Water Symbol

Water Symbol

¹⁸ For Christ died for sins once and for all, a good man on behalf of sinners, in order to lead you to God. He was put to death physically, but made alive spiritually, ¹⁹ and in his spiritual existence he went and preached to the imprisoned spirits. ²⁰ These were the spirits of those who had not obeyed God when he waited patiently during the days that Noah was building his boat. The few people in the boat—eight in all—were saved by the water, ²¹ which was a symbol pointing to baptism, which now saves you. It is not the washing off of bodily dirt, but the promise made to God from a good conscience. It saves you through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, ²² who has gone to heaven and is at the right side of God, ruling over all angels and heavenly authorities and powers.

 

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“Put this tee shirt on” was the statement from the group I volunteered for the day. It had the name of the organization and their slogan. When we were working together, everyone could tell we were all part of a group.

 

• My shirt told others I belonged with the group.
• I wore the shirt without shame.
• While I wore the shirt, I was supposed to be doing what the group was doing.

 

Peter goes into some heavy theology as guided by the HOLY SPIRIT. He explained that JESUS, the only sinless human, died and was raised from the dead to save anyone who would believe in HIM. He then compared Noah’s family being saved to baptism. Both events are symbolic to the salvation through the resurrection of JESUS. Both events required faith and belief.

 

My Observations:

• Just like Noah, who completed his task of building an ark all his life, GOD wants me to be steadfast and not give up.
• Just like water baptism in front of people, GOD wants me to declare my relationship with HIM versus hiding it at convenient times.
• Just like showing up to work, GOD wants me to hold up my end of the promise by living for HIM and keeping a “good conscience.”

 

Living for GOD can be hard these days. I mean, the symbols can be twisted from love to hatred. Some godly symbols can be misunderstood or even thrown in the dirt. BUT GOD is above any symbol.

 

HE got excited when I chose to be baptized because I declared to the world that I belong to HIM. Now HE wants me to wear HIS clothing for all to see. Meanwhile, JESUS is on the throne ruling over all authorities. I am glad I will one day see HIM through cleaned eyes.

 

Challenge

• Why does the writer mention baptism?
• Have you ever tried to hide your relationship with GOD in order to gain something from people?
• If you are hiding your relationship with JESUS, will you unhide it little by little to save those around you today?

New Clothes

New Clothes

Galatians 3: ²⁶ It is through faith that all of you are God's children in union with Christ Jesus. ²⁷ You were baptized into union with Christ, and now you are clothed, so to speak, with the life of Christ himself. ²⁸ So there is no difference between Jews and Gentiles, between slaves and free people, between men and women; you are all one in union with Christ Jesus. ²⁹ If you belong to Christ, then you are the descendants of Abraham and will receive what God has promised.

 

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Tattered clothes made me feel ashamed  to be in public. Ridicule from other children made me self-conscious about my garments and I began to second guess my abilities. “What do I have to offer if I don’t fit in?” I thought from my insecurities.

 

• I was insecure.
• I was self-conscious about my outward appearance.
• I was busy looking on the outside of me and I did not like what I saw.

 

Paul concludes his explanation of the temporary use of “The Law.” He mentions that “It is through faith” that we are GOD’s children. Baptism by the HOLY SPIRIT brought all who believed in JESUS as the Savior, into union with CHRIST. Now the promise of being a descendant of Abraham is available to those who believe.

 

My Observations

• I can be secure in this life when I put my trust in JESUS.
• Sin soiled and tore my godly clothes.
• GOD gave me new clothes that are not made with human hands, rather of the SPIRIT.

 

Being adopted into the family of GOD has its benefits. I mean, now I am in union with CHRIST and I can be confident that the Creator wants me to have everything in HIS kingdom. Unfortunately my insecurities blind me to focus on the world and I overlook GOD’s kingdom.

 

I fall into the trap of trying to wear clothes made from humans and I adorn myself in businesses, jobs, titles, political affiliations, social groups and social pressures. These clothes get old quickly, BUT GOD’s clothes never stain or tear. I gladly wear the life of JESUS as a garment I am not ashamed to wear.

 

Challenge

• What does the passage say about equality?
• How does this passage address insecurity?
• Will you accept the security of GOD for this life and the next by believing in JESUS as your Savior so you can put on HIS new clothes of purpose and freedom today?

Just Walk Away

 

Just Walk Away

Romans 6: What shall we say, then? Should we continue to live in sin so that God's grace will increase? ² Certainly not! We have died to sin—how then can we go on living in it? ³ For surely you know that when we were baptized into union with Christ Jesus, we were baptized into union with his death. ⁴ By our baptism, then, we were buried with him and shared his death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from death by the glorious power of the Father, so also we might live a new life.

