Are you fishing in a barrell?

Jan 21, 2010

The life of Jesus. Read Today: Teaches at temple in the morning; John 8:2

A wise man once said to me, if you want to fish, you are not going to find them in a barrel of water, you have to go to where the fish are. Now I do not fish, I do not like to eat them and I figure why catch them if I am just going to throw them back in, but the words are still true. As Christians we to often try to get our conversions in church. Why are we fishing in the barrel that has no fish in it, or t best, very few. We need to go to where the people are.

Quite a few years ago, a pastor in the Tulsa area started a non-denominational movement to bring all the churches together to make October a month to win souls. Why October in Tulsa? Because in October we have the Tulsa State Fair, Oktoberfest, college football and a few other things. The idea is to go to where the people are to get them saved. Is there a model of that in the Bible? Yes:

John 8:2 VW
(2) And early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people came to Him; and He sat down and taught them.

Jesus was at the Mount of Olives for the night. Why didn't He just gather those who were around them and teach to them. He wanted to reach many people not just a small amount. If you want to catch fish, go where the fish are. So He went to the Temple. Why? Was it because it was a great place of Worship to His Father, God. I do not think so. He went there because that is where the people are. The Temple is where the people would gather.

Where are you fishing at?

Read for next time: Adulterous woman brought to Jesus; John 8:3-11

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Rest

Jan 20, 2010

The life of Jesus. Read Today: Jesus goes to the Mount of Olives; John 8:1

John 8:1 GNB

(1) [Then everyone went home, but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.

Why? Why did Jesus have to leave Jerusalem. We saw yesterday that the leaders of the Jewish people denounced Him. It is clear that He had no real friends here. And leaving Himself to rest in the city itself could lead attacks by the leaders under cover of darkness.

So He went out of the town and to a private place. He may have prayed. He may have just rested. We do not know as the Gospels do not record it. But we do know that like His birth, there was no room for Him.

Read for next time: Teaches at temple in the morning; John 8:2

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Irony

Jan 19, 2010

The life of Jesus. Read Today: Judgment of Nicodemus; John 7:48-53

John 7:48-49 GNB
(48) "Have you ever known one of the authorities or one Pharisee to believe in him?
(49) This crowd does not know the Law of Moses, so they are under God's curse!"

What perfect irony in today's verses. Here are the people in charge, the ones who know the law as they teach it over and over again. They do not believe in Jesus. And they curse those who do believe in Jesus because they do not know the law.

If they knew the law so well, then why did they not search it to find the existence of the scriptures that would have pointed to Jesus? Why? They had an interest in keeping things the way they were. They did not want to see what was right before them. People are like that, then and now.

Read for next time: Jesus goes to the Mount of Olives; John 8:1

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A great man

Jan 18, 2010

The life of Jesus. Read Today: Pharisees question officers; John 7:45-47

John 7:46 WEB

46 The officers answered, “No man ever spoke like this man!”

It is amazing that these men could see that Jesus was more than the average person. The tragedy is that they could not see that He was the son of God.

They like we, have a choice to make. Is He just a good man or is He something more?

When you tell others about Jesus make sure that you do not just get them to acknowledge that He is good. That is not enough.

Read for next time: Judgement of Nicodemus; John 7:48-53

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Question the source

Jan 17, 2010

The life of Jesus. Read Today: Division among the people; John 7:40-44

John 7:42 CEV

(42) The Scriptures say that the Messiah will come from the family of King David. Doesn't this mean that he will be born in David's hometown of Bethlehem?"

They questioned about Jesus but they did not question Jesus. That is interesting. If they had bothered to ask Him where He was born they would have found out that Jesus did fulfill the scriptures. Instead they speculated what was going on.

Just like today. Some preacher preaches something and people jump on the bandwagon because it sounds good. Why don't people go to the source, the Bible, and find out for themselves. Why? It is to easy to take things the way they are and not go to the source, then and now.

Read for next time: Pharisees question officers; John 7:45-47

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Rivers of living water

Jan 16, 2010

The life of Jesus. Read Today: Rivers of living water; John 7:37-39

John 7:38 ESV

(38) Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'"

You want a flow of life to come out of you? If so then the only way that it can come is to have accepted Jesus. There is no other way. I did not say it, Jesus did, so do not get mad at me. And He was quoting the scripture. It is amazing how many people think that Christians are judgmental because we think we are the only ones going to heaven. If that is true, that Jesus is judgmental as well.

Bit the key here is the rivers of living water. To often we look at scriptures through our own eyes and see things. Here you will need to see it the way the people He was talking to saw it. Theirs was a desert culture. And to find a river was to find a good thing, it was a source of life. Jesus is telling us here that life will spring from us if we know Him. And the word translated believe here is better translated commit or put ones trust in.

Now the question is, what is flowing out of you? Do people want to drink of what you are drinking? Do you trust in Jesus? Are you committed to him?

