why that is. It is probably different for each person on your list. Mine looks a bit like this:

She hurt me.

Poor people skills

I don’t agree with her theology

She hurt someone I care about

Immature

Now take a look at Romans 14:4

Romans 14:4 “Who are you to condemn someone else’s servants? Their own master will judge whether they stand or fall. And with the Lord’s help, they will stand and receive his approval.” NLT

Can we lay aside our victim-mentality for a moment and look at those people on our list as children of our God? Someone for whom Christ died (verse 15), who share our Abba Father?

Repeat after me: “It’s not about me.”

Write it in big letters in your journal if that helps.

Read verses 7-9. We are here not for ourselves, but for Christ, and His work. And we can do that because Christ died and rose again for that to happen. Look with me at the Greek roots of Lord in verses 8-9.

Whether we live or die (or get hurt or offended, yes?) we are God’s. For this reason Christ came that He might be Lord of us.

Verse 8 Lord = God (Greek word kyrios: he to whom a person or thing belongs, the possessor and disposer of a thing)source

Verse 9 Lord = to be lord of(Greek word kyrieuō: to be lord of, to rule, have dominion over; to exercise influence upon, to have power over)source

Do you see the difference? He is to be the lord of our lives – the center of our focus, not ourselves.

So when we put Him at the center, and ourselves as merely one more arrow pointing to Him, it doesn’t matter so much now what the other arrows are doing. Are you following me?

And if those other arrows are doing something that hurts you, or that you don’t agree with, let God take care of it, okay?

DO: Write out Romans 14:12.

Romans 14:12-13 “So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God. Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this—not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother’s way.” NASB

Let’s aim for harmony and stop picking at one another (Romans 14:19). Don’t tear apart God’s work over these things. You are responsible for you. You were commanded (Romans 15:7) to accept one another. Anything less is sin.

We ought to get off our own high horse and view ourselves as Christ did: as a servant. One not concerned over insults and injuries to ourselves, but focusing on our central focus – God.

Romans 15:3 “For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me.” NASB

DO: Today, take the list you made and spend some time in prayer over your relationships with each one of those people; handing your hurts over to God, because ultimately they were directed at Him anyway (Romans 15:3).

1 Peter 5:7 “Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” NKJV

Ask God to help I healing and viewing His children as He views them. As people who He died for.

Set Free 11 - On Surrendering Control

Text: Matthew 6:25-24, Matthew 7:7-11

It’s so so difficult to surrender control to God. Of anything; decisions, outcome, relationships, circumstance… you name it.

So, what does the Bible have to say on the matter? We know God loves humility, and we know He rewards those who seek Him.

James 4:6b “…“God opposes the proud but favors the humble.” NLT

Also seen in Proverbs 3:34 and 1 Peter 5:5

Hebrews 11:6 “And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.” NLT emphasis mine

But when it gets down to the day-to-day, the nitty gritty of a situation, our emotions get in the way, and then our humanness prevents us from actually surrendering control.

Anybody like me in that? It’s a whole lot easier to know we need to give it over to God, and say we’re giving it over to God… even pray that we’re giving it over to God than it is to really hand it over. Really, truly rest in God’s decisions on the matter, rest in His outcome.

It’s a trust issue. When we want control over a situation, or person, or whatever, what our heart is saying is “God, I don’t really trust that you’ll do what’s best here.” Or even “God, I love him more than you do, so I’m gonna do this my way, to make sure this turns out right.”

How many times must God sigh and watch us in this foolishness. We are foolish sometimes. Of course God loves us and our loved ones more than we will ever be able to comprehend. And of course God’s wisdom far surpasses our own. Always. But why do we still want to hold on so tight?
It’s lack of trust. That maybe somehow God’s gonna mess it up.

Am I right?

Q: What are some areas in your life you have had trouble giving over to God?

Q: What are the biggest ones right now that you’re holding the tightest to?

Don’t you think it’d be more refreshing to just let God work? I’m not saying we sit and be spiritual couch potatoes, but really think about God, the God of no limits, and the God with the ultimate imagination – how much greater He could orchestrate an outcome than we could?

Romans 11:33 “Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways!” NLT

James 1:17 “Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.” NASB

And from our text:

Matthew 7:11 “So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him?” NLT

Practically, though, what does that mean for our day to day?