 

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“Okay Lord, I will follow YOUR ways” I said. I finally meant it this time. After a long time, my life had changed. I was seeing people as I had never seen them before. I saw the hurt and those in need.

 

My life was making a difference. But a “friend” popped up and asked if I wanted to “hit the clubs?” He needed a “wingman” so he could find some to have sex with a willing lady. I did miss the lifestyle. “Maybe this one time.” I thought. It made me want to stop following GOD’s ways.

 

• There have been many times when I wanted to “take a break” from GOD.
• There have been many times when I wanted to “go on vacation” from GOD.
• There have been many times when I wanted to “do a little sin” because a little won’t hurt me, right? Wrong!

 

Paul explains a dilemma that believers in CHRIST face. If I am saved from “all” my sins, then should I keep sinning? Paul explains that we have died to our sins when we believe in CHRIST. Paul then explains that our baptism was a display to show we agree with JESUS’ death and resurrection.

 

• GOD wants me to put “that” sin to death little by little.
• GOD wants me to stop doing “that” sin right now.
• GOD wants me to remove “that” sin as an option.

 

Choosing to follow GOD publicly seems easy, but for those who sin like me, it is a hard choice. I mean, telling everyone I belong to JESUS, but secretly looking at porn didn’t cut it with GOD. I had to put it to death. HE sees “all” sin, small and large. GOD wants me to put the sin to death by focusing in on HIS glorious power. I am glad JESUS gave me a new life of purpose.

 

• Are you struggling with giving up a particular sin?
• Are you focusing on the sin too much?
• Will you forgive yourself by knowing JESUS has forgiven you so you can focus on the purpose HE has for you?
• Will you ask GOD to help you just walk away from certain people who drag you back into the old life today?

Mission Accomplished

Mission Accomplished

Acts 8: ³⁸ So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. ³⁹ Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing. ⁴⁰ But Philip was found at Azotus. And passing through, he preached in all the cities till he came to Caesarea.

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Sitting on the trunk of my broken down car, a couple stopped and asked if I needed a ride. Cautiously I said “yes” to the elderly couple. They convinced me that a rest stop was not too far away and they could drop me there.

“Do you believe in GOD and JESUS, the SON of GOD?” they asked me. I answered “Yes” without too much explanation as I had not been worshiping or even acting like I knew GOD.

• There have been many people sent to me to rescue me.
• There have been many people sent to me to bring me back to GOD.
• There have been many people sent to me to tell me about the great news of JESUS.

Philip was sent to the desert and he went without question. When he arrived he met a eunuch who was studying the prophet Isaiah, reading specifically about JESUS. When the eunuch heard Philip explain who JESUS was and is, he wanted to be baptized. Philip’s mission had been fulfilled.

• GOD wants me to be open to be sent where HE wants me to go.
• GOD wants me to be open to speak about HIS SON wherever HE sends me.
• GOD wants me to be ready to be sent to the next place so HE can speak through me again and again.

“Do not grow weary” is the request of JESUS because the harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few. GOD wants me to continue to speak to many people about JESUS so they will believe in HIM and do the same. When HE sends me and I speak, the mission is accomplished.

• Are you being used by GOD?
• Is GOD guiding you wo speak about HIS grace?
• Will you accept HIS mission for you and speak about JESUS today?

It’s Getting Done

John 3: ²² After this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them, and baptised. ²³ Now John also was baptising at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water, and people were coming and being baptised. ²⁴ (This was before John was put in prison.) ²⁵ An argument developed between some of John’s disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing. ²⁶ They came to John and said to him, ‘Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan – the one you testified about – look, he is baptising, and everyone is going to him.’

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Working long hours, I felt exhausted but satisfied. I mean I had everything under control, or so I thought. “Why don’t you let that person do this part of the project now?” my boss said directedly. When the person did their work, I felt a sense of jealousy. They were getting accolades I was used to getting.

• I felt jealous.
• I felt I was losing accolades.
• I felt I was slipping in value.

JESUS and HIS disciples were baptizing people and John “The Baptist’s” disciples questioned why these guys were doing this. They noticed their crowd was getting smaller and smaller and sensed something was wrong, or so they thought.

• GOD wants me to be part of a team who bring people to HIM.
• GOD wants me to see how HE is working through others.
• GOD wants me to praise HIM daily for what HE is doing, especially when someone else is doing it.

