Faith Rest

 

Faith Rest

1 Corinthians 2: When I came to you, my friends, to preach God's secret truth, I did not use big words and great learning. ² For while I was with you, I made up my mind to forget everything except Jesus Christ and especially his death on the cross. ³ So when I came to you, I was weak and trembled all over with fear, ⁴ and my teaching and message were not delivered with skillful words of human wisdom, but with convincing proof of the power of God's Spirit. ⁵ Your faith, then, does not rest on human wisdom but on God's power.

 

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Changing the oil in my car seemed intimidating, but it had to be done. The oil needed to be drained from the bottom of the car so I considered lifting the vehicle with the car jack used to change tires. Since the procedure would require me sliding under the car, I needed some assurance. I slid cinder blocks, large bricks, under to rest the car on. I felt safe.

 

• When I am facing something difficult, I need some place to put my worries.
• When I am facing something complex, I need some place to put my concerns.
• When I am facing something intimidatingly large, I need some place to put my racing thoughts.

 

Paul describes his encounters with those he wrote the letter to. He said he “did not use big words or great learning” rather he kept his message simple and focused only on CHRIST. He knew it would be impossible to explain GOD, so he rested his faith on GOD’s power.

 

• GOD wants me to rest my faith on HIS power.
• GOD wants me to depend on HIS power to draw humans to HIM.
• GOD wants me to focus on the simple message of JESUS, knowing it holds the power of the SPIRIT.

 

Faith does not make sense. I mean, GOD’s ways are too high and complex for me to understand so HE made it simple. JESUS, being GOD, became a human, was murdered for my sins and was raised from the dead to forgive me of my sins. My faith comes from belief in a loving GOD.

 

JESUS died for all who believe in HIM. All my sins are forgiven, every one of them. I can rest my faith on this fact. I do not have to rely on human wisdom which stirs up fear, rather I can rely on the power of GOD which is unstoppable. I am glad I can rest my faith on GOD’s power.

 

• Are you trying to convince people about GOD using big words and great learning?
• Do you think you have to go to a college to learn how to speak about JESUS?
• Will you rest your faith in GOD’s power and make your words about JESUS simple so many can believe in HIM through you today?

Evidence

Evidence

John 20: ³ Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple, and were going to the tomb. ⁴ So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first. ⁵ And he, stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in. ⁶ Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying there, ⁷ and the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself. ⁸ Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, went in also; and he saw and believed. ⁹ For as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. ¹⁰ Then the disciples went away again to their own homes.

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“Seek proof” was the bad advice I took to heart. I listened to a suspicious person and became suspicious. From that moment on, I asked more questions, trying to get to the bottom of “this”, whatever “this” was.

• There were many times I did not believe.
• There were many times I sought after evidence.
• There were many times that I wasted time in disbelief only to find out later I should have believed all the time.

Two zealous disciples heard the news about JESUS’ missing body. They ran to the tomb, one outrunning the other, and observed the heavy bandages laying all over the place. The handkerchief that was on JESUS’s head was folded. One disciple immediately believed that JESUS had arose.

• GOD wants me to believe as a child with immediacy and without question.
• GOD wants my faith to grow so I do not need evidence to know HE has what’s best in mind for me.
• GOD wants me to acknowledge I do not know everything,  but HE definitely does.

Evidence of GOD can be seen just by using our senses. Every texture, odor, sound, flavor or observation screams GOD is right there with me. Unfortunately the world dullens my senses, stealing the glory from GOD, making me seek which human can get the trophy of discovery.

We seek evidence that GOD has already told us and reward humans for finding what is already there. BUT GOD enables pure belief and makes it available to anyone who wants it. HE rewards me for seeking HIM without the need for evidence. I drop my suspicions, little by little. One day I want pure belief.

• Are you a suspicious person?
• Do you thrive on evidence?
• Will you seek GOD today without needing as much evidence?

Covering Power

Matthew 28: ¹¹ While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened.¹² When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, ¹³ telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ ¹⁴ If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” ¹⁵ So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.

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Stepping into the house, I went to get the meat I prepared to put on the grill for the friends who had arrived. Engrossed in conversation I forgot to watch the fire and it grew a little more than I desired. I quickly ran outside and put the lid on the grill which doused the flame. I brought the meat out, took the lid off and the flames jumped out even more than before!