Read for next time: Division among the people; John 7:40-44

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The last day

Jan 15, 2010

The life of Jesus. Read Today: Last day of Feast; John 7:37

John 7:37 GNB

(37) On the last and most important day of the festival Jesus stood up and said in a loud voice, "Whoever is thirsty should come to me, and

What is so important that this one verse gets its own note in the daily life of Jesus. It was the last day of the festival. And that meant a couple of things.

1) The days before they prayed for the nations, today the only prayed for the Jewish people.

2) This day before they finished the reading of the law.

3) Jesus tells them if they are thirsty to come and drink, after a ceremony involving a lot of water.

Jesus knew what He was doing. He said anyone, that meant the Gentiles that had been prayed for before as well as the Jews. He was the completion of the law so as they finished it, He showed He completed it. Lastly, they understood the symbolism of the water after having just been through the ceremony. If they drank of Him, they would not be thirsty for spiritual things anymore.

All that from one small part of a verse. WOW.

Read for next time: Rivers of living water; John 7:37-39

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Mystery

Jan 14, 2010

The life of Jesus. Read Today: Pharisees seek to sieze Jesus; John 7:32-36

John 7:35-36 GNB

(35) The Jewish authorities said among themselves, "Where is he about to go so that we shall not find him? Will he go to the Greek cities where our people live, and teach the Greeks?

(36) He says that we will look for him but will not find him, and that we cannot go where he will be. What does he mean?"

The Jewish people of the day that that the Messiah would go out to the other Jews scattered across the nations. Jesus spoke words just before this that said they would see Him no more. So they pondered if this is what was what He meant by this.

But listen for Jesus response... did you hear it? He said nothing. The reply was not there. They were going to have to take things on faith and not just because He said it.

Times are coming in your life when you will have to take things on faith. God will speak and tell you things but you are just going to have to go with what you know.

Read for next time: Last day of Feast; John 7:37

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Greater Works

Jan 13, 2010

The life of Jesus. Read Today: Multitudes amazed at Signs; John 7:31

John 7:31 BWE

31 Many of the people believed in Jesus. They said, ‘When Christ comes, will he do greater works than this man has done?’

And the answer is no, He would not. But their belief was fickle at best. These same people saying these things would soon shout to have Him killed.

Like Jesus, people will come and follow the things that you say and do as you journey through life with Jesus. And like His life many will want to kill you if you say or do something that they do no like. Keep the course and do what God tells you to do.

Read for next time: Pharisees seek to sieze Jesus; John 7:32-36

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Heaven cannot wait

Jan 12, 2010

The life of Jesus. Read Today: Jesus cries out in the temple; John 7:25-30

John 7:30 BBE

(30) Then they had a desire to take him: but no man put hands on him because his hour was still to come.

There is a time for you to die. You can not be taken before that time no matter what Hollywood says. Years ago there was a movie called Here Comes Mr. Jordan, later remade into Heaven Can Wait. In both an angel comes and takes an athlete before his time and in both he replaces a millionaire who just died.

No much as it is a great story, it is not at all possible. God only knows the time that you are to die and I am not really sure that angels are the ones that come and get you. But, hey, it is Hollywood right?

In reality, like Jesus in our verse, there is a time that you will come to the end of your life here on earth as will those around you. You will either go to heaven or hell. I do not judge you on that, Jesus will and it will not be on the life you lead here on earth, but on the acceptance of Jesus.

If you know Jesus as your savior, think about that. Do the loved ones around you know Him as well. Have they prayed the sinners prayer with you. If not, it might be their time soon.

If you have not made that commitment yourself, now may be a time for you to think about it, tomorrow may be to late. Heaven can not wait! Nor hell!

Read for next time: Multitudes amazed at Signs; John 7:31

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The Sabbath

Jan 11, 2010

The life of Jesus. Read Today: Defense for healing on Sabbath; John 7:20-24

John 7:22-23 BBE

(22) Moses gave you circumcision--not that it comes from Moses, but from the fathers--and even on the Sabbath you give a child circumcision.

(23) If a child is given circumcision on the Sabbath so that the law of Moses may not be broken, why are you angry with me because I made a man completely well on the Sabbath?

Jesus is asking which law is more important. Is it more important to follow one command on the Sabbath to keep it holy or to do a task to complete the law. If you do one you break the other! The Jewish people had taken this further and decided to make it so that good things could be done if necessary (rescuing a donkey in a pit let's say).

But now comes the trouble. Is it OK to heal on the Sabbath? After all that is work that could be done on any other day of the week. Jesus said it is.

The Sabbath is not a day, it is the spirit in which it is kept. Keep your spirit right and every day should be a Sabbath to you.