Good question. This is one that I believe many of us who have control-freak tendencies would like to know. (I like to phrase it that way, ‘tendencies’, because I believe if we label ourselves a Control-Freak, part of us inside gives up on that ever changing, and nothing is too hard for God, amen? If it’s labeled as a tendency, then its no less a redeemable sin than anything else we’re redeemed from.) We like to have a plan of action, a checklist to follow.

Good news, bad news. I’ll break the bad news first. There is not a checklist to follow. Every person is different, all situations are different, so every believer’s plan of action looks a little different.

Ready for the good news? Any plan of action can be summed up the same.

Trust.

I want you to take a few minutes today and take a really close look at God’s creation. I mean, close-up. If you have the opportunity to get nose-to-nose with a flower, take a look at the intricate detail, the great beauty that God planned, implemented, and sustained.

Q: Do you think God is involved in those steps of your life? (Planning, implementation, and sustaining.)

Q: Why or why not? explain

If you answered no, then I’d like to politely ask you to reconsider. I know God has planned for you to be you, in the specific time, family, era and everything on purpose. He implemented the course of action needed to get you where He wants you today, in spite of, and even through our choices as a free-will creature. This is where I have to refer back to Romans 11:33, because if I think too long and hard on our free-will compared to God’s will, and how the two are interlaced and play off of each other, I get confused. I have such a finite mind, and this is just one more way that I realize God’s ways are greater than mine, and I must stop there. You?

And He definitely sustains us. If you haven’t already, please read our text from Matthew 6.

I had never really applied this passage to being a control-freak before, but it fits so well. Because at the root of all control tendencies is a lack of trust. We, for whatever reason, don’t absolutely, from the core of our being, trust God’s best. We either don’t trust that His ‘best’ is really that great, or we don’t trust that He will come through. Either way it’s a lack of trust.

So, as with almost all trust-relationships, trust must be learned. I encourage you to study God. Take a look at His ultimate plan from the beginning, and how, rocky road though it may have been, He sustained the way for Christ to be born.

Miracle.

He created the world.

Miracle.

He created you.

Miracle.

Do you see what I’m getting at? Study His miracles. Look over your shoulder at where He’s brought you, and how you’re stronger for it.

Do you see wounds there when you look back? Certainly. I’m sure that’s probably a lot of the reason it’s hard to trust Him. But can you try to see the bigger picture? And if you can’t see the bigger picture, maybe He’s still working – have you thought of that? That maybe you’re still in the middle of the picture, and it won’t be until later you’ll see the outcome?

Can you trust Him? Can you trust that He is indeed Good, and Wise, and most of all,

He’s got this!

Let’s close with Psalm 100:5.

Psalm 100:5 “For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.”

All generations, including yours. He is good. And He always will be.

Trust Him, and little by little, you’ll learn to let go.

Set Free 8 - If You've Been Hurt

Have you been hurt? I have.

Is there someone in your life who has left some major scars?

Physically or emotionally.

I’m sure most of us can think of someone. Some hurts may go deeper than others but they all hurt. And many times, even when we thought we’d healed, then something comes along and scrapes at the old wound, revealing that it was deeper than we ever thought, and is indeed still there.

Let me start out by saying this. It may never go away.

The person who hurt you may be in your life permanently, and they may never change their behavior.

For this session we will be dealing with emotional injury, rather than physical injury. Please, if you are in a situation where you are being physically harmed, find a safe  place to go.

No, for this session we will be dealing with the type of emotional injury and hurt that sticks around like a bad penny.

What happens when we leave hurts undealt with is one (or more) of a few options.

1)      We start to get bitter

2)      We start to believe it, believe the lies that hurt us.

First let’s find some focus. We were not the only ones to ever hurt because of another.

Isaiah 53:6 “But He was wounded for our transgressions,He was bruised for our iniquities;The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,And by His stripes we are healed.”

Jesus took the blow for us – and in that felt the effects of every bit of anger, hate and rejection that any of us have ever felt. And worse.

Our passages today are 1 Peter 5:7 and Matthew 11:28-30

Since they are short, I’ll go ahead and include them here.

