AT EASE IN ZION - THE TEN VIRGINS

Vs 1 of Matthew 25 starts with the word “then” – in the preceding chapter of Matthew 24, the disciples had asked Jesus what would be the signs of his coming and the end of the world.  

Jesus proceeded to issue warnings of what would come and what signs to look for leading up to His return.

Jesus continues to talk about the coming Kingdom of Heaven in Matthew 25…

Then shall the Kingdom of Heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps and went forth to meet the Bridegroom.

** These virgins knew that the Bridegroom was to make his appearance at some point. He’d said he would be coming.  And they’d heard it preached for many years. 

Their duty was to go out to keep watch, waiting for his appearing.  Their lamps were to be lit, burning brightly so as to light the path for the Bridegroom.  So, they went out to wait….

And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.

They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:

But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

**Notice the distinction here – they were all virgins waiting for the Bridegroom to appear. These virgins represent each of us waiting for the return of Jesus Christ.  They all had a lamp with oil in it which was burning brightly (or somewhat) at that time representing the Holy Ghost.

The wise brought not only their lamp already filled with oil and was lit to light the way, but they also brought another vessel with extra oil….they were prepared for the ‘just in case.’    

I believe the wise virgins were keeping not only the supply of the Holy Ghost that they had but they kept praying and kept that supply of the Holy Ghost flowing within like a river that never ran dry.

While the foolish brought only their lamp with the oil that was already within.  It may have been full at that point and burning brightly. But they weren’t prepared for the Bridegroom/the Lord to delay His coming. They prayed but didn’t maintain a consistent daily meaningful prayer life. 

The cares of life, worries, strife, or perhaps the pursuit of worldly things choked out their prayer time. 

It was easier to play than to pray.  It was easier to sit and watch movies and surf the internet for hours than to pick up the Word of God and feast on it. 

Little by little, sin crept into their heart slowly diminishing the oil they had stored in their lamp.  Little by little, their lamp was growing dim and they were unaware.

Amos 6:1 - Woe to them that are at ease in Zion… (ease – H7600 = secure; in a bad sense, haughty)

I’m sure in their heart they thought they’d be fine.  I’m sure they thought it wouldn’t be long and the oil they had would be sufficient. But then….

While the Bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

2 Thessalonians 3:13 - But ye brethren, be not weary in well doing.

Galatians 6:9 - And let us not be weary in well doing; for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

Now is not the time to grow weary!  We’ve got to stay fervent in prayer and keep watching for Jesus’ return!  We need to keep issuing the warning for others that “Jesus is coming soon!  Be ready!” Because….

And at midnight (when they least expected it) there was a cry made, Behold the Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet Him.

Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.

And the foolish said unto the wise, give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.

They thought they’d be ok.  They didn’t keep their prayer life up like it should have been, like it used to be.  They occasionally prayed or perhaps were not sincerely praying when they did.  Their prayer time was more-so out of duty and formality than in building a relationship with the Lover of our souls.

But the wise answered, saying, not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.

The pastor’s prayers or Holy Ghost won’t get you into heaven.  Brother or Sister so-and-so’s prayers and Holy Ghost won’t get you in to heaven.  Relying on yesterday’s prayer meeting is not enough! You have got to get it for yourself! You have to do the praying yourself!  And you’ve got to stay prayed up and full of the Holy Ghost!

And while they went to buy, the Bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with Him to the marriage: and the door was shut.

Afterward, came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.

But He answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the house wherein the Son of man cometh.

This parable is a warning to us all…

Those virgins were ALL supposed to be part of the wedding celebration. But half were left behind when Jesus came back.  Why?  Because they let their oil run out.  They grew lukewarm then cold in their prayer life and in their spirit yet were unaware until it was too late.

You would think being lukewarm was ok and better than being cold in our spirit but Rev 3:15 warns…

I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou were cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

If we’re lukewarm in our spirit, God said He will spit us out.
We need to stay prayed up, full of the Holy Ghost and on fire for God.

 

THE DEVIL IS TRYING TO WEAR SOME OF US DOWN AND WEAR US OUT

Rev 12:12 – Woe unto the inhabiters of the earth and sea! For the devil is come down unto you having great wrath, because he knoweth he hath but a short time.