Read for next time: Jesus cries out in the temple; John 7:25-30

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Who gets the glory

Jan 10, 2009

The life of Jesus. Read Today: Jesus says some seek to kill him; John 7:16-19

16 So Jesus answered them, "My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me.

17 If anyone's will is to do God's will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority.

18 The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood.

19 Has not Moses given you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law. Why do you seek to kill me?"

When youi preach or try to tell others about Jesus, why do you do it? I remember in many churches I attended in the past there was either a sign on the wall or a note in the bulletin telling how many had been saved. Who gets the glory in that situation. It is like the notches on the gun of an old west gunslinger, one to show how good he was.

I am not agianst keeping records of salvations. There needs to be follow ups and a way to see if the investment is bearing fruit. Those are all very legitiment.

When what you do takes the glory from God and puts it on you, then their is a problem. I say that because Jesus says there is falsehood in him. His words, not mine.

Read for next time: Defense for healing on Sabbath; John 7:20-24

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Uneducated

Jan 9, 2010

The life of Jesus. Read Today: Jesus in the temple mid-feast; John 7:14-15

John 7:14-15 Murdock

(14) And in the midst of the days of the feast, Jesus went into the temple, and taught.

(15) And the Jews wondered, and said: How knoweth this man literature, having not been educated?

To the Jews this was a marvelous thing. You see, the earthly family that Jesus came from did not allow Him the nicer things of life. Being the son of a carpenter He would not have had the advantage of the more well to do, but not as bad off as the poor. So no formal training of the scriptures for Him. There would have always been Synagogue training, but it is apparent here that the learning He was showing was not of the caliber.

I am not saying that you should not prepare your self to preach if you plan to go into the ministry, but Jesus did not have those advantages. You should however search the word to see what it teaches you and then teach that to others.

Read for next time: Jesus says some seek to kill him; John 7:16-19

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Wished we all been ready

Jan 8, 2010

The life of Jesus. Read Today: People afraid to speak publicly of Jesus; John 7:11-13

John 7:11-13 BBE

(11) At the feast the Jews were looking for him and saying, Where is he?

(12) And there was much discussion about him among the mass of the people. Some said, He is a good man; but others said, No, he is giving people false ideas.

(13) But no man said anything about him openly for fear of the Jews.

We often wonder why the first thing any angel does when the first see a human is to say 'Fear Not'. These people, who lived with and knew Jesus were afraid to talk about Him.

As I am writing this I had a song playing on my computer. The late Larry Norman's song, 'I Wished We All Been Ready".

I Wish We'd All Been Ready

Life was filled with guns and war,

And everyone got trampled on the floor,

I wish we'd all been ready

Children died, the days grew cold,

A piece of bread could buy a bag of gold,

I wish we'd all been ready,

There's no time to change your mind,

The Son has come and you've been left behind.

A man and wife asleep in bed,

She hears a noise and turns her head, he's gone,

I wish we'd all be ready,

Two men walking up a hill,

One disappears and one's left standing still,

I wish we'd all been ready,

There's no time to change your mind,

The Son has come and you've been left behind.

Life was filled with guns and war,

And everyone got trampled on the floor,

I wish we'd all been ready,

Children died, the days grew cold,

A piece of bread could buy a bag of gold,

I wish we'd all been ready,

There's no time to change your mind,

How could you have been so blind,

The Father spoke, the demons dined,

The Son has come and you've been left behind.

There is no time to be afraid, there is a world that will be lost if we do not help them get ready.

Read for next time: Jesus in the temple mid-feast; John 7:14-15

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Dead bury the dead

Jan 7, 2010

The life of Jesus. Read Today: Unfit followers; Matthew 8:19-22; Luke 9:57-62

Luke 9:59-60 GNB

(59) He said to another man, "Follow me." But that man said, "Sir, first let me go back and bury my father."

(60) Jesus answered, "Let the dead bury their own dead. You go and proclaim the Kingdom of God."

WOW! Heartless it sounds like. Jesus will not even let this man bury his dead father. Except that is not what is going on.

You see, in those days people might linger in a deathly state for a while, much like many people do today. The man was not asking to bury his dead father, but to wait till his dad died, then he would bury him and follow Jesus.

Jesus reply was to tell him that the dead (spiritually) should bury their own kind. It might be years before this man could break free and do what God has called him to. In my own life I could have made my son stay stateside and let me see my grandchildren grow up. In stead, I have let him know that though I miss being a part of their lives, he is doing what God has called him to do in Indonesia, half a world away from me.

Do not take time when God tells you to do something. It may be that you need a training time, but when God tells you it is time to move, it is time to move.

Read for next time: People afraid to speak publicly of Jesus; John 7:11-13

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Calling Down Fire

January 6, 2010

The life of Jesus. Read Today: James and John rebuked for attitude; Luke 9:54-56

Luke 9:54-56 BBE

(54) And when his disciples, James and John, saw this, they said, Lord, may we send fire from heaven and put an end to them?