1 Peter 5:7 “casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” NKJV emphasis mine

Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” NKJV emphasis mine

Can you see it? See the exchange?
Cast your cares; your hurts, your wounds, your insecurities, your injuries, still bleeding or not, on Him! Give them to him to deal with.

I know, it’s easier said than done. It is. But if you daily, or even moment by moment, consciously hand them over, instead of keeping a grasp on them, you will eventually find healing. You will not feel a need to hold them any longer. They will become less a part of you and more a part of your testimony, and story of God’s great grace. They will be yet one more thing that Jesus wanted to take off your hands so much that He came to die for you. Do you see it? If you keep a grasp on them, then grace is void. If we don’t accept His help- accept Him and all of Him, then why accept even part?

Do you hear what I’m saying? You don’t need it. You need only Him.

Colossians 2:10 “And you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.” NKJV emphasis mine

And look at our second passage, in Matthew.

He says to come to Him. Broken, beautiful you. Come.

See verse 29.

Learn from Him. He says learn from Him, because He has been there.

Let go of what you’ve been holding close to your heart- the worries and cares and hurts, and take what He’s got. He knows it’s hard, but we don’t need those to define us.

Yes, they may be a part of how we got to be the stronger person we are today, but they are a part of your past. They do now have to be a part of your now.

2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” NKJV

One of my family’s favorite names for God is the one He used for Himself in Exodus 15:26, Jehovah Rapha, God our Healer.

We see it used multiple times in the Bible.

Psalm 23:3a “He restores my soul…” NKJV

Psalm 147:3 “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds [curing their pains and their sorrows].” AMP

Jehovah Raphe; The self-existent One, and healer of our personal distress, defects and hurts. source

It is a part of His nature- so much so that He uses that for His name! Just as much as you who are moms or sisters or friends, when you say “I’m Lisa’s friend,” or “I’m Emma’s mom” it’s a part of you- it’s not only something you do on occasion (like, “I babysit her sometimes.”), it’s a part of your nature. You do things without question because that identity is a part of you- like caring for your child, calling to check in on your friend. Because you want to – out of love. In the same way, Him being our healer isn’t just part of His Heavenly job-description, it’s a part of who He is.

When we let Him heal us, even if He needs to re-bandage our wounds every single day, or multiple times per day, He loves doing it. He delights to heal you. Please let Him.

Part of the meaning of this name Jehovah Rapha gives the picture of Him sewing together, or mending a tear. Picture your loving Abba holding you in His hand, mending you, stitch by careful stitch.

He meets the emotional needs of His people. When we hurt, He feels it. And heals it if we let Him.

So, no, the one who has hurt you may never change their ways, and you may continue to get hurt. Just see that you are handling yourself correctly in the situation, and reflecting Jesus.

1 John 2:6 “Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.” NLT

Ephesians 4:1-2 “Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.” NLT

Q: If there is someone in your life who has hurt you, do you feel the sting every time you think of them?

Q: Have you prayed about whether this is harbored bitterness on your part?

Q: Do you act like Christ would act in the situation? If not, pray that He would give you the love and forgiveness to offer that person- because you may not have it on your own. You may rely on His strength to forgive them.

DO: Pray for healing. In yourself- not necessarily for healing of the relationship (which is okay to pray for too), but for healing within, from the Holy Spirit. Healing on your side, so that you are blameless and holy before God, not harboring any bitterness toward that person, and so that you yourself are not hindered in your ministry and testimony of God’s work because of an injury.

He will heal you! It is His desire for you to be whole.

Luke 4:18 “…He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted…” NKJV

And from our memory verses this segment,

Excerpts from Isaiah 61:1-3
“…He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted…To comfort all who mourn,…To give them beauty for ashes,The oil of joy for mourning,The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness…”NKJV emphasis mine
 

He doesn’t want you to remain hurt. He wants you to be healed. But look Who provides the healing: He does. Nobody else. He alone can heal you. Accept His healing and let go of your hurts. He’s all you need anyway.

Set Free 1 - Beauty from Ashes

Captivity. Bound. Stuck. Oppressed. Slave. Enslaved. Bondage.

These words surely evoke some strong emotions. If you are like most of us, probable one or more of those words brought to mind a specific memory, situation, or person in your life.

Now let’s try a new set of words on for size:

Freedom. Free. Deliverance. Liberated. Liberty. Voluntary. Choice. Gratitude.