Covering up fire is similar to the cover up the guards were trying to do. They tried to cover up the greatest thing that happened in the history of all humans. The more they covered it up the faster the message spread.

• GOD wants me to continue the message of JESUS’ resurrection with the same fervor.
• GOD wants me to tell the world of JESUS’ resurrection as if it happened a few minutes ago.
• GOD wants me to speak to many about JESUS because apathy has set in.

“When will JESUS return?”, people wonder. Few sermons are preached on what will come because so many have died saying the same thing that the message falls on deaf ears. BUT GOD says different. HE wants me to act like this very day is the day so I should not waste it.

HE allows me to pursue dreams but wants me to ask for HIS guidance and direction. HE says go out and make disciples of the many I will give you.  My dreams must include a plan to tell people about HIM to break through the cover up.

• Are you distracted by what the world offers?
• Has the notion of JESUS’ return become a boring story for you?
• Can you pursue your dreams while carrying the message of GOD with you somehow?

End of the Trial

Matthew 28: ⁵ The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. ⁶ He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. ⁷ Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”

⁸ So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. ⁹ Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. ¹⁰ Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

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“I finished!” was my exclamation as I put the last words on my last “final” test. College was grueling and I was now finished! I breathed a sigh of relief and was ready to tell everyone! I mean this was great news, well at least to me!

• When the trial is over I feel elated!
• When the trial is complete I feel alive!
• When the trial is over I feel so relieved that I want to tell everyone about coming through my trial!

“Will this trial ever finished?” was my thought on so many occasions. I mean some trials lasted a day, some weeks, some years, while others stretched into decades. When I was through the trial, however, I wanted everyone to know.

The trial was over for humanity. JESUS rose from the dead and the angel said “Do not be afraid.” When the women saw JESUS, HE said the same thing, “Do not be afraid”. Then HE said “Go tell…”

• JESUS wants me to tell people “HE rose from the grave just like HE said HE would.”
• JESUS wants me to tell others “HE loves you and cares deeply for you.”
• JESUS wants me to tell everyone I can “HE wants to be with you forever.”

Overcoming death itself solves the biggest fear of humanity. I don’t mean other fears won’t be larger than death at some point in our lives. I mean everyone will face their own mortality at some point and JESUS knew people would be afraid.

HE wants people to have comfort that HE overcame death and so can you and I. This is exciting news that I can tell many people and be happy about it!

• Are you going through a trial?
• Do you remember coming through any other trials in your life?
• Can you start practicing your excitement by praising GOD in spite of your situation?

Powerful Earthquake

Matthew 28: After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

² There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it.³ His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

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Lying in bed I felt the house shake a little. It did not move too much, just enough to wake me up. I immediately went back to sleep only to find out the next day that the area had a mild earthquake. Cool I thought to myself!

• Sometimes I underestimate the power of GOD.
• Sometimes I get desensitized to things happening around me.
• Sometimes I read devastation in the news and don’t even think twice about it.

Earthquakes are not cool! In fact a huge earthquake happened when CHRIST died. This passage describes a second earthquake and an appearance of an angel. Fear filled the guards and they fainted at the sight of the angel. I thought about the recent earthquakes around the world.

• GOD wants me to know that HE is still in control of the earth and when it quakes.
• GOD wants me to know that humans do not control earthquakes, but HE does.
• GOD wants me to know that through devastation, HIS love is still there for all.

Wait! An earthquake showing love!? Yes! JESUS’ resurrection was so powerful that it caused a major earthquake. Something wonderful happened that all the doubters could not believe. The liars tried to seal the tomb to keep someone from stealing the body, but they did not account for this person being GOD.

HE shook the earth and rose from the grave. This powerful earthquake was just a sign of the power of CHRIST! 

• Is your life quaking right now?
• Do you feel things are falling apart and you have no way to fix them?
• Can you look for the power of GOD to come through in a mighty way today?

Dedicated to the earthquake victims around the world

Voice Impersonations

Matthew 27: ²⁷ Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. ²⁸ They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, ²⁹ and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said. ³⁰ They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. ³¹ After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.

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“You sound just like him! Do it again.” said the students, egging me on. I pretended to be our teacher and impersonated his distinct voice again in a jesting kind of way. All around me laughed except one, namely the teacher.

• There have been times I have mocked people.
• There have been people I have ridiculed.
• There have been situations where I wanted to make fun of someone at their expense.