(55) But turning round he said sharp words to them.

(56) And they went to another small town.

Well it makes sense to me, doesn't it to you. Jesus needed the Samaritans to help Him with a place to stay and they refused. Shouldn't fire be called down upon them.

Look at yourself if you were in that day. Would you want to help an itinerant preacher who claimed to be the Son of God? Most likely not. Jesus however knew that if they were dead they could never come to accept Him as savior. Calling down fire to destroy them was counter productive to what he wanted to do.

While many may be against you, do not dismiss them. They may come to be followers of what you do eventually. If not, they have the same free choice to follow Jesus that you do.

Read for next time: Unfit followers; Matthew 8:19-22; Luke 9:57-62

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Scope creep

Jan 5, 2010

The life of Jesus. Read Today: Messengers sent to Samaria to prepare way; Luke 9:52-53

Luke 9:52-53 GNB

(52) He sent messengers ahead of him, who went into a village in Samaria to get everything ready for him.

(53) But the people there would not receive him, because it was clear that he was on his way to Jerusalem.

Do not expect everyone to be sympathetic to you when you plan to try to do something for the Lord. Most will be neutral but many will stand either for you or against you. If they do not see any gain in it for them they will most likely be against you. In these verses it is clear that Jesus is on His way to Jerusalem but he will have to pass through Samaria to get there. While He had done many great things here it was pretty clear to them that Jesus did not plan anything great this time around and was just passing through needing a place to stay. Since they got no benefit they were not willing to help.

It is easy to get sidetracked on your purpose for the Kingdom. In any project that you may do in a business this is usual called scope creep. Because it is possible to add something to a project to get someone on board it waters down the original project.

Keep focused on the project at hand.

Read for next time: James and John rebuked for attitude; Luke 9:54-56

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Time to move

Jan 4, 2010

The life of Jesus. Read Today: Jesus sets his face to go to Jerusalem; Luke 9:51; John 7:10

Luke 9:51 KJV

(51) And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem,

So, after all this talk the past few days of preparation time and all, Jesus now has the time to go ahead and do what He needs to do. When the time is ready for you to do what God wants you to do, you will know. And all the things that you can do to try to speed it up or slow it down will not help. The thing to do is more on it when God tells you to. Jesus knew how to do that.

Read for next time: Messengers sent to Samaria to prepare way 9:52-53

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Preperation Time

Jan 3, 2009

The life of Jesus. Read Today: Jesus stays in Galilee; John 7:9

John 7:9 CEV

(9) Jesus said this and stayed on in Galilee.

There are times in your life when you may say one thing but plan for another thing. Jesus knew what was in His brothers hearts, but the time had not Come for Him to be known of the people the way that they wanted. So he sent them on their way.

This became a time of preparation for Jesus. He knew He was to go but He needed preperation time. There will be a time in your life when you feel the call to do some ministry. Do as Jesus did and take some time to prepare.

Read for next time: Jesus sets his face to go to Jerusalem; Luke 9:51; John 7:10

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God's Time

Jan 2, 2010

The life of Jesus. Read Today: Brothers advise Jesus to go to Judea: John 7:3-8

John 7:6 GW

(6) Jesus told them, "Now is not the right time for me to go. Any time is right for you.

It is a funny thing about time. We want to wait many times till the time is right to do something. In reality, the time is right when God says it is. In this case Jesus' brothers wanted Him to show himself. Maybe they had some gain in Him doing this. They were expecting a more rewarding life being the brothers of the Son of God I am sure. So prove yourself they told Him.

The problem is that it was not time to prove Himself.

Many times people will ask you to prove yourself, or maybe try to tell you that you are not proving yourself and are looking for attention. If you flow in God's time, you will never have to worry about what they say.

Read for next time: Jesus stays in Galilee; John 7:9

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What is the time?

Jan 1, 2010

The life of Jesus. Read Today: Peter's question about forgiveness; Feast of Booths at hand; John 7:2

John 7:2 CEV

(2) It was almost time for the Festival of Shelters,

Almost seems like a throw away verse. The ones following it talk about how Jesus' brothers want him to go to Judea and show Himself. but Jesus says it is not time.

So what is the Festival of Shelters. It took place at the end of harvest time. It was meant to have the people remember that they lived as wanderers in the desert. They did this by constructing tents (booths) and living in them for one week. It was one of the three events that all Jewish men were to celebrate in Jerusalem every year. The general attitude during this celebration according to the historian Josephus was one of fun and merriment.

Jesus came to teach the people. It was His time to take His message to them and He would take it to them in His way. This would be a good time for Him to do so. People receive a message better when they are happy. And all the people would be there.

God will give you the times you need to tell others of His Son. Be ready to grab at the times when He does.

Read for next time: Brothers advise Jesus to go to Judea: John 7:3-8

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