Driven / The difficult choice / Mark 1:9-15; 1 Peter 3:18; Psalm 25:10
At the Baptism of Jesus, the heavenly voice revealed Jesus as God’s beloved Son (Mark 1:9-11). After this tremendous event, , Jesus was driven into the wilderness by the Spirit where he is tempted (Mark 1:12-15). This week’s sermon was “Driven.” The ancient Israelites were driven into the desert wilderness because of their unfaithfulness to God. Jesus was driven into the desert wilderness because of his faithfulness to God.
As the life of Jesus demonstrates, even when we are faithful to God, we are not guaranteed an easy life, and a question for all of us is this: Do we allow the Holy Spirit to drive us to do the good and right thing in being faithful to God and others, even when it is difficult? If you
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We can also avoid temptation by taking the easy route of indifference and non-resistance: Ignoring the good and just thing, but then we will not driven with passion by the Holy Spirit to be faithful to God and others.
I know everyone does not respond positively to loving kindness, thus we will be tempted to give up. Nevertheless, since our relationship with God is shaped by God’s faithfulness and loving kindness, may our relationships shaped by faithfulness loving kindness with others. Remember, Jesus kept God’s covenant and decrees perfectly, and enacted loving kindness toward others. How does he respond to us who flounder?
Is Jesus like us when we have done something right, and we expect someone others to do it too right also? I hope not. Peter, the disciple who deserted Christ early in his career as an Apostle noted: “For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God (1 Peter 3:18). The point of Christ’s innocent suffering is to lead the unrighteous to
We should hold true to our faith in God and believe that he will come through for us, even in difficult times. If we stand strong through the trials and tests that God chooses to lay upon us, He will exalt us. As well, the example of Moses is conformant to our world today because he shows that God does not condemn those who have sinned against Him. Instead, God chooses to forgive us and look beyond our mistakes.
Engagement with others is the most fertile ground for spiritual growth. Yet, salvation cannot come through individual questing nor good works in the community of the world alone. Salvation can only come when the journey and the work become
When it comes to making judgements on the merits of others, it seems as though Jesus is quite set on relaying to his disciples the dangers of hypocrisy. One’s own actions must be accounted for before trying to account for the actions of others. Lessons of this kind would have helped to empower early Christians to better apply some sort of objective consistency to their lives. Jesus conveyed such concepts
“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” So begins Matthew chapter 6, the biblical book containing the story of Jesus Christ’s temptation. After his baptism Jesus is said to be led by the Holy Spirit into the wild, for forty days and forty nights of spiritual meditation, in preparation for his ministry. He fasted for the entirety of this time, fed only through prayer communication with the heavens. After this time had passed he was faced by the devil who, noticing his emaciated state, demanded that “If thou shall be the son of God, command that these stone be made bread.” But Jesus denied this request, stating that “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeded out of the mouth of God.” Frustrated
Throughout the context of the Bible, the Lord stresses the importance of what we do with our time here on Earth. He wants all of his children to obey their masters through Him, regardless of how tiresome the task becomes. Several books within the Bible illustrate the importance of sacrifice and discipline in the journey to salvation and everlasting happiness. God enforces that believing in Him, having hope, and putting in fruitful work is the true path to a righteous life and acceptance into Heaven (1 Cor. 15:58). The strength to endure any obstacle comes from your relationship with God and the integrity you have for it; exhibiting the significant relationship between His word and your work.
“The call is something that is an indescribable joy and an indefinable burden at the same time.” (Bryant and Brunson 2007, 32). There is nothing more rewarding than seeing a congregation of the redeemed moving forward in their faith. However exciting this may be, it is usually not the thrill that propels the pastor in his service. It is the burden placed on the pastor by God that compels him in his work. The pastor understands that he is largely responsible for the work of God being accomplished by his faithfulness to his calling. “All through the Word of God and down through the annals of history, when God has moved it has almost always been attended by the preaching of the Word.” (Bryant and Brunson 2007, 31)
...Today as a Christ follower, we will never be satisfied if our life is not bearing lasting fruit because we are not fulfilling the purpose for which we were “grafted “into the Vine. Let’s examine the “fruit” of our lives. Is it the kind of fruit that reveals the character of Christ? Let’s not settle for fruitless Christianity. God will do the work of making us fruitful – we must only abide, surrendering our lives to His mission of making disciples of all nations through us. The whole notion of mission is to stretch out to work the work of evangelism not through hierarchy, sovereignty, rather through humbleness, hospitality, affection love for the others. That is what Jesus who portrayed as the one who we do not deserve to untie His sandals straps in the first Chapter of John, later become feet washer, intimate with humanity leaving His equality with God.
“No man knows how bad he is till he has tried very hard to be good” (Lewis, C.S., 2001). We see the futile attempts of men and women in the Old Testament who eagerly intended to be good. They aimed to abide by the law of God, but as soon as something shiny, pleasurable, and of earthly value flashed before their eyes, their obedience to God’s commands went out the window. Some did not even try. God’s people compromised their beliefs and committed spiritual adultery against Him by esteeming handmade idols. All the while, they religiously offered sacrifices, and therefore, polluted the House of God. Since the fall of Adam and Eve, our sinful nature has been beckoning us to choose evil, to embrace worldly counterfeits, and to seek a life of selfish ambition. However, Jesus steps on the scene and changes everything.
Throughout this essay, I will show the parallels and differences from the Gospel of John and the earlier gospels (mostly Mark), as I discuss the anonymous evangelist(s)' conception of the word of God. 1. John 3:15 2. John 6:48 3.
But God himself would substitute those reckless shepherds with his steady care. He, as any great shepherd, would search out the sheep, tie up their wounds, and bring them home once more. This illustration of God as a humane shepherd gives foundation to comprehension the numerous references Jesus made to Israel as lost sheep and to himself as the Good Shepherd. (Matt.
The most well known quote from the Bible spoken by Jesus was The Golden Rule, this small quote contains a large amount of wisdom. In order to receive love one must give love first. If one wants to gain respect or be respected, one must give respect to others first even the ones that may be considered one?s enemy. If we wish to live a life that feels fulfilling, we must give openheartedly with others. Do to others, as you would have them do to you. "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them. In addition, if you do well to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' do that. In addition, if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' lend to 'sinners,' expecting to be repaid in full. However, love your enemies, do well to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. (NIV, Luke 6:31-35)
Senior, Donald. 1998. "The Gospel of Matthew and the Passion of Jesus : Theological and Pastoral Perspectives." Word & World 18, no. 4: 372-379. ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials, EBSCOhost (accessed March 13, 2014).
We be kept from the evil one (John 17:15). God was faithful to strengthen and keep us from
Throughout the book, the author focuses on how the Holy Spirit ministers to the apostles and the believers in their lives and the community. The Holy Spirit enabled Stephen to speak the truth boldly (6:10) until he was killed by the crowd (7:54-60). It is the calling for us to proclaim the kingdom of God in the name of Jesus with boldness and without hindrance. 4. What is the difference between a..
There are several ways one can be faithful to God. The most important aspect of being faithful to God is to have faith in that fact that all things will work out for one 's good. Romans 8:28 states, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Having faith in God is essential. Why would one serve God and not think that God has his best interest at heart? The next thing one should do to be faithful to God is to read His word and live by it. This means not just reading the Word of God but, also implementing the teachings of His word in one 's daily life. Avoiding temptation is included in implementing God 's word. Matthew 26:41 states, “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” One should also implement prayer in his daily life. This prayer does not have to be about