Different feelings, right? So tied together but so very different. And if you’re like most, there are some in that second group that seem a bit intangible, even foreign.

But they don’t have to be.

Not with Jesus.

In the next several sessions we’re going to look at how. It is my prayer that many of you would find healing, deliverance, and know (maybe even for the first time) what it means to be free in Christ.

Please realize that, as I pen this, I am still a pilgrim on a journey. So much progress has been made in my heart, but there’s still a long way to go.

You are not alone. I have not arrived. And though they are becoming less, I still have days when I struggle in this area, and I know there still many ahead.

Mark 14:38 or Matthew 26:41 “Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” NLT

That said, let’s dig in.

The first thing I notice is that all are in bondage to begin with.

Romans 3:23 “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.” NLT

Romans 3:10 “As the Scriptures say, “No one is righteous—not even one.”” NLT

Romans 5:12 “When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned.” NLT

As soon as we are born, we are in bondage to sin. Born with a sin nature, we serve sin. We are sin’s slave.

But the next thing I noticed was Jesus. Look at Him in our base text for today.

Read Luke 4:14-21.

Then flip over to see His heart in Luke 13:16

“Isn’t it right that she should be freed?”

It is right. No one should ever have to stay in bondage. Jesus’s heart cries for our freedom, and He came that we might have it. He gave His very life for us to have it.

It pains Him when we remain in bondage.

Even after we accept His free gift of salvation from our bondage to sin and its final sentence which is Hell, we sometimes remain in bondage.

This type of bondage has perhaps a few sources. The main one I’d like to consider today comes in the form of a spiritual attack.

Turn to 1 Peter 5.

1 Peter 5:8 “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.” NLT

Satan would like nothing more than to turn our minds and heart and hope away from Jesus. Sometimes he attacks strongholds – the strong marriages, solid churches, or the mature Christians who stand to fall farther and often would pull people with them – creating a bigger victory for himself.

But sometimes, he attacks the weak spots. A small victory is better than no victory, right?

That spot where it already hurts, he plants a doubt:

God can’t help you with this one. This will never go away.

That fear you’re struggling to give over to God:

God’s not listening anyway. Your fears will come true.

And the guilt you can’t let go, he rubs raw.

You’re awful. No real Christian would’ve done what you’ve done. You should feel terrible.

And he splashes a big bucket of burning shame on you.

He hates you.

But Jesus.

But Jesus doesn’t.

Jesus loves you!

And He always will. He always thinks you’re worth it!

Look at the verse prior to the one we just looked at in 1 Peter. (I like the Amplified version, but will include both it and NKJV, because a shorter verse is easier to memorize and tuck away in your armor.)

1 Peter 5:7 “Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.” AMP

1 Peter 5:7 “Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” NKJV

For today, I’d love for you to prayerfully ask God to reveal any areas of bondage in your life.

It may be obvious. It may not. It may be something you thought you already dealt with.

Be open to what He reveals.

Read the rest of the 1 Peter passage. Slowly; digesting it little by little. It is so applicable.

1 Peter 5:5-6 “In the same way, you younger men must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you, serve each other in humility, for God opposes the proud but favors the humble.  So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor.” NLT

This humility is what we need for Him to reveal any painful chains.

1 Peter 5:7 “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” NLT

Hand them over. They’re too heavy for you, sister. He cares for you enough to take them.

1 Peter 5:8-9a “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith…” NLT

Be wary, and put up your Shield.  (Ephesians 6:16)

1 Peter 5:9b “…Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are.” NLT

You’re not alone. Satan may try to get you to feel like you are, but Scripture is Truth, because God is Truth, and it says there are others like you, with like struggles.

Even Jesus went through it.

Hebrews 4:15b “…for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.” NLT

1 Peter 5:10-11 “In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. All power to him forever! Amen.” NLT

This is temporary. God has the power to restore you. He has the power and desire to break your bondage.

Before we close, let’s look at the passage Jesus opened the Scriptures up to in our initial text in Luke 4. Drink it in.