Rev 12:13-17 warns us….

When he saw that he was cast into the earth, he persecuted Israel which brought forth Jesus Christ.  When he saw he wasn’t winning there, then he went after the remnant of her seed.

The remnant of her seed are those which keep the commandments of God AND have the testimony of Jesus Christ…..that’s the Church!  That’s you and me.

Daniel 7:25 – “he shall wear out the saints of the Most High.”

This Scripture is referring to the antichrist but the antichrist spirit is here and has been for quite a while.  We know the devil is behind it all. (1 John 2:18,22 + 1 John 4:3 + 2 John 1:7)

The devil is trying to wear us out!

His tactics will differ depending on each person – he knows what is affective and works to distract or wear down one may not distract or bother another.

I could list things but you pray about it and ask God to reveal it to you.

God showed me the devil is going after some of you hard because he is trying to kill what God wants to do through you and for some, what was prophesied over you.  If he can distract you, if he can get to you, if he can wear you down, he can get those that God wants to reach through you. 

Guard your heart!  Guard your mind!     

Be aware, be wise to his tactics and devices that he is using against you!

 

Luke 17:26-30

And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.

They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.

Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;

But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all.

Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.

 

People were so busy they were not aware of the hour.   We do have to continue to live life, have fun, build memories with the family – But some are so busy having fun they are not keeping their focus on eternity, on putting Jesus first, and on reaching the lost. They are at ease in Zion.

 

Mark 13:32-37

But of that day and that hour knoweth no man…

Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.

For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.

Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:

Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.

And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch!

 

Watch!  Pray more than you every have!  Don’t slumber or sleep like the foolish virgins did. Stay awake and alert spiritually because the devil knows he has but a short time and he is working overtime to keep as many as he can from making it to heaven.

Love Yourself More?

Matthew 22:37-40 KJV

37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

38 This is the first and great commandment.

39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

The greatest commandments God ever gave are 

(1) To love God 

(2) To love others

Nowhere does the Bible admonish to "love yourself more". 

Actually,  we're warned against it. 

2 Timothy 3:1-2 ...This know also,  that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves....

It is an Endtime spirit that is spreading and gaining popularity rapidly.  Don't follow it. 

Will you be found standing?

This apple tree has been in the ground for several years.    We had to support it with stakes the first couple years while it was still young and not deeply rooted because the winds kept knocking it down.  We have done what we could to nurture it as it grows.  Now, it's more mature,  should be deeply rooted, and is beginning to bear fruit. Yet, we came out this morning to find the winds had once again knocked it over.  Once again, we had to add stakes to support it and prayed the roots were not damaged, that they would be strengthened, and the fruit would not be lost. 

My husband and I were discussing that there is definitely a message in all this. The Pastor and Bible study teachers try to nurture and support the young Christians as the grow.  We try to shield them through prayer as they weather the winds and storms of life.  But we can only do so much.  

It is up to each of us to personally and individually dig our roots deeper in Christ until we are rooted and grounded in our Faith and cannot be shaken or blown down by any wind of doctrine that may blow or storm that may try to destroy us.  

Stay fervent and faithful in prayer,  Bible reading,  fasting,  and Church attendance.  Storms will come. Winds will blow. Will you be found standing strong? Or will you be overcome? Dig your roots deeper in Christ.

Who are you seeking for?

Seek ye Me, and ye shall live. (Amos 5:4)

Seek the Lord and ye shall live. (Amos 5:6)

Seek Him that maketh the 7 stars and Orion, and turneth the shadow of death into morning...the Lord is His name. (Amos 5:8)

Too many are looking for someone or something to save them rather than looking to the only One Who can - Jesus! Look to Him! Seek for Him!

The power of planting a seed and watering with prayer

I've been trying to sprout some seeds so I can plant them in the garden once they're a little more mature and ready. But each day I go out, I can see where something has dug into the dirt where I had planted my seeds. 

Hoping beyond hope that whatever it was did not get all of them, I've continued watering the soil daily, praying for signs of life to spring forth from what was planted. 