As long as it is getting done, who am I to argue. If someone else is serving GOD by serving others, I do not need a pat on the back or an accolade for what I am doing. GOD sees what I am doing as part of HIS plan for all of humanity. HE knows the pie is big. In other words, HE knows the harvest is plenty and the laborers are few. I am glad I am part of GOD’s big picture.

• Are you jealous of someone’s abilities?
• Do you talk bad about someone so you can get praise?
• Will you stop trying to point at yourself and allow GOD to work through others and through you?

Why Do You Do What You Do?

John 1: ²⁴ Now the Pharisees who had been sent ²⁵ questioned him, ‘Why then do you baptise if you are not the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?’

²⁶ ‘I baptise with water,’ John replied, ‘but among you stands one you do not know. ²⁷ He is the one who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.’

²⁸ This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptising.

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“Here, take these” were the words as he handed me a pair of shoes. A friend saw my holey shoes and gave me a pair of his. I couldn’t afford new shoes and I couldn’t pay him back. “Here, take my car” said an uncle, giving me his car for a few dollars.

• Sometimes I wonder what makes people do what they do.
• Sometimes I wonder what the motive is behind their actions.
• Sometimes I wonder why people have helped me.

“Why do you baptize?” the church leaders asked John, questioning his authority. John gave his reason, namely JESUS.

• Because JESUS saved me, I am forever grateful.
• Because JESUS saved me, I feel a desire to server others.
• Because JESUS saved me, I want others to crave HIS grace.

When I get tired, JESUS is there to strengthen me to continue on. When things are falling apart all around me, JESUS is there to pick up the pieces and make me whole. JESUS gives me purpose and keeps me going. HE is my desire.

• Why do you do what you do?
• Are you trying to satisfy your inner desires?
• Can you turn your desires over to GOD so HE can do a marvelous work through you today?

Time to Go

Mark 1: ³⁵ Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. ³⁶ Simon and his companions went to look for him, ³⁷ and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!”

³⁸ Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” ³⁹ So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.

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Bright stars clearly shone as I woke very early in the morning that day. Another opportunity had dried up and I was facing my last two weeks at this particular place.  GOD had provided my next location and I was on a new journey.

• GOD doesn’t want me to sit in one place too long.
• GOD wants me to go and preach the gospel wherever I am.
• GOD desires that I go to nearby villages to preach HIS word.

Many times I have asked GOD. “Why are YOU moving me from this place?” especially when I liked the city or the people. GOD says to me “The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the LORD of the harvest to send out laborers into HIS harvest.”

I now understand that GOD sometimes wants me to venture to a new place for HIS purposes. HE has a plan for me to speak to “that” person and I should be willing to go. HE enables circumstances to arise so I can move to where HE leads me. GOD sends me to HIS harvest at the right time.

• Are you being sent?
• Is GOD calling you to a new harvest of HIS?
• Will you accept HIS calling and go to where HE is sending you?

How to Spread

Mark 1: The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, ² as it is written in Isaiah the prophet:

“I will send my messenger ahead of you,
    who will prepare your way”—
³ “a voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
    make straight paths for him.’”

⁴ And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. ⁵ The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. ⁶ John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. ⁷ And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. ⁸ I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

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One of the hardest things for me to do was to talk about JESUS to someone. What if they didn’t want to hear it? What if I am laughed at? What if they reject what I am saying?

• There were times when I did not want to talk about CHRIST.
• There were times when I feared speaking about JESUS.
• There were times when I thought more about my reputation than GOD’s reputation.

John was truly the second greatest human to ever live. He dedicated his entire life to telling people about CHRIST. He had the right attitude and the right message.

• JESUS wants me to understand I have a purpose, namely to speak about HIM.
• JESUS wants me to know I am not the center of attention rather HE is the primary subject.
• JESUS wants me to believe in HIS return so I can point people to HIM rather than fixing their ills.

Preparing the way is still desired by CHRIST, HE wants me to tell people there is still hope in a hopeless world. JESUS is that hope, not mankind. HIS message is simple, just believe.

• Are you trying to get people to pay attention to you?
• Do you want to be the center of attention?
• Will you point people to JESUS today instead of yourself?

For This Reason

Matthew 28: ¹⁶ Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. ¹⁷ When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. ¹⁸ Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

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“Why should I?” was my question after someone barked orders at me. I knew “What” I was supposed to do and “How” I was supposed to do it, but “Why” I was doing it eluded me, so I asked. “Because I said so” was the answer” given to me.

• Sometimes I have questioned authority.
• Sometimes I wondered if those in charge had it together.
• Sometimes I checked to see if those in charge were really in charge.