Isaiah 61:1-3 “The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,    because the Lord has anointed me    to proclaim good news to the poor.He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,    to proclaim freedom for the captives    and release from darkness for the prisoners,to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor    and the day of vengeance of our God,to comfort all who mourn,    and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty    instead of ashes,the oil of joy    instead of mourning,and a garment of praise    instead of a spirit of despair.They will be called oaks of righteousness,    a planting of the Lord    for the display of his splendor.” NLT

In fact, let’s memorize this together, over the next weeks of our study together.
You can get a free printable card of this passage here

Matthew Henry brings out the poetry of that exchange – beauty for ashes.

A play on words – rearranging the actual word ‘ashes’ (epher) and turning it into ‘beauty’ (pheer).

And isn’t that so fitting?

Pray now about your bondage – no matter what kind it may be – that God would reveal it, take it, and turn it into something beautiful.

A Bride Ready

Text: Matthew 25:1-46

Give me oil in my lamp

Keep it burning

Oh, Lord don’t let the fire go out

Give me oil in my lamp

Keep me praising

You are what I am about

Keep me praising Hosanna

Keep me singing

Help me praise in a way that You love

Keep me praising Hosanna:

“O Lord save me,”

And find me faithful when You come

-NR 6-30-13

Read our text Matthew 25, especially taking a look at verses 1-13; then we will take a look at a little background for this story. It is likely familiar to most of you and I’d like you to dig a little deeper with me.

There were 3 stages to a Jewish wedding in that day: engagement, betrothal, and marriage. The engagement stage was a formal agreement between the fathers of the guy and the girl. Betrothal was a ceremony where mutual promises were made.

Source

These two stages have already passed in our parable in this passage from Matthew. We are ready for the third called marriage. This took place approximately a year later, (source) when the bridegroom came at an unexpected time for his bride.

She would wait with her bridal party until they received the signal to go – that the bridegroom is coming.

The procession would then begin – with 10 lamps, each carried by one of the bridesmaids.

In our parable, although all appeared ready, only half were truly ready. The girls who were not ready had no oil when it was time to go, and their lamps could not be lit, which would keep them from joining the procession and the wedding party. They wanted to borrow from the ones who were prepared.

But sisters, it doesn’t work that way, does it? Not here.

David Guzlik draws out the parallel to depict the oil in the lamps as a representation of the Holy Spirit (received at the moment of salvation: Ephesians 1:13-14, Romans 8:9).

We can’t depend on someone else’s preparedness for our own salvation.

The girls who did not have oil in their lamps were caught unprepared – and while they slept, their lamps went out, because they did not bring enough oil with them. These same girls thought they could go get some oil just before the wedding, once they heard the signal to go, but by the time they returned, it was too late and they were not admitted into the wedding celebration.

Ladies, we don’t know when our Groom is coming. Let’s be ready.

The groom said to them “I don’t know you.” (See also Matthew 7:21-23)

I like the way Spurgeon put it:

"The foolish virgins had professed to be the bridegroom's friends, yet they were proved to be not even his acquaintances." (Spurgeon)"When that door is once shut, it will never be opened. There are some who dote and dream about an opening of that door, after death, for those who have died impenitent; but there is nothing in the Scriptures to warrant such an expectation. Any 'larger hope' than that revealed in the Word of God is a delusion and a snare." (Spurgeon)

You get one chance at your second chance. Brides, understand this. Any chance at all is a second chance. We were born sinners. Every last one of us.

Psalm 51:5 “For I was born a sinner--yes, from the moment my mother conceived me.” NLT

Romans 5:12 “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned” ESV

Romans 3:23 “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard.” NLT

He forgives and offers a second chance, but now is the time!

2 Corinthians 6:2b “…Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is the day of salvation.” NLT

Don’t be one of the foolish bridesmaids who waited until it was too late.

What are you waiting for anyway? A life with our Groom may not always be easy, but you will always be accepted, you will always be loved, and sister, you will always be forgiven. What better life is there?

Please take the time to look at these verses.

Romans 10:9 “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” NLT

Acts 16:31a “…Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved…” NLT

John 11:26 “And everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” ESV

John 6:47 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life.” NLT

Are you already a child of God? Are you reading this, already a saved soul, holding the glorious promise of new life in Heaven? I’m so glad! Me too – and I can’t wait to meet you there. Glory! Won’t that be glory to meet all the sisters from across the world in faith on that wondrous day? I can’t express to you how that gives me excited chills. I love you so much.