Over a week had passed since the seeds had been planted and I thought, "surely they're dead. Surely they're gone. The 'enemy' has snatched the seed I planted, and it is no longer there. Time to start over and try to plant another seed." 

More seeds were placed in water to soak overnight. But, as I started to plant the new seeds where the old had been,  I began to see life was springing up out of the soil in places where I thought it had been dead or gone. I didn't see the evidence last night, but what a difference a day can make!

As I moved the soil to prepare a hole in one spot where there still was no evidence of life, I could now see the seedling was beginning to grow in the darkness just below the surface of the dirt. Although I could not see the evidence above the surface, just below, hidden from my sight, God was doing the work and life was beginning to grow.

I quickly and carefully covered it back over, because I did not want to disturb or disrupt the process that God needed to do in that seed. 

We all have family and friends that we want to see come to Jesus and be saved.  Never underestimate the power of planting a seed, then watering it through prayer, and letting God do the work.  We may not see any evidence of life springing forth on the surface,  but we never know what God is doing within the heart just because we can't see it. 

Sometimes we can mess things up and kill the seed before it can fully develop when we try to 'help' God out.

Keep planting and keep praying,  trusting God to give the increase in His time. 

I recently transplanted new shoots from my raspberry bush. At first they all seem to be doing well, but then I noticed they were shriveling up and dying. Except one.  They all have the same soil. All had the same water. Yet only one survived while the rest shriveled and died.

There was a house that I passed by daily. They had several bushes planted in their front yard. I noticed that some of the bushes did well and look healthy while there were a few that began to turn brown and eventually die.

What happened? They all have the same soil. All have the same water. All had the same amount of sunlight. Yet some did not survive. Sometimes, it's not that the environment is bad. It's not that the person tending to them did anything wrong. There is something within them that cause them not to absorb the nutrients needed to thrive or survive.

Jesus had 12 Apostles yet one allowed the devil in his heart.

I believe Jesus would have forgiven him if he had repented like Peter did. I believe that's why Jesus called him friend as Judas delivered him into the hands of those that would kill him. He was still reaching for him, letting Judith no mercy and was still reaching out. 

Last year, I accidentally broke off a small branch from my raspberry bush before the berries were fully ripe. Something nudged me to stick that broken branch down into the soil.  I did, and within a few days, those berries had ripened.

If I had just counted it as a loss and discarded that broken branch and unripe berries,  I would have lost out on some very delicious berries.  

God was showing me through this illustration - just because  something appears to be dead, don't give up or throw it away.

Just because a person appears to be spiritually dead, do not give up on them. Keep praying and watching for fruit to spring forth from what seems dead and hopeless.

Jesus read from Isaiah 61. It was a prophecy concerning Him, and He wants us to do the same....

* Bind up the Brokenhearted

* To proclaim liberty to the captives

* and the opening of the prison to them that are bound

--> we're proclaiming liberty to those bound by sin!

* to comfort all that mourn

* to appoint unto them that mourn in zion

Notice most of what God is addressing in this passage of Scripture is sorrow of heart and mind.

Have you ever had days where it felt like the tears will never stop flowing?

Life can be hard.

What a comfort to know that God sees and takes note of every tear we cry.

Psalm 56:8 - Thou tellest my wanderings: put Thou my tears into Thy bottle: are they not in Thy book.

Not only has God collected and stored up every tear we cry in a bottle, but he also keeps a note of it in a book. I don't know about you, but he must have a very big book and bottle He's keeping my tears recorded in. 

What a comfort to know that He sees, He cares, He knows, and greatest of all He loves us.

What concerns us, concerns Him.

Psalm 34:18 - He is near unto those who are of a broken heart and saveth (which means protects) those who have a contrite spirit (meaning a crushed spirit).

If you are emotionally, mentally, physically, or spiritually exhausted from the load that is heavier than you can carry, then come unto Him, lay it at His feet, let Him carry it for you, and He will give you rest. (Mt 11:28)

God's Word promises to give us...

Beauty for ashes

The oil of joy for mourning 

The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness

So that we might be called Trees of Righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He might be glorified.

What does that phrase mean 'Trees of Righteousness'?

That word tree means strength, anything strong.

God is going to turn all of it around so we will be strong and righteousness.