I had gone too far and the teacher showed me his authority by sending me out of his room.  The soldiers, however, went much further against JESUS. They wanted to make a public example of anyone who would call themselves “King.”

They thought they had the upper hand as they brutalized the ONE who chose to die for their sins and mine. As they mocked HIM they may have walked away with a sense of satisfaction, BUT GOD says something different.

• JESUS showed me that HE does not want HIS creation mocked.
• JESUS faced humiliation just like I have faced before.
• JESUS gave me an example of taking the shame even though HE had the authority to stop it.

Mocking the KING of kings and LORD of lords was not a good idea and did not bode well for the soldiers later. JESUS wants me to understand HIS shame and apply it to my actions towards others. HE says to me “Figure out another way to make them laugh instead of mocking them.” I am glad JESUS’s humiliation led to my salvation.

• Are you mocking someone?
• Do you feel “that” person is stupid?
• Will you take mockery out of your heart and ask GOD to replace it with love?

Mistaken Report

Matthew 14: At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus, ² and he said to his attendants, “This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him.”

³ Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, ⁴ for John had been saying to him: “It is not lawful for you to have her.” ⁵ Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of the people, because they considered John a prophet.

⁶ On Herod’s birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for the guests and pleased Herod so much ⁷ that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. ⁸ Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” ⁹ The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request be granted ¹⁰ and had John beheaded in the prison. ¹¹ His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who carried it to her mother. ¹² John’s disciples came and took his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.

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Herod’s beliefs made him hear the report of JESUS’s miracles differently. Herod thought that if a person is killed they could come back as a super-powered ghost-human. Though he may have had many killed, he chose John as the cause because he had John murdered.

• My soul will last for eternity and will never enter into someone else.
• My soul will be raised to heaven only because I believe that JESUS is my savior.
• My soul will receive a new sinless body not another sinful body.

Herod almost had it right. JESUS would later be raised from the dead but not for Herod’s self-center purpose. JESUS would in fact be murdered, just like HIS cousin John. BUT JESUS died for a much greater purpose.

• JESUS came to earth as a human who never sinned.
• JESUS was accused, slandered, beaten and killed by those who were church leaders.
• JESUS rose from the dead to assume all power.

Suffering was JESUS’s purpose, not to come back and torment one person. Herod’s beliefs got him an eternity separated from JESUS. My beliefs bring me eternal salvation.

• Do you have beliefs in reincarnation?
• Do you think science will explain away your eternal soul?
• Will you take the step today to believe in the ONE who can save you, namely JESUS? 

My Heart Leaps With Joy!

Psalm 28: ⁶ Praise be to the Lord,

    for he has heard my cry for mercy.
⁷ The Lord is my strength and my shield;
    my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.
My heart leaps for joy,
    and with my song I praise him.

⁸ The Lord is the strength of his people,
    a fortress of salvation for his anointed one.
⁹ Save your people and bless your inheritance;
    be their shepherd and carry them forever.

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My heart is filled with joy as we approach the weekend where we celebrate the most significant murder on the planet. I can only imagine how HE felt as HE reached out to us and we misinterpreted HIS kindness because of our false view of who and what GOD “should” be.

• JESUS extended a hand to me and I misinterpreted it for punishment.
• JESUS tried to wipe away a tear from my face and I misinterpreted it for a slap.
• JESUS attempted to tell me “Have Courage” and “Do not be afraid” and I went away cowering even more!

It seems like this JESUS fellow messed up quite a bit. HE was misunderstood, lied on and beaten until the crowd got worked up into a frenzy to have HIM murdered. Then I looked at my blunders throughout life and nothing compares to HIS. HE said HE was GOD and the staunch church goers, who had specific ways GOD should act in their minds, killed HIM. Wow! JESUS must have been crazy to call HIMSELF GOD!

• But on Sunday JESUS rose from the dead just for me.
• But on Sunday JESUS got up from the grave and had all power and saved me.
• But on Sunday JESUS showed everyone HE is GOD and HE is alive!

Just because I look crazy sometimes or am embarrassed sometimes or fail sometimes doesn’t mean JESUS is out to get me or take me down! Quite the opposite, HE became a human to shoe me HE loves me and that even HE would be misunderstood. “Forgive them, for they know not what they do” was and is HE plea to the FATHER for me.

• Are you ready to praise GOD for being there for you?
• Can you stop misinterpreting what GOD is taking you through and praise HIM!
• Will you begin filling your heart with joy by praising HIM today!