So for a bride already prepared, what is the call to action here?

I see one- more clearly laid out in the rest of Matthew 25, especially verses 14-30.

You get one life, what are you going to do with it? How do you want your Groom to find you upon His arrival?

Good. Faithful. Responsible. (Mt 25:14-30)

Active. Compassionate. Hospitable. Attentive. (Mt 25:31-46)

Christlike.

Isn’t this the point? Living it out? What would be the benefit of saving people who never changed? Since our purpose on earth is to bring God glory, then why would He want to save and preserve those who do not?

In Matthew 25:41-43 all I see is self-centeredness. And isn’t that what we are saved from?

I want to close with these verses from 2 Peter.

2 Peter 3:9-11 “The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment. Since everything around us is going to be destroyed like this, what holy and godly lives you should live…” NLT

You ought to live holy and godly {Christlike.} lives.

You do not know when your Groom returns (2 Peter 3:10).

Give me oil in my lamp and let me always be ready, burning, warming, lighting my world.

Let me be ready for my Groom’s return.

Celebrate

Brides, let’s celebrate today. It is the day the Lord has made, amen?

Our text today comes from three parallel passages. Matthew 9:14-17, Mark 2:18-22, Luke 5:33-37

When this many of the gospel writers include an account of something, you know it is huge. For all of the three years of every-days with Jesus, this conversation stood out enough to be remembered and written down.

How much do you remember? Are you making practice of purposefully remembering Him? His word? I know for most of us, our 24 hours seem so full already – and they are; we each fill up our 24 hours with something. But do those somethings have eternal value? I speak to myself too.

Psalm 119:11 “I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” NLT

Joshua 1:8 “Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.” NLT emphasis mine

Colossians 3:16a “Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives…” NLT emphasis mine

In our passages, Jesus had just called Matthew to be a disciple. Matthew – a tax collector. Tax collectors were known for padding their pockets. They were deceitful and hated. And Jesus called him straight from this life to start a new life with Him.

Don’t you just love that? I love that Jesus didn’t scour the world looking for people who were “better” or well liked, or less nasty than the rest. He picked the scum so that He could heal, cleanse and renew. That is what Jesus does best.

For order’s sake, we will look at one of the three passages – and even though they are nearly identical, I like Luke’s account.

So we pick up in Luke 5:33

I love this passage, because it is when Jesus introduces Himself as our Groom.

Read 33-34

Do you see it?

Be all here. I am here. Celebrate that.

Fasting often included an attitude of mourning – that word is even used interchangeably, if you’ll glance over at the Matthew account (9:15)

Now, this may be one of those times when the words were spoken to those people in that specific setting (He was physically with them, so that fits and makes good sense), but I believe it was included (3 times!) because we can apply it to our own lives.

We have Christ with us, because we have Christ in us. (Romans 8:9-10)

Is that not worthy of celebration? If that’s not, I don’t know what is.

In those days, the wedding celebration lasted 2 weeks. This was probably the only time in their lives when they would go that long without working. Life was hard for them, and this was a time of celebration. ‘Drop everything and celebrate now’ was the general attitude around a wedding. Christ is calling His disciples here to celebrate His presence. source

Sisters, life is hard. It is.

But.

This is a great time to insert ‘but’.

But we have Christ. Amen?

Philippians 4:13 “For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” NLT

We are new in Christ. Life is new with Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

Here’s where we tie it all together. Celebrate your new life in Christ. He hasn’t come to patch up and smoothe over your old life. Throw it away. Just accept the new life.

Read the rest of our passage. (If you’re in Luke with me, that’d be Luke 5:36-39)

God doesn’t fit like a band-aid over our old lives. He wants to offer complete renewal.

New habits. New delights. New favorites. New friends? New drinks. New movies. New music. New clothing. New words. New attitude. New forgiveness.

New.

All things are become new.

Do not mourn the loss of those old things; what are they, really anyway?

So I challenge you with me:

1) Pray about remnants you’re still wearing from your old life before you knew Him. Pray for Him to reveal them, and remove them.
2) Start a new habit – memorize. Remember the opening of our session today? Memorize His Word, for with God’s word in your heart, your heart, mind, and spirit are made new. New.