Will become stronger spiritually as we learn to dig our roots deeper in prayer.

God has planted us, and we shall not be moved or shaken!

That HE might be glorified in us.

And I'm claiming that for our unsaved family as well.

Some have broken hearts that God wants to mend.

I am tired of the enemy trying to snatch and kill the seeds that have been planted. In my natural garden,  I have to put something over the seeds to protect them.  In the spiritual garden,  I can pray a covering,  a hedge over them by pleading the Blood of Jesus to protect their hearts and minds. 

So never underestimate the power of planting a seed and watering them with our prayers....even when you don't see any fruit. Even when you can't see what God is doing. 

God uses the darkness to sprout the planted seed. Trust Him to do the work. 

How Does Your Garden Grow?

 Do you love to garden?   Maybe you are one who hates gardening.

I love the results. I do not like all the work!     

There are many types of gardens.

Are you one who has a flower garden?

They are so pretty to look at and attract butterflies and hummingbirds & bees
Bees, especially Mason bees, can be pesky, but yet they are necessary to pollinate the flowers

Have you ever tried your hand at planting fruit trees and bushes?
That is the least and rarely talked about gardening.
So far, that has given me the least amount of work and trouble.

You may be amongst the many who have planted a vegetable garden this year.

We planted a garden.
I know some are far more advanced and knowledgeable at gardening than I
I’m just a beginner trying to learn from those with more experience.
It took us several days to get the ground tilled up, then we tilled it again, then we tilled it again.
You would think the hardest part is past, but then you have to dig each hole, add the proper nutrients, then carefully place each plant in each hole, then cover it just the right amount of dirt.
With some plants: you have to add a trellis or something for them to climb, some you have to add stakes to secure them to because they won’t be able to stand on their own, some you can just plant a seed and watch it grow with little effort or work.

But even after all that work, effort, and energy poured into it, you’re still not done.

Now you have to make sure they all get water each day – not too much, not too little.

You have to watch for and pluck out any weeds that may begin growing in the garden

It is soooo much work!  But the results can be so rewarding…and overwhelming if you planted too much.  :-S

As the plants begin to grow and produce, then you have to go out and check each day for any food that may be ripe and ready to harvest.

And finally, you get to enjoy the fruit of your labor.
         

Each of us have a garden……

We all want to be as a beautiful flower garden, something that others will admire and compliment when they see.

But the garden I’m referring to is more than beauty or outward looks.

Each of us have a garden that we tend…. It’s located in our heart. 

What is growing in your garden?

The Bible talks a lot about gardens, about sowing, and about reaping.

The first garden ever mentioned is found in Genesis when God created a garden called Eden to place Adam and Eve in.  He then directed them to tend the garden. 

Isaiah 1:8 – mentions a garden of cucumbers.

Isaiah 1:30 – issues a warning about being as a garden that hath no water.  When a person does not pray or read their Bible everyday they are like a garden that has no water.

Isaiah 61:11 – for as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.

*is righteousness and praise springing up in our garden?

 

Luke 13:19 – mentions a man who took a grain of mustard seed and cast it into his garden.  That one tiny little seed grew and became a great tree that the birds were able to lodge in.

Jesus talked about having faith the size of a mustard seed. (Matthew 17:20)

A Mustard seed is tiny. But although it is tiny, it can produce great things and we can see great miracles in our lives if we have faith.

*Are you allowing mustard seeds of faith to grow in your heart?
          

Rahab was a harlot, an ungodly woman who lived in Jericho.  I’m sure many avoided her because of her lifestyle, but she had let seeds of kindness grow into her heart.  Those seeds of kindness caused her to hide the 2 spies that Joshua sent before they came to conquer Jericho.  Because of it, she and all of her family were spared. Not only that, but she married an Israelite man named Salmon and had a son named Boaz.

*Are seeds of kindness growing in your heart?

 

Ruth was a Moabite woman. She was considered an outcast by the people of Israel.  Yet, she remained faithful to her mother in law, Naomi, even after her husband passed away.  She followed Naomi to Israel, a land foreign to her, and worked hard to provide for them both. 