JESUS did what HE said. HE rose from the grave. Lazarus was raised from the dead before JESUS, no one before or after said “I will rise from the dead” and actually do it. 

• JESUS says to me “Go and make disciples of all nations” because all authority has been given to HIM.
• JESUS says to me “Baptize all nations in the name of the FATHER and the SON and of the HOLY SPIRIT” because of HIS authority.
• JESUS says to me “Teach them to obey everything I have commanded you” because HE is in authority.

All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to JESUS. HE decides who has eternal life and eternal death. HE decides what happens in a given day for me and has wonderful plans for me each day. JESUS assures me that I am not alone and never will be. HE is in charge and HE loves me.

• Are you questioning GOD and HIS authority?
• Do you feel GOD should be doing something different in your life so you have a right to question HIM?
• Can you allow HIM to take care of you and let HIM decide your path today?

Teach those who can be taught

Proverbs 9: ⁷ Whoever corrects a mocker invites insults;
    whoever rebukes the wicked incurs abuse.
⁸ Do not rebuke mockers or they will hate you;
    rebuke the wise and they will love you.
⁹ Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still;
    teach the righteous and they will add to their learning.

¹⁰ The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
    and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
¹¹ For through wisdom your days will be many,
    and years will be added to your life.
¹² If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you;
    if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer.

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Hat pulled over his eyes and a drooped head showed me just how much this person was interested in my lesson. I thought to myself, “Maybe I need to liven up the material” I mean it is Sunday School. The next week I brought in props and decided to cater to this one person. I think I juggled fire and swallowed broken glass.

He still sat there with his hat pulled over his face in true defiance of the lesson. Meanwhile, everyone else was now distracted and did not learn that day.

• Sometimes I want to please everyone.
• Sometimes I want to win them all.
• Sometimes I want to get “that” person to believe right in front of me.

One person said to me “You can’t win them all” and he was right. That should not mean I will stop trying. Some people need another person to reach them.

• GOD says to me, “Go, teach and baptize.”
• GOD says to me, “Fear MY ways and hold them with the highest esteem.”
• GOD says to me, “Do not cast your pearls before swine.”

The “swine” that GOD speaks of were probably the religious leaders of that day. They were lower than pigs to HIM and could not be taught. They mocked JESUS and would not change their heart. GOD says try to reach as many as you can but realize there will be some who you will not be able to reach. “Seek those who can hear MY words from you and I will bless you and them” says the LORD to me.

• Are you trying to change that person?
• Do you think they have to utter the words of salvation right in front of you?
• Can you continue to pray for them and ask GOD to bring the right person in their life to reach them?
• Will you continue to seek more and more people to reach with GOD’s message HE has given you?

My controversial “building” view

1 Kings 6: ¹¹ The word of the Lord came to Solomon: ¹² “As for this temple you are building, if you follow my decrees, observe my laws and keep all my commands and obey them, I will fulfill through you the promise I gave to David your father.¹³ And I will live among the Israelites and will not abandon my people Israel.”

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I recently visited the church of my youth.  The pastor was still the pastor and the building was still the same. By the way, I am a million and a half years old. What I remember is there were two envelopes in pockets in the pew, one for tithing and one for the “building fund.”

I traveled to many churches and many have had this “building fund” or “building expansion project”. Then one day, as I was sitting on a bus in another country, I saw people dressed in white robes sitting in a field. I asked the guide “who are they?” “They are a building-less church who meets out in a field to worship GOD” he responded.  Ever since then I wonder what a building fund is.

• GOD wants us to make sure we gather together to pray for one another.
• GOD wants us to make public declarations of our allegiance to HIM.
• GOD wants us to make it easier for those who cannot do for themselves.

There are many other reasons to gather together and we need buildings to avoid being interrupted from the elements. I agree with having a building, but when the building is the only focus I have a problem with it.

• GOD says “Follow my decrees”, which doesn’t need a building rather it needs my temple.
• GOD says “Observe MY laws”, which doesn’t need a building rather it requires my mind.
• GOD says “Keep all MY commandments and obey them”, which doesn’t need a building rather it needs my determination to follow HIM.

GOD wants me. HE said “What building can contain ME?” HE does however want me to gather regularly with groups of people to pray, rejoice and help others. HE also wants me to receive help when I run out of faith and feel low. My fight is no longer with buildings. My job is to connect with those HE sends to me.

• Are you alone?
• Do you think can walk life by yourself?
• Should you gather together with others for prayer and confession?
• Won’t you focus on GOD rather than on buildings?