Ephesians 4:22-24 “throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.” NLT

Romans 12:2 “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” NLT

And let’s start with those verses, sound good?

3) Celebrate. You do have Christ in you if you are a Christian. Spend some time celebrating that, and watch your outlook renew.

The Painful Lesson 8 - Pain Before Restoration

Are you enjoying our little Bride of Christ detour through Jeremiah? I had no idea God would turn this into so much study material. But He is wise, faithful and good, amen?

Today we look at Jeremiah 26-30. You can read it all now, or space it out as we go along.

This is the darkness before dawn. The pain before restoration.

In chapter 27 we see the way there is no escape from the consequences. The Lord will make your consequences follow you. You can be sure of it. See Numbers 32:23 & Jeremiah 25:35.

There is not place to escape Him, and He is the only way out. Funny how it works that way. He is all around us, and He is the Door, but we’d sooner try to dig away at the walls until our fingers bleed than just accept His way and simply walk through it.

So daughters, know that He knows. You’re not going to slide one by and get by with it.

But what about the people who do get away with it? That Christian who says biting words behind your back. Those believers who neglect their family, or put money and career above all else. What about those believers who have walked out on their family? Those unfaithful to their spouse. Those awful times when children are abused and women taken advantage of, with no punishment when punishment is due. What then? Where’s the sentence, or sure consequences then?

Yeah, there’s those too. Even here in our passage. Jeremiah 29:16-17 Those who did not physically reap the consequences of separation still got consequences. They were ruined like “bad figs (ch 24)”.

So, sisters, I ask- no pointing fingers here. No complaining. Let’s just look at ourselves, and our own deceitful heart for right now. Everyone’s gonna get theirs.

Now before you get the wrong idea, God does not thrive on punishment. See 27:17 and look for God’s heart in it. He really doesn’t just sit there waiting to catch you screwing up. But He does know when you do.

Don’t listen to anyone around you who is telling you that you are okay in your sin, or anyone justifying it for you (or with you). Yes, it may be what you’d rather hear, but ultimately it leads you to fall harder.

God’s voice is the only One you can trust.

Chapter 28 is a specific example of what happened to one man who spoke trying to comfort the Israelites in their sin; he contradicted God’s words in God’s name.

Now I’d like you to take a look at chapter 29. Here we fast forward the story into the captivity of Israel (Daniel 1) into Babylon. They were ripped from their homes, and taught to throw out all knowledge of God. Brainwashed. This is where we pick up. Read Jeremiah 29, and probably you’ll stop where I stopped, stunned. Read and I’ll wait.

Was it verse 11? I thought so. Have you ever read that in context before? I must not have. I was stunned.

Jeremiah 29:11-12 “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen.” NLT

This verse means so much more to me now. Does it you?

Continue on to verses 13-14

Jeremiah 29:13-14 “If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. I will be found by you,” says the Lord. “I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes. I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and will bring you home again to your own land.” NLT (emphasis mine)

He is not saying “Goodbye forever; you screwed up,” but rather He is saying, “Here is my number. When you are really truly ready to come back to Me, I will be here. I will gather you when your sentence is up.”

He is ever faithful.

Take heart in this, Dear one. He is coming for you. He will be back when the time is right. And His promise is one we can lean on when we’ve really messed up – when it feels like you’ve had about as much consequence as you can take. When you’re crying to Him, when He is Who you turn to, finally exhausted of trying to do it all on your own. He will be there.

Read chapter 30

Jeremiah 30:11b “…I will not completely destroy you.I will discipline you, but with justice;    I cannot let you go unpunished.” NLT

He is too holy to let us go unpunished, but He will not completely destroy us in that punishment. And He will restore. Jeremiah 27:22

 God brings the restoration. And God alone brings restoration.

Jeremiah 30:17a “I will… heal your wounds,” says the Lord…” NLT

The next session is the last in our detour through our Bride of Christ series, and it is a good one. Much happier, I promise.  The Groom calls back and gathers His Bride!

In the meantime, I ask you to determine what in your heart is holding back. Is there something?

It says in Jeremiah 29:13 we must seek Him with our whole heart.

Do.

Offer every broken hurt, torn, stained, ugly piece of your heart, and be ready to find healing.

Matthew 11:28 “Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” NLT