Her faithfulness paid off and she became the wife to Boaz (making her the daughter in law of Rahab).  Ruth became the great grandmother to King David and both Ruth and Rahab are in the lineage of Jesus.

*Are seeds of faithfulness growing in your heart?

 

God turned these two messed up lives into a powerful message for His glory!
A lesson to us all to not look at where a person may be right now but what they can and will be as a testimony for God’s glory!

It is one thing to be grieved over sin.  It’s another thing to have a critical eye and critical spirit. 

God set a mark upon the forehead of those who sighed and cried over the sins and evil being committed throughout the land and even within the Sanctuary. (Ezekiel 9:4-6)

But Jesus rebuked those with critical eyes and critical spirits over and over again. (Mt 12:2,14)

A person who grieves over sin will intercede and pray for those bound or deceived by the devil, wanting to see God do a work and make a change for the better in that person.

A critical spirit will nitpick, condemn, look for and find faults, gossip, backbite, and sometimes want to see that person fail.

A critical spirit gets the measuring tape.  A grieved spirit gets into their prayer closet.

*Are you growing seeds of intercessory prayer in your heart?

*Or are weeds of criticism reaching out with their thorny vine hurting those in its path?

Martha & Mary –

Martha was busy trying to make sure everything was perfect, everyone was served, making sure that everyone had plenty of everything. 

While Mary, her sister, was sitting quietly at Jesus’ feet listening and soaking up every Word that He had to say.

Mary was wore out and frustrated.  Her life was too busy!  If only she could have just a little help, it would ease her load some.  So, she went straight to Jesus and complained.

“Jesus, do you not see all I’m doing?  Do you not see how I need help?  Do you not see that my sister here could help ease my load but she’s just been idly sitting here while I do all the work?”

Yes, Martha, Jesus sees and knows.  But sometimes you have to MAKE time with Jesus.  You can get so caught up with the hustle and bustle with life, putting Jesus on the backburner, or not even really giving Him much thought throughout the day because you’re….too busy.

Jesus turned to Martha and said, “Martha you are careful and troubled about many things.”  Jesus was telling Martha, “you are anxious and disturbed about too many things.”

Sometimes anxiety and troubled thoughts can bombard our minds when we’re not spending enough time with Jesus.

Mary chose the one thing that was needed above anything else – spending time with Jesus.

When those troubling thoughts or feelings of anxiety begin to overwhelm you, stop what you’re doing and spend time with Jesus.

*Are anxiety, worry, fear, or troubled thoughts growing in your garden?

*Or are you weeding those out by spending time in prayer and Bible reading?

 

Pride and rebellion

Ezekiel 28 – mentions lucifer being in the Garden of God until seeds of pride and rebellion sprung up in his heart.

Instead of repenting and weeding them out, he continued to feed those negative thoughts and let them grow and multiply until they choked out any good that was originally in him. 

Pride and rebellion led to his fall.  It also spread to other angels and caused them to fall as well.
Those are two kindred spirits we have to diligently guard our hearts against because it spreads like weeds.

Can you imagine trying to exert your will above God’s?

Would you even think of telling God, “who are you to tell me what to do?  I don’t have to listen to you! I’ve got everything figured out.  In fact, I’m going to put my throne above Yours!”

We say we wouldn’t and yet our actions say something different every time we:   
        - ignore His Word,
        - think we don’t need to come to Church – just once in a while/special occasions - because we're too tired, too busy, have other events going on. 
        - think we don’t need to pray – just occasionally when we need something,
        - don’t think we need to read His Word every single day.
        - don’t think we need a pastor – he is watching for your soul

Are the fruits of submission and obedience growing in your heart?  Are you keeping Him, His will, and His ways as top priority in your life? 

Or are there weeds of pride and rebellion growing, thinking you can do things your way instead of God’s way?

 

What about Bitterness?

Life can bring some hard blows.  Some have gone through more than their fair share of sorrow, loss, grief, attacks, storms of life – so many things that can make a person bitter if they let it.

Naomi knew about grief and loss. 
They faced a famine in the land of Israel so her husband moved her and their 2 boys to a strange far away land. 
Her boys grew while there and married Moabite women. 
Her husband died.
Then both of her boys died without leaving her any grandchildren.
Her heart was hurting as she made the decision to go back home to Israel.
She thought for sure both her daughter in laws would stay in Moab and remarry
But Ruth – we already talked about her – but she followed Naomi to a strange land

Naomi allowed bitterness to take root in her heart.
She even told the townspeople to call her Mara – meaning Bitter.

God looked upon her despite her bitterness & blessed her with a grandson to love

God cares about what we’re going through.  He knows and sees.

We can either allow the things we’ve gone through to make us bitter or better.

Job went through far worse trials and lost far more than Naomi.  Not only did he lose his children and everything he owned, but he also had a wife and so-called friends scrutinizing him, trying to figure out what sin he may have committed.

Yet through all of it, he continued to praise and live for God. And because he didn’t allow bitterness in his heart or toward his friends, God restored back double!

*will you be like Naomi and allow bitterness to consume you?

*Or will you be like Job and say “Blessed be the Name of the Lord!”

 

What is growing in your garden?

The Bible says “Favor is deceitful and Beauty is vain, but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.” (Prov 31:30)

Beauty is vain – outward beauty will not last. But inward beauty will.    

Do you know what that means when the Scripture says ‘favor is deceitful’? 

Favor is referring to the charm a person can portray. 

Women, let’s face it, we know it’s true: some women can be sweet as honey to another lady’s face all while there is a dagger slung within their words.

I’ll never understand – other than there are weeds growing in their garden.

I hope you're not one who slings the daggers. But maybe you have been a recipient.  When those daggers are slung at you, guard your heart and don’t allow it to make you bitter, or angry, or hateful. Keep loving others!

Prov 31:31 says – Give her of the fruit of her hands and let her own works praise her in the gates.

What is the fruit of your hands? 

If you were given of the fruit growing in your heart, would it be good fruit?

Or would it be thorns, briars, and thistles?

Your works, whether good or bad will be what we’re known by.

Going back to Prov 31:30 - “…a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised”  When a woman really fears the Lord, her words, her deeds, and all her works are going to bring honor not only to God but also to herself. 

A woman who fears the Lord will have the Fruit of the Spirit evident in her life.

How does your garden grow?

Matthew 13 - Jesus talked about the sower who sowed Good Seed.  The sower refers to the preacher or teacher who delivers the Seed which is the Word of God. 

What grows in the garden of your heart will depend on the type of soil that is within.

The type of soil that is in your heart will depend on how much time you tend your heart through prayer, Bible reading, and fasting.

The garden of our hearts will produce good things as long as we keep tending it with daily prayer, spending time in the Word, and letting God have His way in us.

THAT is how your garden will grow and produce good fruit.

 

We have a huge responsibility….

Not only to tend the garden of our own hearts to make sure good things are growing in us but we also have the responsibility to help our children and grandchildren or any child we have influence in the lives of to help tend the gardens of their hearts.

What we example is what they will learn.

Are you teaching them….

·        That more than keeping the body clean, they must keep the heart and mind clean?

·        More than teaching them how to walk and talk and dress themselves – teach them to walk, talk, and dress in a way that brings honor to God

·        Teach them to be kind and loving – consider others, not just self and wants

·        Teach kids to be obedient and respectful – not only to yourself but also the teachers, bus drivers, and others in authority. 

o   Isaiah 3:12 issues a strong warning….
As for my people, children are their oppressors…

o   Oppressor means to ‘exercise authority or power over’

o   Do not allow your children to exercise authority or power over you nor any other adult. 

o   When you do this, you are allowing rebellion to take root in them

·        Most importantly: Are you teaching them to love the Lord our God with all of their heart, soul, mind, and strength? 

Are you teaching God’s Word to them diligently and daily?

The Bible instructs in Deuteronomy 6 to talk about God and His Word when you’re:

·        sitting in your house,

·        when you’re traveling down the road to activities, events, the store, wherever

·        when you lay down to sleep at night

·        and first thing as you get out of bed in the morning

·        Scripture should be posted throughout our homes so all who enter can see and be reminded about the Word of the Lord.

 

The reason was to remind us and to remind our family that we need the Lord!

We need Jesus every single moment of every day!

Don’t get so busy with life, its cares, the hustle and bustle of running here and there, all the activities and events, that you forget to spend time with Jesus.

I know working and tending a family, taking care of the home, plus all the activities can leave us exhausted.  I’ve been there – but don’t neglect taking time to read the Bible to your family and pray with them. 

 

Search your heart - What is growing in your garden?

How is your Garden growing?  

How is your children’s garden growing?

Is it fruitful and growing with the things of God?

Or is it being overgrown and choked out by the activities of life?

When I wanted to figure out how to grow a good garden, I went to others with more experience.

If you want to know how to grow in God – pray, read your Bible, fast but also listen to those with more experience. Listen to the Pastor.  His messages are to help us grow in God.  To become spiritually healthy.

We don’t want to just look beautiful outside, we want to be healthy spiritually inside so we will bring forth fruit to the praise and glory of God. 

LOVEST THOU ME MORE THAN THESE

After the resurrection of Jesus, He began to appear and then disappear at times, showing Himself alive to His Disciples.

On the first day of the week, Mary and the other women had went to the tomb to anoint Jesus’ body with spices as was the custom since they were unable to do it before He was placed in the tomb. As they approached, they found the stone rolled away and Jesus’ body missing.

As they stood there looking around perplexed, two angels appeared and asked, “Why are you seeking the living among the dead?  He is not here , but is risen!”  The angels reminded them of what Jesus had said must happen concerning His crucifixion and resurrection. (Luke 24)

The women went to find the Disciples and tried to tell them all that the angels had said and what they had seen. But the Disciples thought they were just telling idle tales and didn’t believe them.  (Luke 24:1-12)

Peter and John ran to the tomb to see for themselves.  They found the empty tomb just as the women had said yet they still questioned the reality of whether Jesus had truly risen from the grave or if His body had merely been moved. So, they all returned to their own homes. (John 20:1-10). Except two, who decided to travel to a town called Emmaus.

As they walked and talked about all that had happened recently, another man approached and began to walk with them.  The man asked what they were talking about and why they were so sad. They thought he must be a stranger so they began to tell him about Jesus and all that had happened over the weekend. 

It was getting late by the time they arrived at Emmaus so the 2 disciples decided to stop and rest for the night.  The man that was traveling with them began to walk further, but they encouraged him to stay and rest for the night where they were.  The man went inside and sat down with them to eat. 

As he took the bread, he blessed it, then broke it and passed a piece to each of them.  Suddenly, they knew and realized the man who had walked and talked with them was Jesus.  Jesus vanished out of their site.  The men were so astonished, they rushed back to Jerusalem where the other Disciples were despite the late hour.  (Luke 24:13-33)

They found the other disciples gathered together in a room with the door locked for fear that the Jews would come and have them arrested and tried because they were followers of Jesus.  As they talked about all they had seen and heard, Jesus appeared in the midst of the room, despite the locked door.

The disciples trembled with fear thinking they were seeing a ghost, so Jesus showed them His hands and His side to assure them it was He. He then reminded them of His commandments to preach repentance and washing away of sins in His name. He reminded them that He was sending them out to do His work. (Lk 24:47 + Jn 20:19-21) 

Thomas was not present when Jesus had appeared to the disciples in that locked room.  The other disciples originally thought the women were telling tales/making things up until they saw Jesus for themselves. Now, Thomas is doubting their words and thinking they were the ones telling the tales about Jesus being alive.  Jesus had shown those disciples His hands and His side to prove it was really Him.  But now, Thomas is doubting their words and telling them he would not believe it unless He could see it for himself. 

Eight days later, the disciples gathered again within a locked room. This time Thomas was with them.  Suddenly, Jesus appeared and told Thomas to touch His hands and His side.  Thomas believed BECAUSE he had now seen Jesus for himself, but Jesus said, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe” – that is you and me! 

Jesus disappeared for a time again.  Peter grew restless and said, “I’m going fishing!” The other disciples thought that sounded like a plan so they told him they were going as well.  So, they went down the sea of Tiberias, got in their boat, and pushed out from the land a little ways.  They worked all night, casting their nets in, then pulling them back out, over and over. Morning began to break and yet they had caught nothing.

John  21                                                                         .
{21:1} After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself. {21:2} There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the [sons] of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples. ((One of those ‘other’ disciples would have been John))

{21:3} Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.

Those disciples were in that boat in the night season….

Anyone here currently in what feels like a night season?  Or ever been in a night season that seemed to last forever? The night seasons in life, when everything seems dark and bleak, when you’ve done all you can, you’ve toiled, you’ve worked, you’ve prayed, and yet you are left feeling wore out and empty….keep holding on, don’t give up, morning is coming!  Jesus is coming with the morning, bringing hope and the answer!

{21:4} But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.

Sometimes, we do not recognize the hand of God when we’re going through tough times.

{21:5} Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No. {21:6} And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.

{21:7} Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved ((that would be John)) saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher’s coat unto him, for he was naked, and did cast himself into the sea.

I found this interesting that Peter was ok with the way he wasn’t dressed – it was dark, just him and the guys, he was working – but when he heard Jesus was watching, all of a sudden, he put his Fisher’s coat back on and tied it securely with a belt (definition of girt).

Peter was not naked as we would define naked today. He had a long flowing garment with another coat over it as was common in that era.  To us, he would be considered very modest.  Back then, they considered that being naked because he was immodest to them. Then, he jumped in the water to swim to Jesus – clothes and all.

The other disciples continued to toil with net full of fish to get them to land.

{21:8} And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) <**Approx 300 feet**> dragging the net with fishes.

Good thing they didn’t have to struggle to drag them too far.

{21:9} As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.

Jesus already had fish and bread baking on the fire, yet He instructed them to bring the fish that they had.  When they counted them out, there were 153 and yet the net did not break.  That was a miracle considering the first time this happened, the nets broke and the ships almost sank trying to bring all the fish to shore. (Luke 5)

 

John 21                                                        .
{21:10} Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught. {21:11} Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, and hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken.

{21:12} Jesus saith unto them, Come [and] dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord. {21:13} Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise. {21:14} This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.

After they ate, Jesus began to question Peter about his love for Him….

{21:15} So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, [son] of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. {21:16} He saith to him again the second time, Simon, [son] of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. {21:17} He saith unto him the third time, Simon, [son] of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. 

Peter had denied Jesus 3 times before the Crucifixion so he may have thought Jesus was questioning his love for Him because of that failure.  But that was in the past.  He had repented.  Jesus knew his heart.  So, why would He keep asking 3 times if he loved Jesus? 

Three denials = three questions concerning Peter’s love for Jesus.

The point was more than about his love for Jesus, although that was part of it….

Luke 5                                                                                     .
{5:1} And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret, {5:2} And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing [their] nets.

{5:3} And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon’s, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.

{5:4} Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, ((Simon, I want you to go deeper in the things of God)) and let down your nets for a draught. ((a haul of fish – you’ll reap great things when you go deeper in the things of God.))

{5:5} And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.

Obedience – although he didn’t think it would do any good.  Even though he didn’t understand what good it would do or the necessity of it, he obeyed.

{5:6} And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake. {5:7} And they beckoned unto [their] partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.

Obedience and submission brought blessings and a bountiful harvest.

{5:8} When Simon Peter saw [it,] he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord. {5:9} For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken: {5:10} And so [was] also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men. {5:11} And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.

When Jesus reminded Peter three times to ‘Feed My Lambs’ and ‘Feed My Sheep’ He was reminding Peter that his main purpose in life – is to win souls.

I know many have to work to pay the bills and provide for family, but we can’t lose focus of why Jesus saved us.  He saved us to become ‘fishers of men’.

Matthew 4:19 – Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men.

Mark 1:17 – Come ye after Me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.

That has been my prayer – Jesus, make me to become a fisher of men.

Time is running out.  We must reach for the lost while there is still time.

Jesus asked Peter which is also a question for us: “lovest thou Me more than these?”

Do you love Him more than these (you fill in the blank)…. Do you love Him more than anything?  Is there anything that is more important or takes more of your time than spending time with Jesus and doing His will?

Jesus was told Peter and is telling us – if you love Me, feed my sheep.